Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said his administration is not engaged in any conflict with former governors of the state, including his immediate predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
Otti made the clarification through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, while responding to criticism over the condition of the Okezuo Abia Flyover at Osisioma Ngwa, along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Part of the flyover, which was constructed during the administration of Ikpeazu, recently developed a pothole, forcing some motorists to avoid the affected lane.
The development had led to concerns and accusations that the Otti administration had failed to maintain the structure because it was associated with the former governor.
However, the state government said it was aware of the condition of the flyover and was working towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.
According to the government, Otti has no intention of discrediting any of his predecessors or erasing projects carried out by previous administrations.
The government said Otti believes that administrations should build on what they inherit rather than abandon projects simply because they were initiated by previous governors.
It explained that since assuming office, the governor had continued several projects started by earlier administrations while also rebuilding or modifying projects that required attention.
The government further recalled that Otti had previously shown respect for the Okezuo Abia Flyover and the administration that constructed it.
It said that shortly after Otti assumed office, a commissioner raised the need to address the disorder around the flyover but referred to it as the Osisioma Flyover.
The governor reportedly corrected the name and insisted that it should be called Okezuo Abia Flyover, which was the name given to the project by the administration that built it.
The government said the governor's position at the time was that there was no need to remove the identity or legacy attached to a project simply because it was constructed by a previous administration.
It also disclosed that Otti had visited the flyover in 2024 alongside the Commissioner for Works after engineers noticed signs of possible structural problems.
During the visit, the commissioner, who had experience with the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, inspected the structure alongside other engineers from his ministry.
Following the inspection, the commissioner reportedly informed the governor that some errors had been identified but did not pose an immediate serious threat to the structure.
The government said repair work was subsequently carried out, with the Ministry of Works expected to continue monitoring the flyover.
It added that the administration did not publicly attack the government that constructed the project despite the issues discovered during the inspection.
The state government said it has now taken note of the latest concerns surrounding the flyover and is making arrangements for further intervention.
It maintained that because the project consumed substantial public resources and took several years to complete, the government has a responsibility to ensure that it serves its purpose and remains safe for residents and motorists.
The government also said it would examine any technical or construction problems found on the structure and take appropriate steps where necessary.
It described claims of a political fight between Otti and his predecessors as unfounded, saying the administration was focused on governance rather than settling political scores.
The government added that its approach to inherited projects would remain based on continuity, maintenance and correction of problems where they are identified, regardless of the administration that originally handled them.
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!