The Abia State gubernatorial standard-bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Alex Otti, has revealed that Abia has earned over N2 trillion from the Federation Account from 1999 to 2018, excluding internally generated revenue, adding that there’s nothing on ground to justify such a humongous amount.

He charged the audience to ask both the past two governors and the incumbent, all of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to explain to the toiling and suffering Abia people what they did with all the monies that accrued to Abia since 1999 as an oil-producing state.

Otti stated this on Saturday, during a Town Hall meeting – organised by the association of Abia State town unions, Lagos/South-West chapters, and sponsored by an ‘Otti for Governor’ support group – at the Ikeja Country Club.

The former Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc said the situation was particularly disturbing because “Abia roads are the worst in the country, despite the intensive propaganda of the sitting administration, existing infrastructures are dilapidated, health-care is in a pitiable state, there’s high rate of unemployment, workers and pensioners are still being owed; a visit to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, will confirm the fact that Umuahia is the least developed state capital in the South-east geo-political zone. This is confirmed by the fact that after over 20 years, Government House, Umuahia, is like the Boys’ Quarter section of Anambra State Government House.”

Otti who recalled how APGA was robbed of victory in 2015 due to systemic corruption, charged: “The time has come when Ndi Abia, owners of the resources and stolen funds, should say ‘enough is enough’: enough of lies, enough of the looting. It is time for action; it is time for all of us to join hands to save Abia State.”

The APGA standard-bearer, who enjoys high rating among professionals and the business class, announced that his Manifesto – which he personally authored and described as ‘My covenant with Abia people’ – will be presented on December 2.

Dignitaries at the town hall meeting included the deputy governorship candidate, director-general of the campaign organisation, Max Nduaguibe, President-General of Abis State Town Unions Lagos/South-West, Engr Ekwuribe; former ICAN president and senatorial aspirant of Abia Central, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu, and other National Assembly candidates under the APGA platform.