The Abia State Government has sharply criticized Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for spreading what it describes as “false, baseless, and misleading” information regarding the reconstruction of the Ohafia-Arochukwu federal road in Abia State.
Governor Alex Otti, while flagging off the reconstruction project, accused previous administrations of neglecting the road and using it as a political tool since its initial construction in the 1960s under Michael Okpara’s administration. Otti emphasized that this neglect caused the road to deteriorate significantly over the years.
In response, Kalu criticized Governor Otti for failing to acknowledge the Federal Government-funded efforts through the Petroleum Trust Fund and for disregarding Kalu’s own legislative efforts that, according to him, led to the construction of portions of the road.
The Abia State government, in a statement released on Friday by Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, countered Kalu’s claims. Ekeoma questioned Kalu’s assertion that his efforts as a Senator led to the release of funds by former President Muhammadu Buhari, resulting in the completion of all but 14.5 kilometers of the road.
Ekeoma stated that Governor Otti is not interested in debating who attracted what funds, noting that the people of Abia are capable of judging for themselves. He also alleged that Kalu’s media team is attempting to deflect criticism over the Senator’s record of abandoning major roads in Abia North and constructing substandard roads during his tenure as governor.
“Senator Kalu’s claims are false, baseless, unfounded, and misleading,” Ekeoma remarked. He pointed out that unlike the 35-kilometer stretch of road previously awarded and abandoned midway into Arochukwu, the new project initiated by Governor Otti is a 41.4-kilometer road designed to extend to the Abia boundary with Akwa Ibom.
Ekeoma further questioned the credibility of Kalu’s claims, stating: “If the road was indeed built as Senator Kalu claims, why do so many residents of Abia North, including Senator Kalu himself, frequently use alternative routes from Akwa Ibom State to access Arochukwu and Ohafia?”
