Innoson Motors vs Abia State Legislators: Gov Otti’s Penchant For Dishing Out Misinformation To Abians PDP

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Amidst the ongoing exchange of words between the leadership of the Abia state House of Assembly and Management of Innoson Motors over a perceived delay in the supply of operation vehicles for the state lawmakers ordered by the state  Government,the Abia state Peoples Democratic Party PDP has called for a regime of  transparency in the award of contracts by the authorities .

The Source reports that the Speaker Emmanuel Emereuwa-led State Legislative body had last week berated the management of the indigenous vehicle manufacturing firm for  unnecessary delays in delivering despite having  been paid fully the contract sum by the Abia state Government.

The Legislators in a letter addressed to the auto manufacturing giant also threatened to revoke the contractual agreement in the face of any further delay.

However, Innoson Motors  in its response, while domiciling the delay on remodeling efforts to meet Governor Alex Otti’s  specifications , said it has neither requested for,  nor received a dime from the Abia State Government in  line with its operational ethos of requesting for payments only after delivery.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson Abraham Amah on Monday June 17 2024, and made available to The Source, the Abia PDP said the revelation by Innoson Motors that it has not received any payment from the Abia state Government also signposts a total and embarrassing  disconnect between the roles and actions of the operators of the Abia state Government.

The PDP noted that the situation calls for concern as it intends to assault the concept of separation of powers and at the same time debases democratic tenets.

According to the Abia PDP, the House of Assembly being an independent arm of the Government should be the one to award the contact for the supply of its members’ vehicles.

“The Current spat between the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Emmanuel Emeruwa and indigenous vehicle manufacturer, Innoson Motors regarding the non-supply of vehicles purportedly paid for by the state Governor for members of the state House of Assembly is not only needless, but reveals a lack of due process in the conduct of Government business.

“The revelation made by Innoson Motors that it has not received any payment from the Abia state Government shows a total and embarrassing disconnect between the roles and actions of the operators of the Abia state Government.

“The Speaker had said, repeatedly, that the Governor had told him that he had made payments for the vehicles to Innoson Motors .

“The Abia PDP is concerned that this situation assaults the concept of separation of powers and debases our democracy. In the first place, it is an infringement on the independence of the legislature that the Governor should be the one to award contracts for the purchase of vehicles for legislators

“As a separate arm of Government ,the Assembly should be the one to award the contracts for its vehicles ,its budget should be on the first line charge to enable it maintain its independence .

“This unconventional situation brings the legislators under the influence of the Governor and it is difficult to see how they can maintain their independence if they have to depend on him for their welfare.

“What is even more shocking is that the Speaker had relied on oral evidence from the Governor who told him that he had made payments for the vehicles and unfortunately, the company ,not the Abia PDP ,refuted the Governor’s claims.

“That shows that the award did not pass through  due process. What is more unfortunate is that the Governor’s penchant for giving out wrong information to the public is also on full display within the highest echelon of the operators of this Government .

“If the Governor, cannot give the speaker of the state House of Assembly ,who is the number three person in the Government hierarchy ,the correct information in a financial matter as little as the purchase of vehicles ,we cannot imagine how the Governor would give ordinary Abians correct information on other matters

“And every Abian is a  witness to the constant misinformation the Governor wilfully dishes out all the time.” the PDP statement reads.