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The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated that the $115 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for Abia State was initiated and attracted by the past administrations of former governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu, not the current administration.
The PDP clarified that the funds only landed in Abia State accounts one month after Governor Ikpeazu’s departure from office.
The PDP, through a statement signed by the Vice Chairman and acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, contended that it was uncharitable for the current administration not to give credit to past administrations for the funds that entered the state from AfDB.
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The statement read in part: ‘The said $115 million is part of a total of $263 million, which was initiated by the two previous administrations with AfDB as the lead of a consortium of lenders for the construction of Port Harcourt Road, Aba, other roads within the state and the control of erosion in parts of the state. Of the $115 million, the AfDB approved $100 million, while a Canadian lending agency approved $15 million, which the Federal government just approved about six weeks ago as the obligor.’
The Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, could not be reached on the phone for the state government’s reaction to the PDP’s claims, as his line was unavailable. Also, messages sent to his WhatsApp remain unanswered at the time of this report.