Abia State Governor Alex Otti has denied being at war with his predecessors over the administration of the state.
Otti made the statement while responding to criticism over the condition of the Okezuo Abia Flyover in Osisioma Ngwa. The flyover was constructed during the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
A portion of the Okezuo Abia Flyover has developed a pothole. The damage has reportedly caused motorists to avoid one of the lanes.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, issued the statement. He said the state government had taken note of the condition of the flyover and was working towards a lasting intervention.
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Otti Rejects Claims of Political Dispute
The statement rejected claims that Otti’s administration had deliberately ignored the flyover. It also dismissed suggestions that the government wanted to embarrass Ikpeazu, who supervised its construction.
According to Ekeoma, the government has not made public statements aimed at discrediting the former governor. He said the administration has instead focused on addressing issues affecting public infrastructure.
The statement described the claims of a political war between Otti and his predecessors as unfounded. It said the narrative was being promoted by people seeking to advance political and economic interests.
Otti’s position comes amid renewed attention on the condition of the flyover. The government says it is concerned about the infrastructure and is considering steps to address the situation.
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Government Says Flyover Will Receive Intervention
Ekeoma said the Abia Government had already taken note of what he described as serious integrity concerns surrounding the flyover. He said the administration was putting measures in place to make a lasting intervention.
The statement did not disclose the specific repair plan or provide a timeline for the work. It instead said the government would take the necessary steps after assessing the situation.
The government also said it was not interested in portraying any individual or previous administration negatively. However, it maintained that questions would be asked where public projects require scrutiny.
According to the statement, the flyover consumed significant public resources and took five years to complete. The government therefore believes issues affecting the structure should receive appropriate attention.
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Otti Says Government Is a Continuum
Ekeoma said Otti’s administration believes government is a continuum. He said the governor has demonstrated this approach by completing abandoned projects and rebuilding or remodelling projects that were poorly constructed.
The statement presented the approach as part of Otti’s position on inherited government projects. It said the administration does not automatically reject projects because they were started by previous governments.
The Okezuo Abia Flyover was cited as an example of this position. Ekeoma said the governor has previously insisted that the project should retain the name given to it by the administration that built it.
The statement recalled a State Executive Council meeting shortly after Otti assumed office. According to Ekeoma, the governor corrected a commissioner who referred to the structure as the Osisioma Flyover.
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Governor Insists on Retaining Flyover’s Name
According to Ekeoma, Otti told the commissioner to use the name Okezuo Abia Flyover. The statement said the governor explained that his administration was not interested in erasing the legacy of the person who built the project.
The account was used to support the government’s position that it does not intend to discredit the previous administration. Instead, the government says it is focused on addressing issues affecting public infrastructure.
The statement also noted that the governor had previously shown interest in the condition of the flyover. It said officials inspected the structure after signs of failure were observed in 2024.
Engineers from the Ministry of Works reportedly joined the inspection. The team examined the flyover and made observations about its condition.
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Engineers Inspected Flyover in 2024
Ekeoma said he accompanied the Commissioner for Works to the flyover in 2024. He described the commissioner as an experienced engineer with a background in the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA.
According to the statement, the inspection involved other engineers from the ministry. The team examined the structure after signs of possible failure were observed.
The commissioner later reported that there were some errors. However, he reportedly concluded that the issues did not pose a serious threat at the time.
Work was subsequently carried out on the flyover. The Ministry of Works also promised to continue monitoring the structure, according to Ekeoma.
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Otti Administration Says It Ignored Political Attacks
Ekeoma said the government did not publicly criticise the administration that constructed the flyover after the 2024 inspection. He claimed that critics nevertheless accused the Otti administration of trying to discredit Ikpeazu.
The governor’s aide said the administration chose not to respond to what he described as negative commentary. He maintained that the government remained focused on its responsibilities.
The latest statement followed renewed concerns over the flyover’s condition. It also came amid claims that the government had deliberately failed to intervene.
The administration has now stated that it is aware of the situation. It says measures are being considered to address the problem and protect the infrastructure.
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Government Says It Will Ask Questions Where Necessary
Ekeoma said the government would not hesitate to ask questions about projects when necessary. He added that the administration could take corrective action if it finds that something was wrongly done.
The statement linked this position to the significant public resources used for the flyover. It also referenced the long period residents reportedly endured during its construction.
The government’s position is that scrutiny of public infrastructure should not automatically be interpreted as an attack on previous office holders. It said its priority is to address problems affecting public assets.
The statement also maintained that the administration does not seek to paint individuals or former governments in a negative light. Instead, it said corrective action would be taken where necessary.
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Otti Links Position to Continuity in Government
The governor’s media office also pointed to Otti’s broader approach to projects inherited from previous administrations. It said the governor believes government should continue from where previous administrations stopped.
According to the statement, this has involved completing abandoned projects. It has also involved rebuilding or remodelling projects that the administration considers poorly executed.
The statement used the Okezuo Abia Flyover to illustrate that position. It said Otti’s decision to retain the original name showed that he was not seeking to erase the legacy of its builder.
The government has therefore framed the current situation as an infrastructure issue. It has rejected the suggestion that its response is driven by hostility towards Ikpeazu.
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Okezuo Abia Flyover Faces Fresh Attention
The condition of the Okezuo Abia Flyover has brought renewed attention to the structure. The reported pothole has affected one of its lanes and prompted concerns about its condition.
The flyover sits along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Osisioma Ngwa. Its condition is therefore relevant to motorists who use the busy route.
The Abia Government has said it is aware of the concerns. It has also stated that it is preparing an intervention rather than ignoring the situation.
No specific details of the proposed intervention were provided in the statement. The government has not announced a completion date for the planned work.
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Government Rejects Claim of Abandoned Flyover
The statement specifically rejected the suggestion that the government abandoned the flyover to embarrass Ikpeazu. Ekeoma said such a motive did not reflect the administration’s position.
He also criticised what he described as narratives surrounding the condition of the structure. The government said it had been aware of concerns about the flyover and had previously inspected it.
The 2024 inspection, according to the statement, led to some work being carried out. Officials also reportedly committed to monitoring the structure afterward.
The latest concerns have now prompted another response from the administration. It says a lasting intervention is being considered.
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Otti Says He Respects Previous Administrations
Ekeoma said the governor’s administration respects the legacy of previous governments. He cited Otti’s insistence that the flyover retain the name assigned to it by its original administration.
The statement said this reflects the governor’s view that government is a continuing institution. It added that projects should be assessed based on their condition rather than solely on who initiated them.
The administration said it would continue to intervene where inherited infrastructure requires attention. It also said it would ask questions where project execution raises concerns.
These positions form the basis of Otti’s response to the current debate. The governor says the issue should be treated as a matter of public infrastructure rather than political rivalry.
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Otti Says No War With Predecessors
The Abia governor has maintained that there is no war between his administration and previous governments. His media office said the claim of a political battle was being used by some critics for their own interests.
The administration said it would continue to focus on public projects regardless of which government started them. It also maintained that necessary questions would be asked when infrastructure develops problems.
The Okezuo Abia Flyover remains the immediate focus of the latest statement. The government says it has identified concerns and is working towards a lasting response.
Meanwhile, motorists continue to use the route while the state government considers its intervention. Further details on the planned work were not provided in the statement.
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