By John Okiyi Kalu
I have nothing against “retrofitting” or repainting any public infrastructure as long as it is necessary to do so, resources are available and done according to due process with transparency.
On Friday, 3rd October 2025, Governor Alex Otti celebrated the “retrofitting” of Michael Okpara auditorium in Umuahia with his cousin Dave Umahi as special guest. Expectedly, Otti lied about the state of the facility before he took office in 2023 when he falsely claiming that it was in a bad state for 15 years.
As fact check, permit me to remind Governor Otti that he held a meeting with Abia State civil service permanent secretaries at that same auditorium a day after his inauguration. Pictures (4) are attached for public verification..
For the sake of public accountability I wish to state that the Ikpeazu administration renovated that same auditorium (picture 2) in July 2020 at a total cost of N52 million.
I challenge Governor Alex Otti to release the cost of whatever he did at Okpara auditorium (picture 3). He is also free to verify my information on cost of the 2020 renovation work and publish any contrary findings to shame me. I am absolutely sure, as a member of the state executive council that approved the expenditure, that only FIFTY TWO MILLION NAIRA was DEPLOYED IN 2020 for the renovation.
Fotosynthesis
Marked 1. The Okpara auditorium inherited by Ikpeazu in 2015.
Marked 2. The N52m renovation work done by Ikpeazu in 2020
Marked 3. The Otti retrofitting at UNKNOWN cost in 2025
Marked 4. Otti’s meeting with Abia State permanent secretaries at Okpara auditorium on the 30th of May 2023.
Governor Alex Otti, I hope you will not also sue me for demanding to know the total cost to Abia tax payers of your latest retro-scam. Kindly use your own mouth to tell our people how much it cost them so that your so called political enemies do not exaggerate the cost and petition EFCC to verify, as was often the case when you were in opposition.
Finally, Governor Alex Otti, do you know who said the following in Umuahia on the 29th of May 2023?
“Transparency, accountability, and public trust shall be at the centre of everything we do. We will run a responsible and honest government and lead by example. We will not tolerate any form of corruption or stealing of public property. Gratification and kickbacks are totally forbidden in this government.”
If you ever see that man tell him posterity is already judging him negatively as a confirmed hypocrite of the federal republic of Nigeria. Please advise the man to simply tell Ndi Abia the cost of every retrofitted scam, apiam way etc he and his cousin purportedly commissioned on Friday, 3rd October 2025. Remind him that our people say that “everyday is for the theif but one day is for the owner of the house”.
Power belongs to the people!!
-John Billions
06/10/2025
NB: The intention here is not to compare structures or debate which renovation is better. We just need information on cost of projects as voluntarily promised by Alex Otti.
