Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has declared that the era of tampering with Local Government funds in the state is over.
This is as he has waded into the rift between traders at Ariaria International Market and a developer engaged by the previous administration to remodel the market.
Otti said he had directed that original shop owners at the remodeled A-line of Ariaria International Market, should be given the first right of refusal in the remodeled market.
The Governor said he got complaints from some of the original shop owners that the contractor was trying to sell their shops to money bags.
Vanguard reports that the remodeling of A-line at Ariaria International Market was initiated by the administration of the immediate-past Gov Okezie Ikpeazu.
Otti who spoke with newsmen in Umuahia said he would not allow the original shop owners at the market to be shortchanged for any reason.
He said that he was told there were about 4000 shops originally but there would be additional 1000 shops after the remodelling.
The Governor insisted that justice demands that the original shop owners should be given the first right of refusal before new persons would be allowed to buy.
Otti further promised that if any original shop owner were unable to afford the cost of the remodeled shops, Government would assist in negotiating a loan with any willing commercial bank to help out the affected traders.
He, however, added that there must be evidence that the affected traders do not truly have the financial capacity to pay for the new shops.
Gov. Otti said that a repayment plan had to be worked out with the willing financial institutions.
On the management of council funds, the Governor said that under his watch local government funds were no longer tampered with.
He challenged anyone with any evidence that council funds were being tampered with should make same available.
The Governor said that for the first time after many years, Council Chairmen in the state were able to “grade roads and rehabilitate health centres”.
” Now in Abia Council Chairmen are doing what they were unable to do before. There are massive renovations in our Local Governments now. It’s evident that our councils are operating well now”.
Vanguard]