Due process rules are for the protection of the people from greedy or rapacious governors and other public officials. For instance, when Governor Alex Otti signed off N50m for his personal lawyer and friend, Ken Ahia SAN, ostensibly for negotiating contract with Julius Berger, whereas there are lawyers in the state ministry of justice that could have done a better job of the negotiations and strictly follow state public procurement laws, the reality is that without due process rules he could have signed off N500m under same pretense.
Let me explain.
As at the time Governor Otti signed off the N50m to the law firm of his friend and business partner, Mr Ken Ahia, his approval limit as a Governor was N50m. The implication is that if he approves more than that amount he will ultimately go to jail. Likewise, if he breaks the contract and approve multiples of N50m he will also go to jail because of other public procurement rules. Any civil servant or public official involved in splitting the contract for him will also go to jail.
The proper way to do more than N50m for the governor’s chummy would have been to follow due process, pass the supposed contract through state executive council and Finance & General Purpose Committee which will properly scrutinize the transaction with a view to protectimg common Abians including those clapping today while “Rome” is being raped brutally by an Emperor.
Public Alert!!!!
I have just received information that Governor Alex Otti connived with 2 key officials of the legislative branch to increase his approval limit to N500m without public debate or informing the people of Abia State of such key changes. The proposal was never presented before the elected members of Abia state house of assembly either at executive session or plenary for review and possible passage before issuance of the resolution endorsing ten-fold increase in the approval limit of Governor Alexander Otti.
The implication of this new approval limit is that while sitting at home and drinking coffee or premium whisky our Governor can sign off and pay for a real or fake contract of N500m without due process review including passing such humongous contracts through F & GPC.
Whoever surreptitiously signed off that new limit of N500m is an enemy to the people of Abia State and posterity will never forgive all those involved because all of us know Alex Otti, as his kinsmen from same state, and ought to protect our people from his well known weaknesses. Those who gave the limit extension without public debate and information must be held responsible for the consequential ten-fold accelerated looting of Abia State.
I will compile and publish all those involved but I urge Abia civil servants, particularly the permanent secretaries, to please rise to the occasion and protect our state, our children and their children. Forget the Greek gift of a car you already know won’t comfortably take you to your village by this time next year for obvious reason. Protect our people please, I beg in the name of God.
-Chief John Okiyi Kalu
24/10/2025
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