Michael Nwoke: Abia ALGON Chairman Speaks on Alleged Vehicle Scam, LGA Allocation

Hon Nwoke stated this on Friday, September 10 during an interview with press men at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in Umuahia.

The Obingwa LGA Chairman alongside his counterparts, where at the Ministry for their monthly JAC (Joint Account System) meeting.

"Its a normal monthly JAC meeting that we normally do once federal allocations comes, so we come here from our various Local Governments to disburse Local Government Funds.ÔÇØ

Q: Recently, there was report that the Local Governments receive their allocations directly and not from the State government, why do you revert to the governor to approve the purchase of vehicles?

R: "No no no the money doesn't come directly, that is why we come to this placeÔÇØ.

Q: Does it mean that Abia has not started implementing it?

R: "Am not saying that, but we normally come here to do the disbursement of local government funds that is why this JAC.ÔÇØ

Recall that in May, 2021, the Federal Government ordered that starting from June 2021, the monthly subvention from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), as it pertains to Local Government Areas, should be disbursed directly to them, especially those that have duly elected and constituted cabinet.

The move was to make the LGAs autonomous which they have being clamouring for.

Hon. Nwoke responding to the controversy on the alleged 'scam' in the supply of vehicles to Local government chairmen in Abia State, said ;

"Gentlemen of the press, that word scam is very deep, but I want to clear the air because of issues that have been going over social media for some days now. There is no scam, there is no controversy, there is no issue.

"The Local government chairmen that was elected in December, have appealed to the governor to assist us with official vehicles which he has promised to do that- I think its on the process, so once he is done with it, we will deal with it- I think he is working towards that.

On his reported proposal to supply Local government chairmen's vehicles at the rate of N78M against another bidder's tender to supply the same vehicles at the rate of N38M, Nwoke responded;

"The figures that you have just mentioned are social media controversies just like you've just said, but there is no issue like that.

"Just like i've said before, we have made a request for governor to assist us with official vehicle that is what we are waiting for him. He is the governor of the State, and then just as you've said, those information on social media about undermining the office of the governor - nobody is undermining the office of the governor, nobody is working against the office of the governor. All local government chairmen; the 17 of us are very loyal.

"One of our mandate is to support Okezie Ikpeazu's administration and that is what we are doing; so there is no controversy, there is no issue. We are one Body and this Abia State government is our State government.ÔÇØ

There had been speculations that the ALGON Chairman brought a proposal for a Prado Jeep for Chairmen and a small Toyota Sorento vehicle at a cost price of N78M per local government.

The Special Adviser, Special Duties is said to have disagreed and brought his own proposal for a Hilux and same Sorento vehicle, for N31M.

The Chairman responding to problems facing the Local government in the State, said "for now there is no problem, everything is okay.

Reacting to an alleged threat to his life, Nwoke said;

"Everything is okay, there are some issues that came up and I've reported to security agencies and that is where we are for now but I think every where is calm for now.ÔÇØ

Hon. Michael Ibe Nwoke had in a statement signed by him, on Tuesday, September 7, lamented that his life and family's is being threatened by some persons because "I queried why the purchase of vehicles for Local Government Chairmen and Deputies should come from them in a democratic setting like ours.ÔÇØ

Following these allegations, the Abia State Council Leaders of Nigeria (ACLON), a part of ALGON, Abia State Chapter, dissociated itself from Hon. Nwoke's claims.

"The Abia State Council Leaders of Nigeria (ACLON) as part of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Abia State Chapter, having seen the media attacks by the State ALGON chairman wish to dissociate themselves from these attacks against the State Government.ÔÇØ