PDP tackles Abia govt over Innoson contract dispute

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has frowned at the contract tussle between the Abia State Government and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Company Limited over the alleged non-supply of vehicles purportedly paid for by the state government.

The Abia PDP, in a statement issued by its Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, on Monday, June 17, 2024, said the spat between the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, and Innoson was not only needless but revealed a lack of due process and transparency in the conduct of government activities in the state.

The Speaker had said the government made payment for lawmakers’ vehicles to Innoson, nothing that the company failed to supply vehicles to the House members.

He further threatened to terminate the House’s contract with Innoson for allegedly reneging on an agreement to produce vehicles for all the lawmakers.

Responding, the Head of Corporate Communications Innoson, Cornel Osigwe, said IVM has not received any payment for the vehicles ordered for the lawmakers.

Osigwe said the vehicles ordered were special vehicles that required the production of a new frame, which was not previously produced at the IVM factory.

However, Amah stated that the revelation made by Innoson that it has not received any payment from the Abia State Government on the vehicles showed “a total and embarrassing disconnect between the roles and actions of the operators of the Abia government.”

Abia Assembly threatens to terminate Innoson contract over breach

The Abia PDP spokesman said the party was concerned that the situation assaulted the concept of separation of powers and debases democracy.

He noted: “In the first place, it is an infringement on the independence of the legislature that the governor should be the one to award contracts for the purchase of vehicles for legislators.

“As a separate arm of government, the Assembly should be the one to award the contract for its vehicles, its budget should be on the first line charge to enable it to maintain its independence.

“This unconventional situation brings the legislators under the influence of the governor and it is difficult to see how they can maintain their independence if they have to depend on him for their welfare.

“That shows that the award did not pass through the due procurement process. What is more unfortunate is that the governor’s penchant for giving out wrong information to the public is also on full display within the highest echelon of the operators of this government.

“If the governor cannot give the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who is the number three person in the government hierarchy, the correct information in a financial matter as little as the purchase of vehicles, we cannot imagine how the governor would give ordinary Abians correct information on other matters. And every Abian is a witness to the constant misinformation the governor wilfully dishes out all the time.”

Amah, therefore, called on Abia State Governor Alex Otti to restore the independence of the legislature and ensure due process and accountability are followed in the conduct of government activities.

The Star