A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has called on Governor Alex Otti to provide evidence of schools renovated with the ₦54 billion reportedly spent on education projects in the state. In a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Ujo Justice, Ikonne accused the governor of distracting the public with contradictions rather than addressing concerns among Abians.

The controversy arose after Governor Otti denied claims during a media chat that the ₦54 billion was missing from the state treasury, labeling them as “baseless” and attributing them to misunderstandings of government budgeting processes. Ikonne challenged this explanation, referencing budget performance records and a recent Sahara Reporters investigation that indicated ₦54.066 billion was recorded for school rehabilitation in the last quarter of 2024 alone.

He emphasized the need for transparency, stating that if Otti asserts that only ₦2.1 billion was actually spent, he should reconcile this with existing official records. Ikonne recalled that a previous administration similarly announced ₦18 billion for school renovations without delivering tangible results.

The approved 2024 budget reportedly earmarked ₦64.7 billion for the renovation of 51 schools, raising further questions about the management of state finances. Ikonne expressed support for a Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed by the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) seeking a detailed breakdown of the ₦54 billion expenditure.

He urged Governor Otti to embrace accountability and provide the public with evidence rather than excuses, stating, “Budgets are estimates, but expenditures are facts.”