N30bn Port-Harcourt Road Contract: Wabara hails Otti for engaging JB, amidst rumours of being appointed Ukwa-East LGA Mayor (Video) | #NwokeukwuMascot

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The 10th Nigerian Senate President and current Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People's Democratic Party, Senator Adolphus Wabara has joined Abians from different political divides to hail Gov. Alex Otti for his courage to award the reconstruction of the Port Harcourt Road, Aba, to Julius Berger.

Recall that we had on Thursday reported the flagged off of the long-abandoned 6.8 kilometer Port harcourt road Aba after the contract was awarded to JB at the tune of N30 billion.

Speaking exclusively with Vanguard, the former Nigerian Senate President and the Chairman Board of Trustees BoT, of the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, described the feat as “historic” adding that Gov. Otti had already secured his second term mandate by bringing in Julius Berger to Abia State.

He partly said: “The Governor is reliable and a true man of honour. With this feat alone, his second term in office is already well assured. He is a Master Strategist. He wasn’t a top banker for nothing.”

Reacting to the criticism by members of his party and other opposition voices, regard the over N6bn/km contract as outrageous, the former number three citizen of Nigeria, said such critics were uncalled for, and not in tune with the current economic realities as well as the exchange rate.

He said that Otti rather deserved commendation for even being transparent enough to disclose the contract sum unlike what obtained in the past where such information was concealed.

Wabara's words: ”We are in the era where 1000 dollar now exchanges for N1.5 million. We are not in the era where one dollar was N190 . So, if you convert N30 billion to dollars what do you think will be the equivalent?

“And when you talk of a reputable construction company like JB, you should know money will be involved because they give quality job.

”I even pray that N30 billion will be enough to complete the project in view of the high exchange rate.  In fact, we should even commend the administration for coming up with the contract sum.

”Not every Governor or administration will be transparent enough to disclose the contract sum. I think the Governor should be applauded for even getting the project at N30 billion.

”What matters is that we have gotten someone who will give us what we want on that road, and not those who will charge N25 billion, and in the next five years, we spend another N50 billion on the same road.”

Senator Wabara further cautioned opposition voices against unnecessary criticism, advising that the opposition should be constructive in its criticisms.

”They should just allow the sleeping dogs. We are currently in the opposition in the state. We should not criticise for the sake of criticism. We should criticise constructively.

”We should give honour to whom honour is due so that by the time we start lashing out at the administration, they will know we are being very objective and not just criticising out of envy.” He ended.

However, Gov. Otti, who was a guest speaker at an event organized by Eziukwu market leaders at Aba sports club, made the revelation of appointing IDE and Boudreaux as the mayor of Aba and Ohafia LGA respectively.

His words: “I know the kind of work i want him to do for me, most of you might not like it. In your different local governments you’ll see the kind of people i will make mayors.

"I will be announcing Rtd Generals, I will be announcing billionaires as the mayor of your local governments. If you don't like it go and hit your head against the wall” Gov Otti said.

This revelation sparked rumors of Abia Governor announcing Senator Adolphus Wabara as the mayor of Ukwa East Local Government Area in that section of the state.

Click here to watch Dr. Alex Chioma Otti make the shocking revelations at aba sports club.