In this second part of our new series on Abia State, we compare the spate of underdevelopment under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu with the level of development under Ebonyi State’s Dave Umahi who, unlike Ikpeazu, has been able to steady government borrowings while delivering people-oriented projects to match.

Under Ikpeazu, Abia State continue to plunge into an unending debt spiral as investigations show state funds are being mismanaged with the government, which recently splashed multi-million naira jeeps on local council bosses to buy silence and win electoral favours, paying attention to frivolities.

Aside receiving N41.553 billion in seven months (June – December 2015) Ikpeazu’s government further received the sum of N117.420 billion in another 24 months of its administration (January 2016 – December 2017).

When summed up, it brings the total FAAC remittance to Abia State government coffers from the federal government to N158.973 billion in Governor Ikpeazu’s first 31 months in Office (June 2015 – December 2017).

Of the N158.973 billion received, N62.133 billion belongs to the 17 local government areas (LGA) of the state while N96.828 billion belongs to the state executive.

During the period under review, (June 2015 – December 2017) Ikpeazu’s government also claimed it generated the sum of N27.166 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR); that is N105 million in 2015 (June – December) N14.92 billion in 2016 and N12.69 billion in 2017.

Furthermore, the federal government granted Abia State N14.2 in billion bailouts, which the state government quickly took advantage of to renegotiate its liabilities, including taking a 20-year loan of N14.15 billion at a nine per cent lending rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ostensibly for the settlement of outstanding wage bills.

The state also received the sum of N10.6 billion and N5.7 billion, being first and second tranche of Paris Club refunds, during the same period under review. These funds calculated together amount to the sum of N230.789 billion realised in 31 months. External loans and key internal borrowings are not captured in these figures.

During the 31 months (May 2015 to December 31, 2017) under review, Ikpeazu’s government also recklessly increased Abia State external debt of $33.791 million it inherited from the past administration to $101.486 million. This represents addition of $67.695 million (200 per cent) without any capital project to show for it.

His administration further increased Abia State domestic debt to N60.648 billion from the N25.126 billion it inherited from the past government, representing additional N35.522 billion (141 per cent) in just 31 months.

Investigation by The Realm News revealed that during the period under review (May 2015 to December 31, 2017) his counterpart, Governor Dave Umeahi of Ebonyi State received the sum of N131.988 billion FAAC allocation from the Federal Government compared to Ikpeazu’s N158.973 billion. This represents a difference of N26.985 billion.

Like Ikpeazu’s government, Umeahi’s inherited domestic debt of N34.613 billion and external debt of $47.166 million in 2015. With capital projects conspicuous around the state, investigation by The Realm News revealed that Ebonyi State’s external debt increased slightly to $63.373 million in Umeahi’s 31 months in office (May 2015 to December 31, 2017). This is an additional $16.207 million compared to Ikpeazu’s $67.695 million.

Interestingly the state’s internal debt of N34.613 billion that Governor Umeahi’s government inherited from its predecessor remained the same in its 31 months despite the government living up to its statutory obligations.

Investigation by The Realm News revealed that while Abia State government owes pensioners 18 monthsand civil servants seven months’ pension allowance and salary arrears, Ebonyi State government has paid workers’ salaries till date and workers have received 13th month salaries for the last two years.

In Ebonyi State, salaries are paid before 20th of every month, while those of teachers are paid before the 15th of every month. Pension of retired workers are also paid as and when due.

While Ikpeazu’s visible achievement is the abandoned Osisioma flyover, asphalted of few roads not up to 10 kilometres, rehabilitation of Faulks road and few streets in Aba, Umahi’s government has completed no fewer than 500km of roads across the 13 local government areas of the state and has reconstructed over 100km of federal roads (Afikpo-Abakaliki Road and the Nkalagu Road) within the state. Completed over 20 roads within the capital city of Abakaliki and constructed five flyovers, roundabouts, street lights and hospitals.

While Abia State owned Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) staff are owed several months’ salary arrears and threatened industrial action severally, Umahi’s Ebonyi State government had begun the reconstruction of general hospitals in the state. It also built the first virology centre in the south east from scratch, to reduce Lassa fever deaths.

While teachers are being owed up to five months’ salary arrears in Abia State, Umahi’s government has paid its contribution and obtained the money from the Universal Basic Education Commission with which it began reconstructing and equipping schools. The governor also approved the promotion of the state university staff – a decision that had stalled for years.

While Abia State government allowed refuse to litter the entire state, Umahi’s government initiated 5,000-unit mega city housing project bankrolled by the Africa Nations Development Programme (ANDP). It will comprise of 5,000 detached two bedroom bungalows and other facilities such as schools, water, electricity, police station, barracks and hospitals.

While Abia State government was busy celebrating taking some Aba shoemakers to China, Umahi’s government poured billions of naira into the sector as soft loans to farmers, targeting expanded rice farming. The plan worked and rice production tripled in 2017. The government also procured parboiling machines for its three rice mills.

Speaking to newsmen in 2018 during Ebonyi Special Day at the recently concluded 29th Enugu International Trade Fair, Umahi said that his administration had installed over 250 number of 500KVA power generators for street lighting in the state capital and energised over 300km of street lights with over 450 transformers.

On the status of the capital city, Umahi said thus: “Abakaliki has assumed not just as a modern state capital but also one of the cleanest in the country. Today, we can count on a number of achievements that make us proud to say to all: come to Ebonyi, see things and be convinced to business with us.”

But Abia residents continue to wonder when the state would get the kind of leader it deserves; the kind of leader that would unleash the state’s potential and lift its people from the doldrums.