By Nnaya Okemini, Umuahia
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North) has challenged his successor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to account for the first tranch of N250m Ecological Fund he received from the federal government while in office.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member lost to the latter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the last general election just as he is contesting the defeat before the National Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.
Ohuabunwa stated this while refuting a claim by Kalu that the federal government was set to intervene in erosion threats in the district following a letter by the former governor of the state.
Kalu had in a recent media report by Igbere TV, said the government had assured him that soon intervention work would begin on erosion sites based on a letter which he wrote to the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF)
According to the report, Kalu had claimed that the SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha had, while responding to the letter, told him that his request had been captured in the Ecological Fund data bank for necessary actions.
The former Senate committee chairman on Primary Health-Care, while dismissing the successor’ s claim as “propaganda tool” , said the Senate Chief Whip was only cleverly trying to take credit for what he did not do.
He further explained that contrary to Kalu’s claims , intervention in erosion sites in the district had already been captured in a motion on erosion menace in the district that he (Ohuabunwa) moved while in the senate.
The Senator said part of the reasons he decided to personally inaugurate the projects he attracted to the district even though he was out of power, was to prevent those who would “try to lay false claims on what they did not do”.
The PDP former lawmaker further said he had inaugurated over 20 newly completed projects he attracted to the district since March 2019, explaining that he also wants to ensure his campaign promises are delivered.
Ohuabunwa, therefore urged the people of the district and members of the general public to “carefully sieve every information and claims” by the former governor “whose trade mark is propaganda “.
