FROM DAVID ONWUCHEKWA, NNEWI
The Anambra State government has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC ) candidate, Dr. Chris Ngige, to resign from the Senate on the heels of his statement that he expended constituency project funds in building ventilated improved (VIP) toilets in two schools. Senator Ngige spoke at the weekend in answer to a question during a live debate for governorship candidates in the coming election.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Peter Obi, Valentine Obienyem, said the electorate of the Central Senatorial Zone, which Ngige represents and the people
of Anambra State in general rejected his account of stewardship for its 'glaring underperformance' and demanded Ngige's resignation.
Shedding more light on the constituency projects controversy, Obienyem lamented that the construction of lavatories in schools was unsatisfactory and disappointing.
"We know that funding for senatorial constituency projects runs into millions. We know that in the core ACN – APC states controlled by Ngige's political associates, funds for
constituency development are used to execute strategic and landmark projects.
Constituency projects are not meant to duplicate the same social services normally provided by state and local governments. So, it does not make sense in the first place to use such special intervention funds for common projects. It is like saying that PTF or SURE-P grants are being used to build toilets. That would be scandalous", he said.
The media adviser however contended that there were more critical questions surrounding the management of Anambra central constituency project funds.
"The Obi administration has built thousands of ventilation improved toilets in the 177 communities of Anambra State in partial fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals. But none of these was constructed at more than a million naira. How then can any right –thinking person believe that hundreds of millions of constituency funds were used in building toilets even if in 20 places?'
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