Ikpeazu did not ride in bulletproof vehicles, says ex-commissioner

John Okiyi Kalu, a former Abia State commissioner for trade and investment, has claimed that Okezie Ikpeazu, the state’s ex-governor, did not employ bulletproof automobiles during his eight years in office, despite security concerns in the region.

Instead, he alleged the ex-governor favoured Innoson-branded vehicles like the Lexus Jeep and Toyota Sequoia.

This was revealed by the ex-Commissioner in his 13-point rebuttal to an article by Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru Uche, the former head of Alex Otti’s transition committee, in which the priest claimed that members of Otti’s transition committee did not receive assistance from the Ikpeazu team.

Okiyi said that the Ikpeazu was frugal with Abia State’s funds, which is why the former governor chose cheaper automobiles despite the South East’s precarious security situation.

Let it be known that while Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s 8 years in office, he never once used Abia government funds to buy or ride in a bulletproof vehicle.

He never wasted the people’s money on unnecessary showmanship.

His most often used government vehicles were a Lexus Jeep, a Lexus SUV, and a Toyota Sequoia that was alleged to have been purchased used.

Okiyi, a member of the Ikpeazu handover committee, stated that on the morning of May 29, 2023, the Ikpeazu administration properly handed over government working documents to Pastor Caleb Ajagba, a representative of Governor Otti, and he questioned why the previous government is being accused of being antagonistic towards Otti’s assumption of power.

He continued, saying that the Otti transition team turned down two brand new vehicles given to them by the Ikpeazu transition committee: a Lexus Jeep and a Hilux van.

Okiyi urged the incoming government in Abia to avoid “propaganda” and instead focus on governance.

In his 20-point piece, Fr. Anokwuru expressed his disappointment that the transition committee members appointed by the outgoing governor had not provided the Otti’s committee members with the necessary assistance and had instead acted condescendingly towards them.