Following the recent inauguration of Geometric Power in Osisioma by President Bola Tinubu, Abia State has become embroiled in a heated war of words between supporters of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and those of current Governor Alex Otti.

The crux of the dispute lies in the claim made by allies of the former governor that Okezie Ikpeazu secured a 5% stake in Geometric Power on behalf of the Abia State government.

Ikpeazu’s allies, including John Okiyi Kalu, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Enyinnaya Appolos, Chinonye Mba, and Don Ubani, have called on the Otti administration to confirm the alleged investment.

According to Ikpeazu’s supporters, during his tenure, the Abia State government acquired a 5% stake in Geometric worth £3.6 million, with approximately £2.5 million already paid to Geometric, accounting for around 71% of the total payment.

Ikpeazu’s allies also criticised the Abia State government and Geometric’s Chairman, Professor Barth Nnaji, for allegedly failing to acknowledge the role played by Ikpeazu’s administration in the power project.

They argued that the investment was made using public funds and therefore should be safeguarded.

Furthermore, former Commissioner for Information and former Commissioner for Trade and Investment in Abia State, John Okiyi Kalu, alleged on his Facebook page that the State government awarded a contract for a 9.0km road that had already been completed and handed over to the communities by Ikpeazu’s previous administration.

He urged the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government properties and funds to investigate the claimed investment in Geometric by the Abia State government.

Responding to the allegations, media aides to Governor Alex Otti dismissed the reported investments in Geometric, stating that no documents regarding such investments were handed over to the present administration by Ikpeazu.

Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, and Dodoh Okafor, Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Communications, among others, defended Governor Otti’s position.

Ekeoma stated, “At this point, we do not have any document, any information. So, as long as we do not have any document, what it implies is that, to the best of our knowledge, such does not exist.”

Ekeoma accused the former governor of deploying his former and current aides to attack the current administration, suggesting that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was envious of Governor Alex Otti’s achievements in the Geometric power project.

He criticised the former administration and Ikpeazu’s aides for engaging in “primitive propaganda and rehearsed image laundering” for their boss.

Ekeoma recalled how properties were destroyed on Port Harcourt Road in Aba by the previous administration without compensation, asserting that those who caused suffering to the people would not distract Governor Otti.

During an interview with Channels TV, Governor Otti acknowledged the ongoing media arguments about the alleged 5% investment made by the Abia State government in the Geometric power project.

When asked about Ikpeazu’s involvement in the Geometric project, Governor Otti stated, “It is difficult for me to say, but I am aware he joined the Geometric management team to South Africa sometime in 2018 or 2019 to sign a loan agreement of about £50 million, part of which was used to settle the dispute between Geometric and EEDC.”

Governor Otti clarified that he did not possess any documents regarding the 5% investment, as none were handed over to him. He did, however, mention that he had instructed his Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant General to investigate the veracity of the claimed 5% equity investment in the power company, adding that Geometric would be better positioned to provide a specific response.