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RE RIGHT OF INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2011.

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 PRESS RELEASE 

The attention of  the Senator  representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Chief Augustine Akobundu, has been drawn to a Letter addressed to the Clerk of The National Assembly, from the law firm of Messrs Chijioke Udeagu and Co, requesting, on behalf of their clients, Right To Information Under The Freedom of Information Act (2011): 

– Ordinarily, Senator Akobundu would not have bothered to respond to such inquiries having been duly addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly but for the fact that his name and that of Abia Central  Senatorial District which he represents was dragged into the said letter and leaked to the Social Media,  and so that members of the public and particularly his constituents are not misled, hence the need to provide information that might help the inquisitors have a clearer picture.

– As an elected Legislator and Former Honorable Minister of the Federal Republic, Senator Akobundu understands the letters of the Freedom of Information Act, passed by the parliament and accented to by the Executive. He equally appreciates the role of constituents and, indeed, Nigerians in seeking information on how public funds are expended and their inalienable rights in demanding scorecards from their representatives. 

– For the avoidance of doubt, we  hereby put forward the following averments:

1. That Senator Akobundu was sworn into office on 15th  November 2023, shortly before the Senate embarked on vacation and effectively resumed on  8th December 8th 2023. He has credibly discharged his legislative responsibilities for only seven(7) months so far.

 

2. That details of projects, whether Constituency or Capital captured through the efforts of the Distinguished Senator for the benefit of the hard-working people of Abia Central Senatorial District are all contained in the 2024 Appropriation Act or National Budget, which is a public document and could be accessed freely by members of the public.

3. That the office of Senator Akobundu does not execute projects, as his duties are primarily that of Lawmaking, representation and oversight responsibilities. The Senator can only push  for and attract projects for the benefit of his constituency, but does not execute projects, as it is solely the responsibility of the executive through relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies ; ( MDAs)

4. That Senator Akobundu’s office is not aware of any fund meant for the Constituency that is paid to him or his office.

5. ⁠That Senator Akobundu had not received since assumption of office any palliative on behalf of his Senatorial District but is aware the N200,000 ( Two Hundred  Million) Rice Palliative done through the Federal Ministry Agriculture last year which was handled before he got sworn in. He has not sparred any opportunity to ask where the palliative meant for Abia Central was. 

6. That since Senator Akobundu assumed office It is on record that he has  personally  embarked on out-of-pocket interventions  to better the lives of his constituents including but not limited to the following:

(1) Hosting of Town-hall meetings and provision of financial support to many constituents in December 2023

(2) Distribution of personal palliatives with items such as Rice, Vegetable Oil and direct financial support to Constituents in January 2024. 

(3) Provision of Fully paid three (3) years scholarship/ sponsorship of 113  students at the National Teachers  Institute.

(4) Constituted an implementation Committee and launched a scholarship portal for indigent students in tertiary institutions under the Akobundu Foundation.

(5) Concluded registration for the FREE  six weeks per cohort ICT training for 1000 youths of the Senatorial District at the  Akobundu Digital Opportunities Centre, Umuahia to be launched in September 2024

(6) Working in collaboration with NEPAD, Senator Akobundu last July, trained and empowered 100 constituents in tailoring and agricultural ventures and provided sewing machines and start-up grants to enable them to commence small businesses.

(7)  The Distinguished Senator has also in the short period he has been in the Saddle, attracted numerous projects to the Senatorial District including Skill Acquisition Centres for the six Local Government Areas in Abia Central as well as Roads, Healthcare Facilities, Solar Powered Street lights and other Empowerment Initiatives which are soon to commence. 

Finally, we wish to appreciate the hard-working people of Abia Central Senatorial District and indeed all Abians for their support and to reassure the people that  Senator Akobundu will as has been his character transparently and equitably make know whatever belongs to the people of Abia Central even as he continues to work for the best interest and good of the Senatorial District, State and the Nation.

Uche Nwosu

SA Media

Office of the Senator

Representing Abia Central

09:08:24

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IKWUANO RALLIES WITH UMUAHIA NORTH & SOUTH TO HONOUR GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI: A CELEBRATION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND A CALL FOR UNITY

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The people of Ikwuano Local Government Area, in conjunction with their brothers and sisters in Umuahia North and Umuahia South, are set to host a grand and historic reception this Friday, the 10th of April, 2026, in honour of the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti at Umuahia Stadium.

We know that this momentous occasion will not be merely ceremonial, it will be a heartfelt expression of appreciation for a leader whose governance style has attracted widespread acclaim, commendation, and an inspired hope for the people of Abia State. The truth is that Governor Otti’s commitment to transparency, infrastructural development, economic revitalization, and people-oriented policies has redefined leadership and restored confidence in governance across our state.

The planned reception by the three local government areas signifies a demonstration of collective gratitude and solidarity. It depicts a deep recognition of purposeful leadership and a shared resolve to support continuity. Indeed, it promises to be a memorable event, one that will echo in the hearts of people from the State for years to come.

We therefore place this clarion call to all sons and daughters of Ikwuano, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South, and indeed all lovers of good governance, to come out en masse to receive and celebrate our amiable and hardworking Governor. We will certainly seize the opportunity this Friday to reaffirm our unwavering support and readiness to commit our time, energy, and resources towards ensuring a seamless and stress-free re-election come 2027.

As true Abians, we must recognize that the emergence of Governor Alex Otti in 2023 was an act of divine mercy upon our State. Therefore, our gratitude this Friday by the people of the three local government will not only be a virtue, it will be a divine responsibility. When God blesses a people with good leadership, acknowledging and supporting such leadership becomes both a moral and civic duty.
Let us, therefore, come to Umuahia Stadium this Friday, 10th of April in unity, joy, and appreciation to the man(His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti) whom God has favoured and shown mercy.

Come one, come all.

Dr. M. O. Ubani, SAN
Ikwuano/Abia’s Son.

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ABIA EASTER EMPOWERMENT: BAR. MONDAY UBANI SAN, HAILS OSINACHI NWAKA’S INTERVENTION AS MODEL OF PEOPLE-CENTERED LEADERSHIP

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In continuation of the people-oriented governance agenda of the administration of Governor Alex Otti, residents of Nde-Ibere and neighbouring communities witnessed a significant Easter empowerment programme aimed at strengthening grassroots livelihoods and boosting small-scale enterprises.

The empowerment initiative, facilitated by Hon. Osinachi Nwaka, featured the distribution of essential business support items including motorcycles, sewing machines, grinding machines, and other tools designed to enhance economic activities among youths, women, and artisans across the benefiting communities.

Speaking during the event, Hon. Nwaka reiterated that the programme was in line with the development vision of the Abia State Government under Governor Alex Otti, stressing that the intervention was intended to reduce economic hardship, promote self-reliance, and support sustainable livelihood development at the community level.

Beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing it as timely and impactful, especially in the face of prevailing economic challenges. They pledged to utilize the items effectively to improve their businesses and support their families.

Community leaders also lauded the initiative, noting that it reflected responsive leadership and a growing culture of inclusive governance at the grassroots level.

Also present at the event was respected legal practitioner, Bar. Monday Ubani, who commended the empowerment programme, describing it as a clear demonstration of leadership that translates governance into tangible impact for the people.

Bar. Ubani stated that true governance is measured not by promises but by visible improvements in the lives of citizens, adding that the developmental direction of Governor Alex Otti’s administration is already producing measurable results across communities in Abia State.

He further noted that the initiative reflects a strong synergy between government policy direction and grassroots-driven interventions, emphasizing that such programmes help reduce poverty, encourage entrepreneurship, and restore public confidence in leadership.

The legal practitioner particularly applauded Hon. Nwaka for complementing government efforts through consistent community engagement, describing the initiative as timely, impactful, and worthy of emulation by other public office holders.

The Easter empowerment exercise is widely seen as part of ongoing efforts to translate government development policies into direct benefits for citizens at the grassroots level.

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BARR. UBANI COMMENDS OTTI’S EDUCATION REFORMS, CALLS FOR CONTINUITY

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At the 30th to 32nd combined convocation ceremony of Abia State University Uturu, a Council Member, Barr. Monday Ubani SAN, was in attendance.

Speaking in an interview, Ubani commended the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for his administration’s educational initiatives, particularly the automatic scholarship scheme awarded to first-class graduates of the university from the last three convocation sets. The scholarships, he noted, are designed to support beneficiaries from master’s degree level through to doctoral (PhD) studies in Nigerian universities. He also applauded the various infrastructural projects in the institution commissioned by the Governor.

Ubani described the Governor’s performance as commendable, stating that his administration has made significant strides in repositioning Abia State. He therefore called for continuity in governance, emphasizing that the Governor should be given the opportunity to complete a second term in office to consolidate on the progress already made.

In a related development, Ubani, alongside other senior legal practitioners, visited Amadeus University to assess ongoing developments at the institution. He expressed satisfaction with the rapid growth of the university, describing it as one of the fastest-growing institutions in the South-East region.

He further expressed optimism that all academic programmes in the university would soon receive full accreditation from the National Universities Commission and the Council of Legal Education, particularly its law programme.

“It is our prayer that this fast-growing university will secure full accreditation for all its courses. We believe that these achievements reflect the grace of God at work in Ikwuano Local Government Area and Abia State in general,” Ubani stated.

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