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Orji Kalu replies Akpabio after being named in contract scandal
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has insisted that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has not paid any money to the contractors who built the roads he facilitated.
Orji Uzor, in his statement was reacting to a letter written by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, where he reportedly mentioned ex-Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan, James Ibori, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, as those who benefited from the NDDC contracts.
In a statement signed by Barrister Emeka Nwala, Kalu made it clear that the issues at stake in the NDDC has nothing to do with projects carried out, but missing funds.
Orji further said that the road projects Akpabio listed were the interventions he facilitated for the communities as a private citizen even before he became a lawmaker.
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He claimed his name was included, because he used his letter headed paper to write to the NDDC in 2016, pleading with the agency to repair roads in Abia.
“Between 2016 and 2018, during my tour to several communities, leaders and welfare unions pleaded for urgent intervention on some dilapidated roads. I wrote to the NDDC informing the body of the conditions of these roads and the need for their attention since Abia is an NDDC state.
“The NDDC in their consideration which I am very grateful to, awarded the roads to companies that duly tendered for the projects and not myself. Whatever link I have with the projects is because it was considered due to my intervention,” part of the statement read.
Kalu added that, “The contractors have completed and delivered these roads a long time ago, except Abam-Atani road which I learnt from the contractors was slowed down due to rain, but still ongoing.”
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