Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has shed light on shocking revelations about the state of affairs he inherited from his predecessor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, including a commissioned but uncompleted Government House and a staggering debt burden far higher than officially declared.

Speaking in a live interview on Arise TV, Governor Otti stated that he is yet to move into the newly constructed Government House because the facility remains incomplete, despite being ceremonially commissioned by the previous administration.

“My predecessor only completed and furnished the ground floor with Italian furniture. When I visited after my inauguration, I was impressed initially — until I got to the first and second floors. They weren’t even plastered. No sanitary fittings. Nothing! That’s fraud,” he said.

On the financial situation of the state, Governor Otti revealed that contrary to the N138 billion debt profile announced by the Debt Management Office (DMO), the actual debt he inherited stood at N192 billion. He explained that the DMO figure did not include outstanding pensions, gratuities, and debts owed to parastatals such as Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic and medical institutions.

“The DMO didn’t capture the entire picture. When you add the unpaid pensions, gratuities, and the salary arrears owed to several parastatals, the total debt climbs to N192 billion,” Otti said.

He, however, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, disclosing that the DMO has now released an updated report showing a reduced debt figure of N60 billion — a reflection of his administration’s efforts at responsible fiscal management and debt reduction within a short time in office.

Governor Otti also addressed speculations about probing his predecessor. While acknowledging the weight of the allegations, including KPMG’s report that N10 billion was diverted for a non-existent airport, he emphasized that launching a probe would amount to a distraction.

“With a short four-year term, I can’t afford distractions. Probing my predecessor will be a waste of time. I am focused on delivering results,” he concluded.

Otti’s revelations have stirred reactions across the state, with many Abians calling for accountability, while others applaud the Governor’s decision to prioritize governance over political retribution.