Ikwuano Electricity Project: PG Clears Labour Party Youth Leader Matthew Demands Answers From Mayor Nwaubani

By Chimamanda Ezekiel

A fresh twist has emerged in the controversy surrounding the stalled electricity project in Isiugwu, Amizi, as the President-General of the community has publicly defended Labour Party Youth Leader Matthew Okechukwu Francis, contradicting allegations by Ikwuano LGA Chairman, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani. The development has intensified calls for transparency over the project, with residents demanding to know why electricity has remained a dream despite months of waiting.

The President-General of Isiugwu, Amizi, Chief Uche Ngabu, says Labour Party Youth Leader Matthew Okechukwu Francis did not stall the electricity project as alleged by Ikwuano LGA Chairman Dr. Anthony Nwaubani. Instead, he says the contractor and engineer were engaged by the chairman, while the community is demanding an explanation for the project’s four-month delay.

IKWUANO – The controversy surrounding the delayed electricity project in Isiugwu, Amizi, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State has taken another dramatic turn as the President-General of the community, Chief Uche Ngabu, has publicly absolved the Labour Party Youth Leader in the council, Mr. Matthew Okechukwu Francis, of allegations that he sabotaged the project.

Chief Ngabu described the claims made by the Chairman of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani, as false, unfounded and a figment of his imagination. He insisted that Francis neither obstructed nor influenced the execution of the rural electrification project in any way.

The community leader spoke while reacting to allegations contained in a statement issued earlier on Tuesday, July 21, by the council chairman, who accused Francis of frustrating the completion of the electricity project in his native Isiugwu community.

Without mincing words, Chief Ngabu maintained that the engineer supervising the project was personally engaged by the chairman after rejecting the engineer earlier presented by the community.
Asked whether the Labour Party youth leader was responsible for the delay, the President-General dismissed the allegation outright.

“That is impossible. Okechukwu cannot do it because, as I speak to you, I’m the President-General of that community. I know he works with the government, but as the PG of the community, I can tell you categorically that Okechukwu did not and cannot do that.
“The first time I made inquiries, I was told they used part of their old wire to begin work on our own project. They later said it was the neighbouring Umusoko community that prevented them from making the connection.

“Okechukwu cannot stop the electricity project in Isiugwu. He cannot even attempt it. Unless something happened today that I don’t know about, my position remains that he did not stall the project. Okechukwu has not even met with the engineer for the first time and I doubt if they have each other’s phone contacts. So, he is not to blame.”

He stressed that the people of Isiugwu are more interested in seeing electricity restored to the community than engaging in political disagreements.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party Youth Leader, Mr. Matthew Okechukwu Francis, has also rejected the allegations levelled against him by Dr. Nwaubani.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Francis insisted that he had no role in the execution of the electricity project and had never met with the engineer supervising the work.

Okechukwu further disclosed that residents have repeatedly appealed to the chairman to visit the community and explain why the electricity project has remained unfinished several months after it commenced.
According to him, the people deserve a clear account of the relationship between the local government and the contractor handling the project since the contractor was engaged directly by the chairman.

“The community has been calling on the chairman to come and explain what is delaying the electricity project. It has been months, yet nobody is giving us any account of what is happening between him and the contractor. He brought the contractor himself, so the people deserve an explanation.”

According to him, the contractor was personally hired by the chairman, making it the responsibility of the local government to explain why the project has remained uncompleted for about four months.

“The chairman brought the contractor himself. If there are issues affecting the project, he is the right person to explain them to the community. I have never met with the engineer handling the project, and I cannot be blamed for something I know nothing about.”

Francis further alleged that the prolonged delay has generated widespread concern among residents, who are demanding transparency and accountability over the implementation of the project.

He argued that attempts to portray him as an obstacle to development were politically motivated and designed to divert public attention from the real issues affecting the project.

However, in the statement sighted by Famous Reporters, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani maintained that Francis orchestrated a campaign against his administration.

Meanwhile, part of the Mayor’s statement sighted by Famous Reporters.com read:
“The video ‘forwarded many times’ was stage-managed and rolled out by people whom the Mayor had checkmated in their baseless rascality. For instance, Okey Matthew comes from a village where the Mayor is working on a project to functionalize an abandoned power transformer to provide electricity to a community that has never enjoyed power in its history.
“Surprisingly, Okey led some youths to the Mayor’s office to accuse him of trying to ‘eat’ the money approved for them. The Mayor’s offence was his refusal to release the money to their contractor because of contradictory documentation and inconsistent presentations, as they were ready to share it.”