Our correspondent gathered that the Speaker of the House, Uche Okafor, who was the first to be offered the jeep rejected it, saying he would not drive it until a collective decision of the house was reached and obtained on the matter.
Some of the lawmakers who spoke with journalists said it would gulp the state about N1bn to procure the vehicles for the 30 members of the house.
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One of the lawmakers said, “We are complaining of delay in the provision of our statutory allowances and other entitlements by the state government and somebody is contemplating the purchase of Toyota Prado Jeeps to the tune of almost N1bn.
“This is an unnecessary waste of funds when a similar vehicle produced by INNOSON Motors Limited would cost less.
“Other governors of the South-East and South-South have been patronising the local car manufacturing company and our governor, Willie Obiano is not keen on patronising the company.”
The chairman, southeast conference of 2019 APC House of Assembly candidates, Afam Ezenwafor said, “We are addressing you all on behalf of the lawmakers because of its implications on the All Progressives Grand Alliance Lawmakers who are in the vanguard of encouraging locally made goods so that they do not become victims of witch-hunting by the power above in Awka.
Ezenwafor added, “The market price for 2018 model of Prado Jeep for the 30 members of the state Assembly is about N33m each.
“We wonder why about N1bn of Anambra state fund will be taken outside the state instead of using it to purchase Innoson IVM SUV Jeeps for the House members.
“You can’t be talking of ‘Think home philosophy’ without patronizing our local investors.”
When contacted on the telephone, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Emeka Ozumba said, “There is no cause for alarm”.
He added, “The executive and legislative arms of government have continued to enjoy harmonious relationship.
He asked the public not to panic about the situation, adding that more often such stories were false and unfounded.
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