Press Release

PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES FOR 774 LGAs: SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT – ATHAN ACHONU

Our attention has been drawn to a vexatious and misleading news report in which an amorphous, nonexistent gang of miscreants and impostors masquerading under the guise of a Civil Society Organization (CSO) cast several aspersions on the hard- earned reputation of accountability and integrity of Senator Athan Achonu, the Imo State Labour Party Governorship candidate for the November 11 election, over a Federal Contract to construct and deliver Health Centres in the 774 Local Government Areas across the country.

The report, which was published in sunnewsonline, titled: “Imo youths demand arrest of LP guber candidate over alleged N57bn scam“, on August 11, 2023 and also aired as a Press Conference, by a certain unknown group called ‘United Nigerian Youth Forum‘, on one of the national Television stations, alleged that Mathan Nigeria Limited, owned by Senator Achonu, collected billions of Naira from the Federal Government for the construction of Primary Health Care Centre in each of the 774 Local Government Areas in the country and later abandoned the project.

Without equivocation, we make bold to repudiate the story in its entirety. Nothing can be further from the truth than this propaganda, which is being stoked by perceived opponents of Senator Achonu.

First, to expose this hatchet job done by sunnewsonline for what it is, there is no relationship between the headline and the body of the story in sunnewsonline. Whereas the headline mentions Imo Youths, the story quotes an innocuous United Nigerian Youth Forum, who are not only ill-informed and ignorant but also appear to be in a hurry to dance to the tune of their paymaster. There was no mention of Imo youths in the story.

Again, why is it that it is only now when Imo Governorship election is around the corner and Sen Achonu is garnering massive follower-ship, that this amorphous youth group suddenly woke up in Kaduna, to rake up unfounded allegations.

We had earlier restrained ourselves from joining issues with these negative minded folks (Including their known lackeys in Imo) especially since we are very confident that Imolites already know them for their nefarious antecedents, but this latest outing by the so-called CSO, even calling for the arrest of Senator Athan Achonu by the EFCC, is a step too far and we are compelled, under the circumstance, to set the records straight.

For the avoidance of doubt and to categorically state it once again for emphasis, Ikemba Athan Achonu is one of the most transparent, generous, and astutely accountable men of unquestionable integrity in Nigeria today. His word is his bond and he is not afraid to tell truth to power, especially those operating with ‘abracadabra’ mandates

It was little wonder therefore, and this speaks tremendous volumes of his forthright and trustworthy character, that the Federal Government of Nigeria deemed him esteemable, upright and completely honourable to repose unquestionable confidence in his capacity and transparency to award the massive contract to build healthcare centres, across the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

The facts of the matter speak for themselves:

1. The Project to construct Health Centres in the 774 Local Government Areas across the country, was conceived and initiated by Chief Athan Nneji Achonu who then introduced (proposed ) it to ALGON during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
2. The project was approved and all the contract papers were duly verified, all the documentations were prepared and packaged by the relevant authorities including ALGON, all legal and financial arrangements followed due process and after all was said and done the Agreement formally signed on the 16th of February, 2007.
3. The project for the construction and delivery of the 774 Primary Health Centres commenced comprehensively and in earnest in 2007.
4. However, the contract was technically terminated by the National Economic Council in December 2007, when a new President the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua and a set of new Governors were elected and came on board to pilot the affairs of the various states, including supervising engagements and activities in the LGAs administration.
5. It was deduced that some newly elected state governors in an effort to stamp their authority, wondered how such a massive contract could be awarded to a single individual and they were not part of it. So they moved for its suspension.
6. Senator Athan Achonu, being the meticulous, astute and very accountable businessman, that he is, proceeded to seek clarification for the government action by due process in the Courts to defend himself and the contract against the unfounded allegations that led to the suspension of the project and it is on record that he has emerged victorious at every stage of the litigation, which lasted for 3 (three) years, in the various courts, against the Federal government.
7. The project, which was supposed to last for a period of one (1) year, was thus stopped by the government of President Alhaji Musa Yar ‘adua and did not recommence until 2010, when Vice President Goodluck Jonathan constitutionally became President by the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’. However, the project was suspended again after President Goodluck Jonathan became a duly elected president.
8. The initial three years delay in the project was as a result of the fact that the then government halted the project and placed a standing order that funds should not be released thus suffocating contractors with huge debts and truncating the smooth process of the work. The same scenario was continued throughout the government of President Goodluck Ebele Johnathan till the advent of President Mohammadu Buhari.
9. The project is still on-going, as at today due to the various victories of Mathan Nigeria Limited against the Federal Government in the law courts. Also, despite the insecurity in parts of the North East, North Central and indeed across the country, the project was never abandoned.
10. It is necessary to also state here that 195 PHCs had been completed pre -2020 and 363 PHCs completed Post 2020. This makes it a total of 558 PHCs accounting for over 70% of the total centres, which further corroborates the point that the project is still on-going.
11. Imolites will be pleased and impressed to know that unlike those Imo leaders who are awarded projects and end up pleasing their paymasters and taking development away from Imo State, Senator Athan Achonu in the spirit and letter of the Akuruoulo advocacy ensured that all the Primary Health Centres in all the 27 LGAs in Imo State have been completed. The records are there for verification.

We have gone to this great length to debunk the bellicose verbiage concocted against Senator Athan Achonu, our brave, bold and beloved one arm general, and prove to the world that contrary to the wicked lie from the pit of hell, spewed by the agents of the opposition that “the job was never done and Senator Achonu pocketed the controversial N37 billion meant for comprehensive health centres nationwide”, are all mere political fabrications to distract the “Take Back Imo” movement, which is growing in leaps and bounds with each passing day.

And by the way, have these bunch of comedians on , in their stupidity and eagerness to please their paymaster, even stopped for a moment to consider the fact that Senator Athan Achonu has never been charged to Court or even indicted by any anti-corruption agency for fraud or embezzlement, since 2007 when this Primary Health centres project commenced? That shows how clean and honest he is.

Indeed, why is it that it is only now, after 16 years since commencement of the project that they have remembered EFCC? Indeed the presence of Athan Achonu in the Imo State Governorship race is the beginning of confusion and desperation for those who still want to continue holding Imolites in bondage.

Senator Athan Nneji Achonu, (Agu Otu Aka), the one arm general, has lived a courageous, sterling and exemplary life, not only as a human being who empathizes with his fellow humans, but as a leader who has carried his people along in companionship instead of terrorizing them, but most importantly, as an honest, trustworthy and distinguished man who has used his God given talents, despite his early physical accident, to not only embark on legitimate and profitable business ventures that have been hugely successful. He has ensured that his wealth comes home with his massive Investments in Imo state to fulfill his life long mandate for his people: Akuruoulo.

Athan is Coming.

Chibuikem Diala
Director, Media
Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation
12/8/23