The Coordinator of Ohaozara East Development Centre, Hon. Mrs. Favour Okorie, has dismissed reports alleging that she distributed federal government-provided skill acquisition equipment as personal empowerment materials.

Okorie described the reports insinuating that she diverted the equipment for personal use as misleading and urged the public to disregard it, stressing that it was the collective decision of the stakeholders to distribute the items to the people having been parked for over twenty years.

She maintained that the distribution was carried out openly and in the presence of traditional rulers, village heads, youth and women leaders, as well as other stakeholders from the area.

Recall that a former member of the House of Representatives for Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, Chief Darlington Okereke, had alleged that the coordinator diverted and distributed Federal Government skill acquisition equipment without consulting the people.

According to Okereke, the equipment was attracted to the constituency during his tenure in the National Assembly to support skills acquisition, vocational training and economic empowerment for residents.

However, speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki, Okorie described the allegation as misleading. She insisted that the distribution was conducted openly and in the presence of key stakeholders from the area.

Okorie said, “My attention has been drawn to a news item published in some online platforms insinuating that I

distributed federal government-provided skill acquisition equipment as personal empowerment materials.

“I wish to make it abundantly clear that the decision to distribute the equipment was taken at the stakeholders meeting where it was unanimously resolved that the items be distributed having been parked for over twenty years and not to allow it to continue to waste, she said.

She said traditional rulers, village heads, youth and women leaders, and other community stakeholders were present during the exercise and were aware of it.

She added that the distribution followed due process and that a stakeholders’ meeting was held ahead of the exercise.

According to her, the presence of community leaders during the distribution showed that the exercise was transparent and carried out in accordance with due process.

She said, “Firstly, on July 28, I called for a stakeholders’ meeting, where all the traditional rulers, village heads, women and youth leaders were invited before the distribution. Chief Darlington Okereke himself was also invited.

“Remember that the said materials had been parked for about 20 years, and about five other persons had served as coordinators before I assumed office in 2024.

“I am telling you all these because all the processes were duly followed. The entire traditional leadership structure, including His Royal Highness, Eze Frank Agueze of Ugwulangwu, representative of Eze Iyioku, the Prime minister, and their cabinets, were present during the distribution.

“Mr. Ernest Okorie, popularly known as AK-Black, who is the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Francis Nwifuru on Road Maintenance, Ebonyi South, and a former coordinator of the centre, was also present.

“The youth leader of OHANIVO, Chimebere George Nwoye, and other political stakeholders were also present.”

Okorie further alleged that she personally contacted Hon. Okereke ahead of the distribution but received no response to her calls and messages.

“In fact, before the distribution, I personally sent messages and made calls to Darlington Okereke, but he did not respond to my calls or messages,” she said.

She maintained that the exercise was not conducted secretly, adding that she personally procured 16 additional motorcycles as part of her empowerment support to beneficiaries.

Okorie said her office remained committed to ensuring that government interventions and empowerment programmes were implemented for the benefit of the people of Ohaozara East.

She also appealed to stakeholders to verify information before making public allegations capable of creating unnecessary tension within the community.

Speaking on her achievements since assuming office, Okorie said her administration had implemented several initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of residents of the development centre.

According to her, more than 100 indigent students had benefited from free registration for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations under her administration.

She also said her administration had improved rural electrification projects in the area and constructed two mini-bridges to facilitate movement within the communities.

The Coordinator added that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre had been renovated, while mowing machines were procured to support environmental maintenance and other community development activities.

Okorie said the interventions were part of her efforts to improve the living conditions of residents and promote sustainable development across the Ohaozara East Development Centre.