Anambra State House of Assembly members have told Governor Willie Obiano to keep to himself the 30 SUV vehicles the governor said he wants to buy for them for official use.
The governors’s popularity has continued to wane as many Anambra indigenes see Obiano as not taking governance seriously any longer.
The lawmakers are already up in gloves with Obiano, accusing him of mismanaging the state’s resources.
The governor said the SUV vehicles would cost over N1billion to procure.
The lawmakers who accused the Governor of wasting funds, insisted that the state should patronize Innoson motors being manufactured by their own son, Innocent Chukwuma.
The state government had proposed the gifts to the lawmakers to help them in discharge of their oversight functions in the state.
The proposal was sequel to complaints by some lawmakers over the delay in provision of statutory allowances and other entitlements by the state government.
They contended the purchase of Toyota Prado Jeeps to the tune of almost N1billion was an unnecessary waste of funds when a similar vehicle produced by INNOSON Motors Limited would cost less.
The lawmakers noted that other governors of the South East and South south had been patronising the local car manufacturing company ,adding that Obiano had ignored his own son.
But in swift reaction, Chief Press secretary to Speaker Emma Madu said he was not aware of any car gift to the lawmakers .
However, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Emeka Ozumba, told the public to discountenance such allegation.
He said thE House of Assembly and the Executive had enjoyed good working relationship, adding that there was no cause for alarm.
Chairman, southeast conference of 2019 APC House of Assembly candidates, Afam Ezenwafor, told reporters the Governor should drop such idea and patronise the local manufacturer.
He said: “Obi procured Innoson motors for AVS, schools and local govt councils in the state, it is worthy of emulation.
“I commend Gov Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who purchased over 100 hilux pickups from Innoson motors for the security agencies in the state.Other southeast governors must do same”
“We can only grow our local economy and encourage think home investment when our leaders patronize local contents, govs of Imo, Abia and Ebonyi are not patronising Innoson motors and that’s sad, that attitude must change”.