These individuals, who had requested a 'marching ground' settlement before the initiation of the Port Harcourt road project in Aba, were reportedly invited to Umuahia and subsequently detained by the state authorities.
This information was categorically denied by Okafor in a statement he released on his social media platform on Tuesday.
Okafor pointed fingers at what he termed 'agents of division', accusing them of disseminating false information and untruths against the state administration.
In his statement, he noted, "To begin with, majority of Ndi Abia from all clans across the state, irrespective of their cultural and religious leanings are profoundly appreciative of the Gov. Otti’s resolve to rehabilitate the long-abandoned Port Harcourt road which until its collapse in the mid-1990s , was a major hub for the sale and repair of heavy duty machineries and spare parts, serving the Port Harcourt industrial complex, further consolidating Aba’s reputation as a major market for manufacturers and big businesses across the country and beyond.
He further stated that the neglect and eventual abandonment of the Port Harcourt road by previous administrations has cost the city hundreds of billions of naira in revenue, employment opportunities, and other potential benefits.
He expressed disbelief that any individual or group would oppose the determination of the Otti administration to repair that section of the road, address the recurring flooding issues in that part of Aba, and restore the business-friendly environment, as originally envisioned by Governor Sam Mbakwe of the former Imo State who built the road to broaden the economic prospects in Aba.
He concluded by stating, "For the records, reports of protests by some youth and subsequent invitation to Umuahia by Governor Alex Otti is untrue and a figment of the imagination of those promoting it, for reasons we cannot immediately determine."