DISTURBED by the scores of abandoned projects in Imo State, the Anglican Bishop of Egbu Diocese, Imo State, Geoffrey Okoroafor, has condemned the attitude of the government of the day for abandoning some projects in the state.

Okoroafor spoke when a delegation of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) led by the Executive Director of the Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR), Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, paid a courtesy visit on him at the Bishop’s Court, Egbu, Owerri North Local Council, Imo State.

The cleric also criticised the recent disengagement of over 3,000 workers from 19 parastatals, agencies and departments in Imo State, wondering the rationale for such job loss, even as he predicted rise in social problems in the state.

Okoroafor regretted that from the findings of the CSOs, in a study of 121 capital projects in health and education sectors embarked by the organisations covering period between 2010 and 2014, 34 projects were found to be abandoned, 51 projects were discovered to be ongoing for over three years, just as 31 projects were completed, while four paid for were yet to be started in six local councils.

He disclosed that from feelers, hoodlums are now using such places to perpetrate crimes.
Okoroafor said: “We are in trouble whether anybody likes it or not. Imo State is very unfortunate with governance. I think we need divine intervention.”

On the sack of workers, he said: “I do not think government was reasonable in taking that decision. If you do so, you are promoting crime, prostitution armed robbery, mortality rate. I asked myself, did anybody go to bed, woke up and took this kind of decision, to the extent that the person at the helm of affairs does not know he is not doing well.

“The sense of government has lost direction. It is most unfortunate. We must always speak out. People see us as the conscience of the people. Ours is a case of government that has lost focus. Even though that the country is witnessing general problem, that of Imo is becoming something else.”