Okorocha, Ihedioha row over N500b loan

Emeka Ihedioha

IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, are back to the trenches in their war of words following Ihedioha’s call on the former to account for the N500 billion loan he allegedly obtained from banks since he could not pay workers.

However, in a statement at the weekend by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha urged Ihedioha to allow him run the state with the decorum and respect it deserves.

“We have heard about those inciting certain groups in the state to cause trouble, but we have chosen to remain calm,” the statement read.

“It is unfortunate that a man who had been in the House of Representatives for 12 years, and Deputy Speaker for four years, and who should know the efficacy of respecting political office, would take delight in abusing his governor without provocation”

He insisted that his free education programme and infrastructure development are testimonies to the facts under reference. He also maintained that he acquired Spibat Estate before becoming governor.

According to Ihedioha, however, “Imolites are in rude shock that while civil servants who, despite illegal deductions from their meagre salaries and allowances are being owed up to seven months’ salary and several months of allowances groan in alarming hardship, Okorocha is busy junketing around the world in expensive private jets, having sold almost all of the state’s assets and obtained loans in excess of N500 billion.”

He insisted that Okorocha should publish what accrued to the 27 local councils, how much he has so far borrowed from banks, receipts from the Federal Government through monthly allocation, excess crude, ecological fund and 13 per cent derivation.

Also, he should state how much he has generated from internal revenue, the sale of state assets, and the illegally deductions so far from the salaries and allowances of Imo civil servants since 2011.

He added: “It is regrettable that Okorocha has arrogantly refused to tell Imolites how much he has received. How can a man build the multi-billion naira largest private estate in Nigeria, sited at Spibat at Amakohia, with state funds?”