The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is unperturbed over calls by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri to account for the numerous amounts and allocations the state government has received from Federal Government since he came on board in 2011.
Prof Onwuliri told the media in Owerri that Okorocha is expected to not only account for LGA allocations but also tell Imolites what he used the NDDC funds, Sure-P grants, Ecology and Flood Relief funds, etc, to do since he became governor.
In a swift response to the Foreign Minister’s challenge Okorocha has accepted to comply but with the demand but with specific conditions. In a text message made available to Trumpeta by the Senior Special Assistant, SSA (Media), Sam Onwuemedo, Okorocha agreed to render account of what he used the allocations to do under the condition “that the minister must ensure that the exercise must be holistic whereby the Imo state governor will sit side by side with the two former governors produced by the PDP and who ruled or 12 years”.
According to Okorocha, the two former governors, Chief Achike Udenwa and Dr Ikedi Ohakim will tell Imo people what they did with Imo allocations for 12 years they ruled while the incumbent will do for the years he has spent in office. Said he; “They will tell Imo people what they did with Imo allocations for 12 years while Rochas will do. What did they do with LGA and ISOPADEC money? What did they do with ISOPADEC money for the 12 years that the commission was ran for that period in rented building?
“We thank the Minister for such call. Such call had also been directed to Mr President by some Nigerians especially on missing billions from federation pockets”
Prof Onwuliri had alleged that the governor is not making effective use of all allocations accruable to the state taking into consideration the volume of amount and what is on ground in Imo.
The Minister used the opportunity to canvass support for the President stating that Jonathan means well for Nigerians especially Ndigbo who have been remembered in the scheme of things since Nigeria was born.
Onwuliri said that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, ongoing reconstruction of federal roads and the execution of second Niger Bridge project are some of the projects that have so far endeared the president in the hearts of people of South East.
She dismissed APC stressing that it is a party of confusionists and political opportunists seeking selfish interest. According to her, the APC leaders are deploying several factors to distract President Jonathan from delivering on his transformation agenda.
