The war of words raging between the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim appears unending with the latter firing back at the former.
In his latest release, Ohakim described Okorocha as a colossal failure for his inability to conduct LGA elections eight times after he promised eight times to conduct it.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS Collins Ughala, Ohakim who described Okorocha as a cerebral liar argued that the governor does not seem to have any iota of respect for the office he occupies adding that he only elevates falsehood to a state policy.
“Okorocha does not seem to have any iota of respect for the office he occupies; otherwise he won’t elevate falsehood to state policy. He has for example promised to conduct LG election 8 times and failed 8 times.
“This is what a people get when they inadvertently elect dubious characters into office where criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and the people, stealing, misappropriation of funds and financial rot leading to mass poverty becomes state policy”
“Ohakim’s statement further states that Okorocha, a man who has no respect for truth, went on to claim that the Judges are not being owed any salaries and allowances.
“His Excellency Dr Ikedi Ohakim maintains his statement that the honourable Judges are owed 16 months unpaid salaries. Ohakim further maintains that if by the end of March 2018 the honourable Judges are not substantially paid, he would lead a mass protest against the government, even if it means going naked on the streets of Owerri.
“Ohakim owes a responsibility to speak out as a former Governor of the state. One of the Judges, Honourable Justice Opara, died recently without being paid his entitlement.
“We hereby draw the attention of the Nigerian public to the suit number NICN/OW/58/2017 filed against Governor Okorocha by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Owerri Branch, wherein they prayed the court, among other things, for “A declaration that the practice whereby the respondents withhold or refuse to pay the sitting Judges of Imo State High Court and Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal that portion of their remuneration released to the respondents from the Consolidated Revenue Fund is a breach of Oath of Office of the 1st respondent as the Governor of Imo State who swore to preserve, protect and not to mutilate it”.
“It has become clear to everyone that the only person Okorocha and his partners in crime are afraid of is Ikedi Ohakim, maybe because Ohakim knows the government inside-out and tracks all Okorocha’s fraudulent activities.
“The accusation that Ohakim would be on vengeance mission against Imo people when he returns to government house in 2019 is laughable. Okorocha may have forgotten so soon that he never won any election and that Imo people voted overwhelmingly for Ohakim in 2011. Imo people therefore know those who stole their mandate and have used it to punish the poor masses.
“Anyone who has seen the level of ruination in Imo State, and the level of poverty, pain and death unleashed on the people by their own Governor would recommend that Okorocha, not Ohakim, goes for immediate psychiatric examination.
“May we remind Okorocha also that leadership demands decorum and respect for truth, and leadership is not the same thing as wearing pampas.
“Accusing Ohakim of wanting to come and loot is equally laughable. To loot what? After the mind boggling looting going on in Imo State, will there be anything left to loot? The biggest assignment for the government after Okorocha will be massive loot recovery, payment of outstanding salaries and allowances, repayment of over N200bn commercial and judgment debt, completion of abandoned projects, etc.
“We can therefore understand the apprehension of those who have looted public funds and assets, but Imo should rest assured that our massive loot recovery will ensure that every kobo and assets looted will be recovered”.
