Despite the intention of the Governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to carter for the welfare of past Governors of the State including Ikedi Ohakim by building Executive guest houses for them in the state capital, same cannot be said of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Ada Okwuonu.
A source in the Government House, Owerri disclosed that following an application by Ada Okwuonu to the state Governor for the payment of her severance and pension areas as deputy Governor of the state since she left office May 27, 2011, the former deputy to ex – governor Ikedi Ohakim was shocked to her bone marrow when of the total amount of N123m she applied as due to her as severance allowance and gratuity only N3m was allegedly approved by Governor Okorocha.
Mrs Okwuonu who went to court to challenge government decision to impound private vehicles from her private house in Enugu on the pretence that they were government vehicles which, she allegedly carted away when leaving office, applied for the payment of her statutory severance gratuities and pension backed by law.
In response to her application, a source in Government House revealed that the Governor through a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Tony Anwuka only approved the sum of N3m to the chagrin of the former Deputy Governor who has relocated to Enugu to manage her hotel business.
Imo Trumpeta learnt that the sum of N3m approved for her severance dazed Ada Okwuonu who it was further gathered could not muster courage to demand for payment.
Efforts to speak to Ada Okwuonu proved abortive as her phone numbers remained unavailable. Even her former Chief Press Secretary, Barr Emperor Iwuala when contacted for comments promised to reach our correspondents after discussions with the former Deputy Governor on the matter.
It would be recalled that Okorocha stopped two months salaries, severance allowances and other statutory payments owed all political appointees who served in the last administration of Dr Ikedi Ohakim.
