Uzodinma-Ihedioha
The Coalition of Owerri Zone Social Cultural Organisation, kinsmen of Emeka Ihedioha, has risen in his stout defence, assailing the Imo State House of Assembly for not adopting the rule of law and due process in pursuit of the investigation regarding the N19.63billion, the former Governor of Imo State, was accused of pocketing.
Rejecting the style and manner adopted by the lawmakers, the coalition, which comprises “Olu Owerri, Obiriama Mbaise, Constituency for Owerri Zone, Oke Ovuru Ezue, Ezuruezu Mbaitoli, Ogbako Umu Ngor Okpala, Odinma Mbaise, Nzuko Umu Mbaise and Owerri Youth Assembly,” wondered why a probe of the alleged missing staggering sum of money should be conducted with what it described as “a muddled up Interim Audit Report” when the use of Final Audit Report is the appropriate practice.
Rising from an extra-ordinary emergency meeting held weekend at the “Ime Obi Olu Owerri” where it reviewed current issues in Owerri Zone and the state in general, the coalition in a three-page communiqué, urged the House and all those concerned with the probe to do the needful.
Chief Sampson Ogbo, who read the 11-point communiqué, said that it was funny, ridiculous and untenable for the state government to accuse their brother, who had served with dignity, in the highest office in the land as chief whip, deputy speaker and later speaker of the House of Representatives as well as a governor of the state of fraud, using a deliberately concocted Interim Audit Report that covered January 2019 to 31st December 2019.
It noted that Ihedioha was governor for only seven months – May 29, 2019 – January 14, 2020 during which the local government areas got a little above N3billion with which they paid salaries and pensions, paid part of the cost of purchasing road rehabilitation equipment which had been delivered to Governor Uzodinma, in addition to building magnificent office complexes among other projects.
“We know Hon. Ihedioha very well as our son in whom we are well pleased. We believe that he is not afraid of probe as he has already declared hence we urge that the rule of law and due process be followed in the entire process.”
The coalition, said it was “shocked” at the level of impunity, fraud, lies, propaganda and deceit with which the state had been governed in the last five months of Senator Hope Uzodinma-led APC administration, regretting that while the Owerri capital city was yet to witness the impact of the new administration unlike what obtained in the fourth month administration of Ihedioha.
They expressed sympathy with indigenes in the state especially civil servants, students of both the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and Federal Polytechnic Nekede who it lamented would go back to sufferings over deplorable road networks.
Besides, the coalition, also insisted that the current governorship tenure being used to blackmail and intimidate their son, was their legitimate right, having supported Orlu and Okigwe zones in the past to govern the state, urging all indigenes of Owerri zone involved in the complicity to have a re-think and retract their steps before it is too late.
The group commended the teeming youths and women of Owerri zone who had had to endure the unwarranted provocations and assault against their son and their zone.
“We are alert and vigilant to the activities of the Uzodinma administration and would never standby and watch our son dragged in the most dishonourable manner without justification. Senator Uzodinma should as a matter of urgency; put the machineries in motion to arrest the looming collapse of government and the already eroded confidence of the people in his government.”
Source Whirlwindnews.com