* Uzodinma


By Collins Opuruzo,  Owerri

Governor Hope Uzodinma  Tuesday was asked to take back his statement that he met an empty treasury on assumption of office, and in future show more transparency in management of the State's treasury

"Statement by Gov Hope Uzodinma during his 100 days celebration that he met an empty treasury is absolute falsehood.  In the period under review, which is the first quarter of 2020, a total of about N10.3 billion accrued to Imo State from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements .

"Indeed between January and March 2020, the gross sum of N13.5 billion
accrued to Imo from FAAC, and after the deductions for debt servicing, which amounted to a little above N3 billion, thus the  Uzodinma administration got about N10.3 billion in liquid cash", says Hon Emeka Nwobeke, Director-General of Imo People Liberation Movement

He continues: " In addition, the IGR profile of Imo State, going by Gov Uzodinma's confession rose to N1.2 billion per month, and at the end of the first quarter may have  stood at N3.6 billion. So we are talking of a total of N13.9 billion which accruedt o the Uzodinma administration in its 100 days in office.

"That being the case, we expected Gov Uzodinma to have shown Imo people, tangible, people-oriented projects or policies initiated or contracts awarded for same during the period. But he waffled

" To say the least, Imo people were dissappointed by the incoherent, rambling speech  from their governor which ended up saying nothing about taking the state to the next level.

"Without mincing words, Gov Uzodinma has taken the wrong turn to non accountability and lack of tranparency by not specifically telling Imo people how their money was spent. He should explain to Imo people  the whereabouts of the N13.9 billion which indeed came but was not spent on anything tangible, salaries are still being owed to Imo workers. Imo people need urgent answers for they are passing through difficult times and cannot condone a regime that fleeces the common treasury and plunges them again into the abyss of penury.

In his reaction, the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Mbadiwe Emelumba maintained that Gov Uzodinma runs an open and transparent government. The governor in his 100 days in office speech amongst others listed six (6) roads which are almost completed and will be commissioned in a few days timev these includes  Oparanozie St to Relief Market Road; Chukwuma Nwaoha Relief Market Road; Assumpta World Bank Road; Assumpta Roundabout to Concorde Junction; Dick Tiger- Egbu Junction road and  Dick Tiger Aladinma Lake Nwaebere Road 

" Roads he already completed incluhudes  Umuaka internal Road in Njaba L.G.A. (4 Kilometers) Amaigbo – Njaba Road (14Kilometres) Mgbidi – Omuma Road.

"Dont forget the renovation of the State Secretariat and the Governor's lodge which are at advanced stages, and numerous other projects, some a carry over from the last administration, which he is funding', he affirmed