Former governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo state has reacted to Governor Hope Uzodinma’s recent press briefing in Abuja, accusing the governor of feeding the people of Imo with lies.
Governor Uzodinma during his media chat with newsmen at the Presidential Villa Abuja accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of having senior staff members in South East who are card carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was why they refused to record the results of 388 polling units where he won.
Uzodinma also expressed confidence that the time for the supreme court to handle the electoral matter on Imo guber had elapsed. Hence, the judgement cannot be reversed.
In a statement released on Sunday by his press secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu, Ihedioha said: “Truth remains that he is quite convinced that his position is founded on clear illegitimacy. Hence, he is not expected to say anything different from what he feels will interest his very few supporters”.
Ihedioha berated Governor Uzodinma for claiming that time for election petition has elapsed which prove the fact he was playing to the gallery.
Ihedioha accused the Uzordimma of what he described as failed ambushing of the Supreme Court, adding that the Supreme Court knows that he has a very good case as shown in all the glaring facts of the matter and so does not require his lame opinion.
Ihedioha reminded the people of Imo state the salaries of the entire workers in the service from 70% to 100% as well as pensions was restored by him and they were paid as and when due to Imo workers until the Supreme Court judgement.
Ihedioha insisted that the restoration of pipe-borne water and electricity, as well as payment of all outstanding salaries owed Imo workers which Governor Hope Uzodinma claimed to have achieved is also a fallacy.
He said it is surprising that Senator Uzodimma has resorted to telling lies to the people of Imo and Nigerians on the true state of affairs in Imo State.
Ihedioha said that he did not bear any grudge on Uzodinma’s statement that the Supreme Court can not review its January 14th, 2020 judgement.
On Uzodinma’s claimed that no governor had visited State Secretariat, Owerri, Ihedioha dismissed that, saying it is the height of mockery of the collective workforce in the state while noting that he visited state Secretariat on the 2nd of July, 2019
During that visit according to him, he addressed very happy and enthusiastic workers who genuinely threw their support behind his administration.
He said that from media reports Senator Uzodinma on arrival at the Secretariat met a hostile and gloomy staff who are still in shock at the pronouncement that put him in the position he is occupying.
Ihedioha said that is was the Rebuild Imo Administration that ensured electricity as well as pipe-borne water which was restored after 8 years at the Secretariat on the 13th of September, 2019, following his express directive to the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Imo State Power and Rural Electrification Agency-I-POREA, one of the agencies created by his administration.
He said that reactivation and reticulation of water in the state was later achieved, leading to clean pipe-borne water running again in parts of Owerri city for the first time since 2011 which everybody in Imo can testify to these facts.
On Uzodinma’s assurances to his audience that he was going to continue from where he Ihedioha stopped, he said that Uzodinma only wants to take credit for the signature project achievements by him.
