By Valentine Amanze
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has said that the immediate past Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, ought to be resting in jail for allegedly looting the state dry.
The party was responding to the various attacks and allegations against Governor Emeka Ihedioha by the former governor.
Through its state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Damian Oparah, the PDP advised Okorocha to quietly retire to his Ideato home upon arrival from self-imposed exile instead of attacking Governor Ihedioha.
The party stated, “To us, Okorocha’s morbid fears are quite understandable.
“However, it is disgusting to note that the former governor, who mismanaged Imo people’s goodwill and left the state dilapidated and massively impoverished in all facets, still had the impudence to appear in public, believing that Imo people have short memory. By his utterances, Okorocha attempted to incite his hired supporters from neighbouring states into provoking Imo people to respond commensurately which could have precipitated something ugly if not for the maturity and restraint exhibited by Imo people.”
The PDP however warned that the goodwill and abiding faith of Governor Emeka Ihedioha in ‘Rule of Law’ “should not be misconstrued by a shameless lawbreaker, electoral fraudster, tyrant, oppressor of civil servants and pensioners in Imo, as an act of cowardice.”
“For Okorocha to make Governor Ihedioha object of discussion, on his return to the state, several months after he ran away from the state out of fear of being lynched, portrays him as a petty schemer and drowning man, who wants to attach his imminent disgraceful downfall on the PDP government in Imo,” the party stated.
The party insisted that
Okorocha must be made to account for his colossal stewardship for eight years as governor. Besides, the PDP asked:
1. What is Okorocha’s relationship with Zigreat Nigeria Ltd, a fictitious company without address which he used to siphon over N30 billion belonging to the Imo State Government when he held sway as Governor?
2. Okorocha claims he never molested or harassed anybody as a sitting governor. What of what transpired on August 5, 2011, when he sent his thugs led by Chief Placid Ekwueme from Ohaji/Egbema LGA to invade HRM, Eze (Dr) Cletus Ilomuanya’s residence at Civic Centre Layout, Owerri? Till date, he has refused to pay the N10 million slammed on him by the Federal High Court, Owerri for such unlawful invasion and harassment of the monarch. This is one out of series of other intimidations/ harassments Imo people suffered under Okorocha’s tyrannical rule.
3. How much did Okorocha spend in the construction of the meaningless and economical non-viable monument he called “Akachi” on somebody’s land against a court order? The almost N700 million reportedly wasted on that shamble of a project should have been used to pay our pensioners. How can a man be that reckless?
4. What were the occupations of his wife, Nkechi Okorocha, and daughter, Uloma, before Okorocha became governor? Within eight years, all of them became billionaires overnight courtesy of Imo people’s fund while workers’ salaries were wickedly and inhumanly slashed to suit their lust to steal public money.
5. Why is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) now a regular visitor to only Okorocha and his family members? Flies can only hover where there are rotten edible items. Okorocha and his family stink of graft and must be made to account for every dime stolen from Imo treasury. His eight years misrule has left Imo bleeding profusely financially.
The PDP described Olorocha’s recent outburst against the PDP led government in the state as diversionary tactics, stressing that Imo people were too wise to fall for such criminal gimmick.
The party also warned Okorocha to be mindful of his conducts as he is not above the law.
According to the party, “Okorocha must know that because the crocodile opened its mouth wide for river birds to peck at, does not mean it has lost the power to bite.
“It is only a swollen headed person like Okorocha, who does not appreciate the essence of tapping form the wealth of experience of tested and accomplished technocrats like those Hon. Commissioners appointed by Governor Ihedioha, whom Okorocha referred to in his insipid diatribe. Making such reference only proves how empty Okorocha is and why he ran Imo aground with his bunch of neophytes because of his inordinate ambition to create a political dynasty of thieves under his supreme command.”
