POOR IMO STATE

At the debate organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists for gubernatorial candidates‎ in Imo recently Governor Okorocha disclosed that Imo was a poor state. He disclosed that after paying salaries, all that was left of the monthly allocation from Abuja was 400 million Naira.

Four years ago, after he was elected, he always used every opportunity to declare that Imo was a rich state with plenty of money. 

Money which according to him was mismanaged by the Ohakim administration which he said spent the money on champagne and other indulgences.

 The people believed him.

That is why they were surprised by the declaration that Imo is poor state

Okorocha went on to tell the Debate audience that the "massive" projects he had undertaken were made possible because of the astute manner he had managed the meagre finances.

 As is usual with Okorocha,he did not tell the whole story.

He did not mention how much accrued to the state from other sources such as the Excess Crude , Millenium Development Goals , Education Trust,Ecological, Isopadec, and Local Government Funds among others.

 In the case of the last two, he seized the money and said he was saving it for them. 

The Local governments and the oil producing areas should ask him about their saved money which should have come to a huge sum after four years.

‎ Rochas also failed to mention how much had accrued to the state from its investments and  assets which he had leased out.

He did not disclose that he had inherited some money from his predecessor or how much he had borrowed.

Imo state is indeed a poor state. 

It is impoverished by Okorocha's un planned and reckless expenditure, high living and plain thievery‎.

Projects are not ‎thought through or planned. 

An example being the twenty seven teaching hospitals the government planned to build in all the local government areas. 

When Okorocha realised how ridiculous the proposal was he scaled them down to General hospitals. 

This was at a time he was selling off the eight general hospitals in the state because his government could not run or maintain them and their staff went unpaid for months. 

If he could not run eight existing hospitals, one can't help but wonder how he is going to be able to equip, staff and run twenty seven new hospitals. 

At the end of the day, the structures built at great cost will end up being inhabited by reptiles.

Okorocha's high living is costing the state a lot. Before now, Imo Governors travelled to Abuja and other locations within the country on commercial planes along with ordinary people.

Since he became Governor, Okorocha has never travelled on a commercial plane. 

All his trips have been by chartered private jets, hired for 2.5 million Naira for each trip.

 Considering the number of times he travels, plane charter must leave a big hole in the state's finances. 

So also has his Presidential project which he financed with state funds

 Many have questioned why Okorocha unilaterally, without seeking approval from anyone spent a whooping 4 Billion Naira to upgrade the Government House.

That was not the biggest problem facing the state, nor was the project necessary considering that previous Governors had lived there comfortably and happily.

The brazen theft of Government money running into billions through payment of huge mobilisation fees for useless projects which are soon abandoned or for non existent projects has contributed in no small way to the impoverishment our state. Examples include the Five star hotels in each of the three senatorial zones of the state, the multilevel car park and the high rise residential skyscrapers to mention a few.

With all the uncontrolled and reckless expenditure going on in the state, one is not surprised that‎ Imo state is broke or poor to quote it's Chief Executive. 

The situation must be really bad for the Governor to be facing an election almost two weeks into the new month and workers have not been paid for the previous month. Some have not been paid for months. As for Pensioners and Contractors, their ‎own is a sad story.

This is a taste of things to come. 

If Rochas is re- elected, the recklessness and impunity will increase as he will not be asking anyone for another mandate. 

Such impunity and recklessness will make life really difficult. 

Nobody wants that.  This is why Okorocha must be voted out on Saturday. 

God bless you as you vote. Remember,  Ka o puo!