Imo: Ihedioha approves suspension of LG chairmen, sacks ISIEC chairman, members

POLITICS

Imo: Ihedioha approves suspension of LG chairmen, sacks ISIEC chairman, members

 

Governor Emeka Ihedioha, has approved the suspension of Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Councilors and political appointees of the local governments of Imo State and constitution of Interim Management Committees for six months.

The suspension is contained in the instrument signed by the Governor, pursuant to the recommendation made to him by the Imo State House of Assembly.

A statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu, said this was in pursuant also, to the provisions of Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Local Government Administration (Amendment) law, 2019 and S.73(3) of Imo State Local Government Administration Law No 15 of 2000 (as amended) and all other laws enabling him.

“The Governor has set up Interim Management Committees to manage the affairs of each Local Government.

“Consequently, the Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGS) of each Local Government have been directed to take over management, pending the confirmation of Interim Management Committees by the State Assembly,” he said.

In a similar development, the Governor approved the dissolution and removal of the chairman and members of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC).

This followed a resolution supported by two-thirds majority of the State Assembly rendered on 6th June, 2019 seeking their removal from office.

“The action is also in accordance with the provisions of S.7(1) of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission Law and all other extant laws of the State”, the statement added.

“The Commission will be reconstituted in due course to put in place the machinery for conducting a credible election into the local governments.

“The Governor further directs that these officers handover to the most senior civil servant in the Commission.”

 

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Imo: Shut up, return all stolen money, properties – Ihedioha fires back at Okorocha

POLITICS

Imo: Shut up, return all stolen money, properties – Ihedioha fires back at Okorocha

 

The Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has told his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, to shut up and return all government properties and monies, he and members of his family allegedly siphoned.

Okorocha was advised to toe the line instead of indulging in reckless utterances and blackmail gimmicks against Ihedioha.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday in Owerri, the State capital by Chief of Staff to Governor Ihedioha, Barr Chris Okewulonu.

Okewulonu was reacting to a statement credited to Okorocha wherein he asked Governor Ihedioha to stop running Imo as if he was still a lawmaker.

He said that the State was in a deplorable socio-economic political condition as a result of Okorocha’s visionlessness style of administration.

He described Okorocha as ”a braggart who is empty but claims to know everything. He is a Jack of trades but master of none. He should apologize to Imo people rather than seeking for cheap attention again after the horrible things he did in Imo “

Okewulonu said that “95% of the projects Okorocha claimed to have executed in Imo are either sub-standard or exist in his own imagination. Within a short time, Ihedioha’s achievements would dumb found Okorocha and his hirelings. The governor will not be distracted by the tantrums of a failure like Okorocha.

“I advise Okorocha to shut and stop disgracing himself further. He messed up Imo and left office in ignominy.

“Let him and his cronies first return all government properties and monies they illegally carted away before having the temerity to attempt blackmailing a government that is barely three weeks old. He who seeks for equity must first come with clean hands.”

“Okorocha’s hands are very dirty and he cannot therefore, criticize Governor Ihedioha known for excellence in service delivery,” Okewulonu added.

 

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Imo: Okorocha mocks Ihedioha, says governor behaving like Reps member

POLITICS

Imo: Okorocha mocks Ihedioha, says governor behaving like Reps member

 

Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State, has challenged his successor, Emeka Ihedioha, to stop behaving like a lawmaker.

He said rather than settle down to his responsibility of governance, Ihedioha had been setting up committees as if he was still a member of the House of Representatives on oversight functions.

The governor stated this in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, yesterday.

The statement read, “The new governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has not started to govern the state; looking at his activities and utterances so far.

“He has been embarking on oversight functions as if he is still at the National Assembly where he was, uninterruptedly, for 12 years.

“He has also been busy setting up series of committees with at least three committees a day, and has never done any serious thing or taken any serious step or said any serious thing to show that he has actually taken the seat as the governor of the state. He also seems not to have cared about asking questions.

“In the course of doing oversight functions even as governor, he would go to one bad dredging site which he won’t mention where it is, he would send out the photograph just to blackmail his predecessor or he would send out the photograph of one bad toilet they got from somewhere and said it was in the Government House. So petty and unserious all these days.

“The former governor left more than 1,000 verifiable projects behind for him. He has never cared to visit any of the projects to show that he has come to work and that he means well.

“If he could be showing the world one bad toilet we knew they got from Owerri Office of the PDP when landmark projects are located at various parts of the state waiting for him to see, and know what to do with them; then he hasn’t come for service.”

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Imo: Gov. Ihedioha finally receives Okorocha’s hand-over note

NEWS

Imo: Gov. Ihedioha finally receives Okorocha’s hand-over note

 

Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State has finally accepted a handover note from his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha.

Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Uche Onyeagocha, received the note from Secretary to the Immediate past Governor, Arch. Emeka Duru, at the Cabinet Office, Owerri.

Governor Ihedioha had raised alarm that no document was handed over to him by the former Governor, Okorocha.

But the Okorocha government had claimed, in its response, that Ihedioha refused to honour the invitations from his predecessor to receive the handover notes properly before the inauguration.

The SSG, who received the document on behalf of the governor yesterday, handed it over to the Chief of Staff, Chris Okewulonu.

Okewulonu told reporters, “A copy of the hand over note should have been sent to the incoming before now for proper view between the outgoing and incoming Governor’s.

“We will go through the Document and further study them, and then let Imolites judge weather the said Hand over Note meets the Standard Requirements.”

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Ihedioha’s govt issues fresh order to ex-Gov. Okorocha’s commissioners, appointees

NEWS

Ihedioha’s govt issues fresh order to ex-Gov. Okorocha’s commissioners, appointees

 

The Imo State Government has directed those appointed by ex-Governor Rochas Okorocha, to vacate the state Commissioners’ Quarters.

This was contained in a terse press release signed by the Secretary to the Government of Imo state, Chief Uche Onyeagucha, on Friday.

According to the statement, “Government has observed with dismay that some past Commissioners and appointees are still occupying houses at the Commissioners Quarters at Concorde Avenue and other government premises.

“By this notice, the said occupants are hereby directed to vacate those Quarters immediately.”

Meanwhile, Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo has approved the constitution of a Financial Advisory Committee for the state government.

A press release signed by the Secretary to the Imo state government, Uche Onyeagucha, and issued to newsmen on Friday, named, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo as Chairman of the committee.

Others are: Mr. Nick Opara Ndudu (Secretary), Nze Charles Onwunali (Member), Mr. Kelechi Omeni-Nzewuihe(Member), Sir Chime Aliliele (Member), Mr. Charles Nwogu (Member), Mrs. UdezeIbezim (Member) and Mrs. Ify Maureen Okafor (Member).

The release stated that the committee’s terms of reference included to: ascertain and document the locations of and balances on all bank accounts operated by Imo State government, its Ministries, Departments and Agencies as at May 29, 2019.

“To review all financial transactions and where necessary a forensic audit, with a view to ascertaining sources of funds and the application of same.

“To review such disbursements/applications of State resources to ascertain the propriety of charges levied on accounts, interest payment on loans and deposits where applicable, authorization, etc.

“To review the operations of the Imo State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) with a view to recommending appropriate strategies to reposition the agency for better performance and sustained growth.

“To conduct governance/financial reviews of key agencies of government with a view to document all revenues generated or subventions/allocations between 2011 – 2019 and reviewing the propriety of applications/disbursements of State resources between 2011 – 2019.”

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Gov. Ihedioha orders, reopening of Douglas Road, suspension of dredging activities in Imo

NEWS

Gov. Ihedioha orders, reopening of Douglas Road, suspension of dredging activities in Imo

 

The governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has ordered the immediate suspension of all dredging activities in rivers within Owerri, the state capital.

A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu, yesterday said Ihedioha was miffed by the uncontrolled activities of those dredging the water bodies.

The governor also ordered the immediate reopening of Douglas Road, Owerri, which was closed by the immediate past governor, Rochas Okorocha.

The statement said that the governor gave the orders while taking facility tours in the state capital at the occasion marking the 2019 World Environment Day.

The statement reads in part, “The governor, who lamented the uncontrolled dredging activities in Owerri, ordered the immediate suspension of all dredging activities within the state capital.

“Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha has ordered the immediate reopening of Douglas Road, Owerri, closed by the last administration.

“The governor who gave the directive during a working visit to the area, expressed concern over the hardship faced by motorists as a result of the continued closure of the road, reiterating his commitment to making life more meaningful for the people of the state.

On the controversy over the relocation of Ekeukwu Owerri market, the statement said: “Governor Ihedioha assured the jubilant traders that the matter will be revisited, informing them of his plans to begin consultations with the traditional owners of the market and the leadership of Owerri, before a decision is taken on the matter.”

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Imo: Why I’m finding it difficult to work – Gov. Ihedioha cries out

NEWS

Imo: Why I’m finding it difficult to work – Gov. Ihedioha cries out

 

The Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has decried the failure of his immediate predecessor, Rochas Okorocha to handover documents containing the financial stance of the state to him.

Ihedioha lamented that he has no documents showing the financial status of the state, hence the difficulty of his administration to hit the ground running.

Against this backdrop, the governor said he asked all financial institution to stop transacting with his predecessor.

The governor also decried the condition of the state’s Government House, saying he can’t work from office.

He maintained that the Government House was an eye sore.

Vanguard quoted Ihedioha as saying yesterday: “We have difficulties operating from Imo Government House now. But I told Imo people that we will start work and give no excuses.

“We will give dividends of democracy irrespective of the state of facilities I inherited from the outgone administration.

“The government that ended was not prepared to handover or ready to receive us. I thank Imo people for receiving us and we shall serve the state with the fear of God.

“All financial institutions that have a relationship with Imo State Government should not honour any withdrawal instruction by cheques, transfers or in any form.

“No financial mandates, ISPOs or any form of financial instruction should be treated. All outstanding financial instructions already with banks and financial institutions should be put on hold.

“This directive covers all the accounts of ministries, departments, parastatals, local government councils, quasi-government agencies and all revenue generating organs of government.

“Banks and non-bank financial institutions are to take note and ensure compliance, as the state government will not be responsible for any disbursement, effected contrary to this directive.”

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