Date Published: 09/27/09

Imo: Disclose whereabouts of 40 billion bond government told

A Socio/Political group based in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Imo Democratic Congress has demanded that the Ikedi Ohakim led government disclose where about of the bond money totaling over 40Billion naira which it has already received from the UBA Plc since the month of July and for which an agreement has already been entered between the bank and Imo people.

A statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the group, Mr. Maximus Uba and made available to newsmen said the demand has become necessary in that nothing has been heard of the UBA PLC money or what it was utilized for except information making rounds that the money has grown wings and flown into the pockets of Imo functionaries. The statement of the Group read in part “The attention of Imo people have been drawn to the bond money made available to Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, by the UBA plc in Abuja. As we write nothing has been heard of the money after it was collected on a Sunday except the 10% disbursed to certain people who arranged the bond, that’s not all no new roads, no new schools have been built, no new hospitals and we ask, where was the money channeled to especially because the Oguta Lake Resort for which the bond was syndicated is still a shadow of itself. Already information which has not been denied by government has it that the bond money has already accompanied the Governor in its last trip to USA, we therefore demand that Imo State government give an account of the bond money so that what has been happening to local government allocations since 2007 including excess crude fund as well as state allocations do not happen to the bond money because every born Imo child has a stake in it especially since it was borrowed on their behalf ”.

In another development, the Congress has described the condolence message sent by Imo State Government to families of the slain Guardian reporter Bayo Ohu and Chief Gani Fawehinm as inordinate, hypocritical and playing to the gallery by a fellow who has no business sympathizing with the media. The group urged families of the two deceased patriots to disregard and reject messages as it is nothing but a clear case of hypocrisy. Their words “ Here is a Governor who ordered that a hapless Radio Nigeria reporter based in Owerri be beaten up for doing his legitimate duty, yet he is sending a condolence message to a dead colleague who died in active service. We warn these hypocrites to be careful else the ghost of the two men hunt them for sheer hypocrisy and grand standing.