N600m decorations: Okorocha replies Emeka Ihedioha

OWERRI—Imo State Government has expressed reservations at the way the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, rushed to the media to attack Governor Rochas Okorocha over what he claimed to have read about the governor earmarking N600 million for decorations.

Okorocha

The government’s stand was made public through a press statement signed the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo.

“On our part, we feel for Chief Ihedioha, that, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of that House for 12 years, could rush to the media to attack the governor over what he claimed to have read about the governor earmarking N600million for decorations, and not that the governor has spent the amount on the issue.   And he could not also disclose the source of the report for it to be believed”, Onwuemeodo stated.

While saying that the only time Chief Ihedioha can be read on the pages of newspapers is whenever he attacks the governor, Onwuemeodo also challenged Chief Ihedioha and his PDP people to catalogue and publish their achievements for the 12 years they governed the state and let Governor Okorocha publish his own achievements for the period he has held sway.

“We also  challenge Chief Ihedioha to tell Imo people why the Owerri-Port Harcourt road, Aba-Owerri road, Umuahia-Owerri road could not be finished when he was number seven citizen in the country as the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives.   Let him also publish the list of NDDC projects for the state and the contractors,” Onwuemeodo said.

…effigy destroyed

The growing anti-Rochas Okorocha sentiments in Imo State, has taken a new twist, as his effigy that was installed in his Ideato South country home was destroyed by unknown persons.

The statue, which depicted Governor Rochas Okorocha on a horse back was  mounted at the Ogboko Junction, along the Orlu-Urualla federal highway, as the frenzy over his gubernatorial success was at its peak.

Vanguard, who rushed to the scene of the destruction, on getting wind of the news, noticed that the effigy had been brought down and damaged beyond redemption.

Although the state government and its functionaries have remained silent over the destroyed governor’s effigy, no individual or group has however claimed responsibility for the destruction.

N600m decorations: Okorocha replies Emeka Ihedioha

Ihedioha blames executive for corruption

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, on Sunday blamed the executive arm of government of failing to curb the wide spread of corruption in the country.

Emeka Ihedioha and Tambuwal

Ihedioha made the accusation in Benin, when he led other members of the House to condole with the House Minority Whip, Mr Samson Osagie, over the demise of his father.

The deputy speaker, who was responding to questions from newsmen, said the 7th assembly had done its best to expose corruption in the country.

Ihedioha said, “It is unfair for anybody to indicate that the Assembly did nothing about corruption.

“First, the leadership of the House and the entire 7th Assembly discharged itself as a House that leads by example throughout.

“We led the house transparently and we kept our books open for any group or individual to appreciate how we ran the affairs of the house.

“That is why, in the 7th assembly, there is no banana pills.

“We also did everything that we could to expose corrupt practices by any branch of government and by any member of the society.

“We have done all we need to do and we have asked the executive to do its own part.

“If the executive failed to do its own part, that is not the responsibility of the house and it is not an indictment on the legislature.

“We have exposed corruption where necessary.”

Ihedioha disclosed that the House had completed work on the Petroleum Industry Bill and would table it for passage this week.

He said, “We have slated it for passage and we have mentioned it and we said we have to accomplish it before the end of this 7th assembly.

“As we speak, copies of the bill for consideration have been distributed to all members of the house to enable them to study it so that they can make informed input.

“So, come this week, we invite all Nigerians to join us as we take clause by clause consideration of the bill.

“We believe that its passage will do the Nigeria economy and the petroleum industry a lot of good.”

Ihedioha blames executive for corruption

Deputy Speaker In Trouble For Hosting Tambuwal

DEPUTY Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, appears to have landed in trouble, for hosting the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, to a reception, after the latter’s defection to opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Emeka Ihedioha and Tambuwal

Sources in the National Assembly told the Nigerian Tribune that President Goodluck Jonathan and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were angry with the Deputy Speaker for hosting Tambuwal to a warm reception, few hours after the Speaker defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC.

But the spokesman of Ihedioha, Oke Epia, on Thursday, said the allegation that Ihedioha hosted Tambuwal was not true.

He stated that the duo could meet as presiding officers of the House and not as party members.

“Are they saying the deputy speaker is no longer a chieftain of the PDP? I can tell you that his loyalty is unshaken. He remains committed to PDP. These are political times and all sort of things could be raised by political opponents,” he said.

Sources, however, said the meeting between Tambuwal and Ihedioha took place at the Deputy Speaker’s guest house in Pope John Paul Street, off Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja.

“Ihedioha has been asked to explain whose master he has elected to serve; because we cannot understand why he chose to host Tambuwal to a warm reception, a few hours after he defected from our party to APC.

“Is the deputy speaker with us or he is planning to move to APC with his boss? The PDP deserves an answer from him,” a source said.

The source further said at this “critical moment of political decision,” President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to be very clear on whose side Ihedioha belonged.

Viewed 1 times
Deputy Speaker In Trouble For Hosting Tambuwal

2015: "I will dislodge Governor Okorocha" - Ihedioha

As the race for the Imo State Government House come 2015 continues to gather momentum, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, has vowed to dislodge Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Ihedioha stated this during his state-wide consultation visit to members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Okwelle, Onuimo Local Government Area of the state at the weekend.

Addressing the leaders, officers and stakeholders of the party, Ihedioha said: “I have come to meet face to face with you and interact on the way forward for our party and our dear state in general. I am motivated to seek the support of our great party for the nomination because I have a track record of service delivery including empowerment programmes, infrastructural development, years of experience and indeed the capacity to give Okorocha a technical knockout.”

While lamenting the level of decay in the state, the deputy speaker said: “Rochas has sold everything including Imo Transport Company, Ada Palm, hospitals including mortuaries,” noting that, “the primary purpose of governance is to improve the lives of the people and ensure the security of lives and property.”

He regretted that the APC-led administration had rather impoverished the state instead of alleviating their suffering.

Assuring the people that the state would rise again, the deputy speaker said: “I will fix Imo State and restore the pride of our land. I have a sense decency and coming with sincerity of purpose, honesty and a well articulated work plan which, by the grace of God, if I am elected, will start impacting the state positively within the first three months of our administration.”

He added that having used his position to attract substantial federal government presence for the benefit of the people, he would also continue to use his position, network of friends and the goodwill he had built over the years to continue to attract amenities to the state.

Ihedioha promised that the ongoing rehabilitation of Owerri-Okigwe Road, which he solely facilitated at the cost of N300 million and implemented by Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA) would impact the area positively.

He also announced that contract for construction of the second phase of the Isinweke-Onicha Uboma-Imo River Road in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, was being awarded in an effort to encourage rice farmers and boost the economy of the state

Ihedioha enjoined the people to continue to keep faith with the party as the only vehicle for good governance and dividends of democracy.

Earlier in his speech, the host and leader of the PDP in the local government, Hon. Maxwell Duru, a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, while welcoming the deputy speaker, described him as an honest and humble politician who has interest in the service of the people.

He urged the deputy speaker to continue to be a good ambassador and assured him of their prayers and unalloyed support for the party.

Ihedioha was accompanied to the area by leaders of the party, aides and political associates from the 27 local governments in the state.

2015: "I will dislodge Governor Okorocha" - Ihedioha