Alleged 17 Billion Naira Withdrawal: Emeka Ihedioha not Prepared for Governance

By Onwuasoanya

Chief Emeka Ihedioha must understand the difference between campaign days and governance days. During campaigns, half-lies and propaganda may be tolerated, but when elections are won, we expect serious minded agenda pursuance and impactive rhetoric.

His recent allegation, though pushed through his Party Chairman and Secretary, that Governor Okorocha withdrew 17 billion Naira from different banks in less than three days, leaves lots of doubts about his preparedness for governance. As an erroneously declared governor-elect, he should be preparing for the task of governance, and more importantly, the very hard task of meeting up with the very high performance standards set by Governor Okorocha. He should leave the story telling and blame trading to those who won't be in government, for as long as as his illegitimate regime reigns - us.

Emeka Ihedioha seems to have forgotten that he ran his campaign on the falsehood that Imo had been grounded and is bankrupt. He told us that Imo is in debt to the tune of over 300 billion Naira and that there is no money anywhere to pay salaries or pay contractors. Yet, in the same Imo, there is a seventeen bullion Naira to be withdrawn in one day from different banks, yet, no single civil servant is being owed salary and not a single bank is owed. Yet Imo isn't grounded. Does our man really know what 17 billion Naira is? That's actually close to the annual budget of some small countries in Africa. It is a lot of money.

His Excellency Chief Emeka Ihedioha seems to be making excuses for his imminent failure in governance and his advisers should tell him that Imolites won't take anything less than a good performance from him, for the few days he will be there as a default governor, if he is erroneously sworn in.

His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha has said it severally that he is not owing any bank in the State or anywhere in the world, and he has challenged the management of any bank to come forward with claims of Imo's indebtedness to them or forever remain silent. Banks are private business institutions that won't allow personal relationships or any other consideration to make them lose their investments anywhere. If any bank is being owed by the outgoing administration, they would have quickly come out with a statement denouncing the governor's claims. Governor Okorocha isn't owing banks and Ihedioha has no reason not to fast track Imo's development and prosperity, as the Rescue Mission administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha has put the needed facilities and policies in place for Imo to overtake every other State in Nigeria in all indices of development and general prosperity of the people.

It is easy to understand that Chief Ihedioha wasn't prepared for the task thrust on his shoulder by the mistakes of the INEC REC and the Returning Officer. As an intelligent politician, Ihedioha knew he didn't have a chance of winning, hence, his wild allegations and stupendous promises of a massive turnaround. He didn't know he was going to have the chance to write results in the three Mbaise LGAs and most part of Owerri. He was more or less on a relevance keeping drive around town, but the mistake has happened and he is likely to be sworn in as governor, even though in error, hence, he is already creating alibis for failure. We won't take it!