– Accuses State Govt Of Using Project To Embezzle Money
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Imo State chapter, has called on the Hope Uzodinma-led All Progressive Congress administration in t6he state to tell Imolites the truth about the proposed orchestrated dredging of Orashi River that was flagged off amidst fanfare in 2023 but later abandoned.
The PDP, in a release signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiaku, recalled that, “the Imo state government invited the former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osibanjo and many other prominent citizens to flag of what they deceptively called the hydrographic survey and dredging of the proposed sea route from Oguta Lake, Urashi, Degema to the Atlantic Ocean.
This orchestrated project that was obviously aimed at scoring cheap political points has been kept in abeyance eighteen months after the razzmatazz that heralded it’s flagoff. This confirms our long held opinion that it was a plot designed to siphon money”.
The release also wondered why the state government has uptill date not told Imo people the level of its commitment in terms of cost and time of delivery.
“The Governor and his henchmen have also vehemently refused to tell the people whose money is being channeled into the project whether the Rivers is being dredged just for the sake of dredging or whether the Federal Government and the National Assembly have publicly or secretly approved a sea port for Imo State, as required by law.”
“We know that the whole idea was to create a false impression that the Government was actually executing the project so that they would divert billions of taxpayers’ money into private pockets. It was gathered that the flag-off alone cost the State N1.9 billion. The project is a hoax. It is obvious that the government of the day lacks the character and willpower to pull it through.
We challenge the State Government, particularly the Governor who waxed lyrical over the project throughout 2023 to openly declare what they have done since its flamboyant and costly flag-off. Imo people will appreciate concrete evidence that they actually mean business and have not been playing to the gallery all these while just to create a conduit to further siphon billions of naira from the State’s coffers as they have always done.
Ordinarily, a responsible and sincere government would have done this without external prompts, but as a government that places little premium on transparency and accountability, we are not surprised at the turn of events. The Uzodinma-led administration has exhibited profligacy and inclination to shady practices”.
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