He also expressed fears that Imo State will plunge into an emergency situation after the reign of the Rochas Okorocha administration.
Ihedioha stated that he has the capacity and right temperament to tackle myriad problems bedeviling Imo State, saying that some of those who want to be Imo State Governor should endeavour to understand the weight and depth of hopelessness the State has sunk into since the Rochas Okorocha administration came on board in the State.
Speaking some selected journalists at his Owerri home, Ihedioha revealed that Imo State is heavily indebted, adding that the State will require aids and grants to survive in the near future.
“It is unfortunate we do not understand the debt we have in Imo State. The situation is frightening. Since Rochas came on board, the State has been indebted to many local banks. The level of indebtedness is abysmal. Do you know how many Court judgments against the State Government as regard these debts?
He continued“Government is a continuum and you know these judgments have force of the law. It is binding on any administration after that of Rochas. So we will be compelled to repay these loans and by the time we do that Imo State require aids to survive. After Rochas Government, Imo State will be in an emergency situation.
He said it is important that anyone aspiring for the office of the Governor of Imo State should conduct sector by sector research to ascertain the level or condition of these sectors, adding that Imo State is in a sorry State.
Ihedioha punctured the free education initiative of the present administration, expressing worry that the faculties of law and medicine of the Imo State University have not been accredited by relevant authorities.
He continued “Soon we will be producing half baked lawyers and doctors from IMSU. The consequences of this are that we will have quack doctors because they are not certified doctors. You can imagine the implications for the State in the near future”
“Things have been done upside down. We have a situation in the State where a level 10 officer is made a permanent secretary in the Civil Service. This is the situation we have found ourselves in. It is a pity” he said
He also refuted allegations that he hijacked federal appointments that came to Imo State by favouring his Owerri geo political Zone, stressing that from the records it is Orlu Zone that benefited more than any other geo political zone.
He said “They forget I am the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and not Deputy Speaker of Imo State. Every appointment must be done to reflect all geo political zones in the country but I still managed to attract some of them to my home State”
The Deputy Speaker pointed out that those who accuse him of favouring Owerri Zone in such appointments are only envious of him, adding that those who bandied such false reports against his person does not mean well for him
On his governorship ambition, Ihedioha said he is the most prepared with the right temperament, experience and focus to take Imo State out of the woods. He however stated that he is not desperate to be governor, but insisted that he has conquered mundane issues.
He however expressed regret that the governorship contest in Imo State has been reduced to so much gossiping, blackmail and outright lies, recalling that he is a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“Imo State is at the lowest ebb. Governorship Aspirants ought to conduct a research to know the enormity of the problem we have here in Imo. I have done that and I know I have the capacity to transform Imo State.
“I have made a mark and my campaign is not about persons but on issues. I have the character. I have the discipline. I have a clear focus and we must kill the negative spirit of running our people down” Ihedioha declared.
He said he has contributed to the development of the State right from the time he was Chairman, Marine and Transport committee of the House and later Chief Whip, saying some projects in Imo State came to the State because he leveraged on his position to attract them.
He mentioned the Mbaise Ring Road, a multi billion naria jetty projcect sited near Owerrinta/Ngor Okpala/Omale/Elele/ Port Harcourt Road under construction as some of the monumental projects that has accrued to the area he was elected to the Federal House of Representatives.
He said he has funded the rehabilitation of several schools and so many other projects in the area, adding he has a duty and a calling to ensure he provides dividends of democracy to his constituents
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