Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has reacted furiously to a report that governor-elect, Emeka Ihedioha, directed banks to stop new transactions with the state government.
Ihedioha was quoted as saying during a media interaction in Owerri on Thursday that new transactions would increase chances of illegal activities and jeopardise the state’s financial stability.
However, in a statement on Friday by Okorocha’s spokesman, the governor warned Ihedioha to stay away from the state treasury until he assumes office on May 29.
“Emeka Ihedioha, who was declared winner of the governorship election in Imo State by Prof. Francis Ezeonu-led INEC in Owerri, does not have the right or locus yet to harass or give directives to the financial institutions in the state over their dealings with the state government.
“The media report quoting Ihedioha as having given such directive is unfortunate and a sign of ugly things to come. Otherwise, Ihedioha should not have been the first of all the governors-elect in the country to issue such directive,” he said.
Okorocha accused Ihedioha and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of being after looting the state treasury.
He said: “We are also not surprised at his issuing the directive because as a PDP man, his interest, first and foremost, will be the treasury of the state, and the policy or the slogan of ‘share the money’ will soon come back. But he should exercise patience and wait till he is sworn-in.
“He shouldn’t be in a hurry. There is a government in place and until May 29, 2019, that government should continue.”
