A recently published article by one Collins Opurozor exhibited embarrassing ignorance on facts about the industrialisation policies and milestones of the Imo State Government under the Governorship of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. In the said piece, the writer feigned ignorance of the achievements of the Shared Prosperity administration in the revitalisation of the State’s moribund commercial establishments.
To set the records straight, Imo State debt stock as at 31st March 2019 under Senator Rochas Okorocha stood at N97b while as at 31st December under Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the State was indebted to the tune of N164b. Statistics from Debt Management Office (DMO) shows a debt profile of N151b as at 30th September 2021 (which is the latest published by the DMO) under Governor Hope Uzodimma.
It would interest you to know that these statistics are public records accessible by anyone. Therefore, there is no need for the opposition party to engage in the business of peddling falsehood and deceiving the people of Imo State.
While ranting about the State’s commercial establishments, which he ignorantly claimed had not functioned, it is worthy of note the fact that during the tenure of the ousted PDP-led illegal regime, none of these institutions received attention. Instead, they were busy diverting public funds to their private pockets, renovating thier houses as well as completing their hotels.
On that regard, I make bold to highlight few of the numerous programs and engagements of the 3R Government in rehabilitating these institutions to operational status. Interestingly, the Imo State Government of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has just cleared the debt of N1.3b owed Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in the recovery of the Imo Standard Shoe Company. A debt which arose from previous governments reneging on agreements, leading to AMCON seizing the company.
With this recent development, the industry would now undergo rehabilitation in order to commence operations. Other commercial institutions of the State are receiving needed attention to come alive for the benefit of the State. It is therefore an act of irresponsibility on the part of PDP’s Collins Opurozor to insult the sensibility of ndi Imo State with falsehood and adopted ignorance.
Dr. Ezeafurukwe Paul Ihunanya
DG Hope New Media
