Rochas Okorocha, outgoing governor of Imo State has said he is leaving behind a total of N42billion for his successor.
Mr Okorocha, who was declared winner of Imo West senatorial election but yet to collect his certificate, stated this on Monday while swearing-in 11 permanent secretaries including a new accountant-general for the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to issue the All Progressive Congress (APC) senator-elect his certificate, saying the declaration of results that produced the governor as a winner was made under duress.
The outgoing governor said his decision to save the aforementioned money is to ensure Emeka Ihedioha, the state’s governor-elect do not complain when he takes over the mantle of leadership next tomorrow.
Mr Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated his opponents including the son-in-law of the governor, Uche Nwosu, of the Action Alliance (AA).
“Imo State government has kept aside a total of N42.5b for the in-coming government, and for that reason, I will set up a sub-committee to make sure that the projects they are attached to, come to fruition even when I am out of office or when I will not be available because government is a continuum,” Okorocha said.
“The breakdown of the fund is as follows: N8.1b that came into Imo State pulse from both state and LG, from FAAC; that money has not been expended as not even one naira has been taken away from it and the money is in Zenith Bank Plc and has not been touched. The second is N5.2bn in Access Bank Plc, the remnant of the Paris Club fund; not one naira has been removed from it.
“The third fund is N7.6b, money that came from UBEC. Imo State has paid a total of N3.8b counterpart fund and UBEC has brought in their N3.8b. That gives us N7.6b. That money is intact and not one naira has been removed from it. The fourth fund is the RAMP fund of $60m representing N21.6b and is also in Imo State government’s account. It is with First Bank Plc. The money is also here in Imo State and no one naira has been touched.
“If you total N8.1b plus N5.2b, N7.6b and N21.6b, you have N42.6b which I will be handing over to the Emeka Ihedioha-led government as from May 29, 2019.
“How are these money meant to be expended? I want to put it succinctly clear. The N8.1b from FAAC usually will cover the cost of salaries and capital projects. This government is expected to spend this N8.1b for the payment of salaries for May and also for the payment of other contractual obligations as it may deem fit,” he added.
