Chuks UzochukwuIMO State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma has inaugurated a committee charged with the responsibility of recovering all of the state’s illegally acquired assets.
Uzodinma has, since assumption of office, been locked in battle with former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha in an attempt to recover government property said to be in his custody.
Okorocha and his associates were also accused of illegally converting government assets to personal use during his Rescue Mission administration in the state.
The former Imo governor had instituted several legal suits to stop Governor Uzodinma, describing the move as vendetta and cheap blackmail against his person and those that worked with him.
But inaugurating, “the Whitepaper Implementation Committee on Lands and Other Related Matters”, on Monday, Uzodinma urged the committee, led by former Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie to be fair and firm in the course of discharging their duties.
He reiterated his determination to implement the various recommendations of the Whitepaper in order to move the State forward and, “to ensure that present and future governments are governed by the rule of law.”
He added that his government owes no one apologies in its bid to achieve equity, fairness, accountability, transparency and rule of law.
Uzodinma also pointed out that the initial delay in activating the recovery processes was because “there were lots of legal and court processes challenging the Whitepaper by those who are involved in the illegal acquisition.”
He, however, disclosed that both the legal and judicial hurdles had been cleared, hence the Committee can now do its job without delay or hindrance.
“You must implement the recommendations to the letter as the demands of the Whitepaper is unambiguous,” Uzodinma said.
“This is because both government and people’s property were illegally and fragrantly acquired by few individuals and their cronies without regard to the rule of law. The recovery of all stolen Imo wealth is nothing but what the people need.”
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