Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, returned to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday to beg President Muhammadu Buhari for a refund of over N32billion his predecessors spent on Federal Government’s projects, especially on roads in the state.
Mr. Uzodinma later told State House correspondents after the meeting that Imo is ‘financially distressed’ and the money could help in paying salaries and pensions.
Uzodinma said he updated Mr. Buhari with the state of things in Imo and that the president listened.
It was the second time in five weeks, the governor had gone to see the president at the villa. Immediately after he was sworn in as governor in January, he had also gone to the villa, with his party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole to greet the president.
Uzodinma’s predecessors are Achike Udenwa (1999 to 2007), Ikedi Ohakim (2007 to 2011), Rochas Okorocha (2011 to 2019) and Emeka Ihedioha who governed for seven months before the supreme court sacked him.
In June 2019, Ihedioha launched the construction of 16 urban roads in the state, totalling 81 kilometers and estimated to cost N23.4 billion.
The former governor also started the reconstruction of Government Technical College (GTC) road, Okporo road and Orlu road.
Ihedioha had filed an application at the supreme court, asking for the sack of Uzodinma as a governor. He argued, among other things, that Uzodinma fraudulently misled the apex court in declaring him the winner of the Imo governorship election.
The case is slated for hearing on March 2.
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