I haven’t sold my government property, Okorocha denies

 

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has denied that his administration has sold some state government establishments, esaying that rather, his government has repurchased some establishments that were sold by previous administrations such as the Resin Paint Industry, Mbaise, and Paper Packaging Industry Owerre-Ebeiri.

Okorocha, in a media briefing at the Government House, Owerri, said he had resolved to embark on concessioning of some state parastatals against outright sale.

The governor said there was cordial relationship existing between him and the other governors of the South East, saying they had agreed to build an economic hub for Ndigbo collectively.

“We want to transform the South East. This is a period for the South East to look inwards. We must look inwards now. Politics is gone; this is the period for development. Let’s talk less of politics now, and see how we can develop the resources of our land,” Okorocha said.

The South East can develop the resources of their land and make the place better with or without politics, he said, adding that emphasis should now not be more on politics, but more on development of resources.

He regretted that “the politics we have in the Nigeria today is the politics of income from oil; if oil dries up, what will our people do?  This makes it imperative to look for alternatives now.”

The governor said his administration had inaugurated taskforces to address the challenges facing the state; like street trading, relocation of artisans, operating of motor parks at undesignated places as well as create more activities in the rural areas.

According to him, some of the taskforces will also look into roads that require attention, improve infrastructural development of schools, and bring the general hospitals to standards.

He also said he would implement an industrialisation programme in the communities, whereby, at least one cottage industry would be sited in a community to improve the economy of the state.

Government intends to raise N20 million for each community, while branches of the Imo Microfinance Bank would be established in all the 27 LGAs, he said, and reminded the people that Imo government would be hosting parliamentarians in 2017.

On the renovation work going on at the Imo Concord Hotel, Owerri, he said government would spare no effort in restoring the institution to its five-star status, while work would be completed on the dualisation of Owerri-Orlu–Akokwa road, in addition to the 27 general hospitals, judicial headquarters and Government House annex in Orlu and Okigwe.