The immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has told his successor, Emeka Ihedioha, to stop blackmailing him.
Okorocha advised Ihedioha to face governance and improve the lot of the state.
The former governor made his position known in a statement made available to journalists in Owerri, the state capital, on Monday by his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo.
Okorocha claimed that the governor had made up his mind to blackmail him even before he was sworn in on May 29.
The statement read, “We do think that the new governor came to power only to vilify Okorocha. Since May 29, 2019 when he was inaugurated, he has never said any other thing aside talking down on the former governor.
“First, he went to demolish the Akachi Tower and Imo people cried foul. He said Okorocha had been arrested by EFCC, which was also false. He renamed the Imo Trade and Investment Centre, Ahiajioku Centre, and he must have discovered that he has no audience.
“He has also said the brand new Government House that Okorocha handed over to him was an eyesore with a photograph of a bad toilet they must have taken from the PDP Office in Owerri.
“He has also denied that the former governor left N42.5bn for him, yet, the banks mentioned have never denied being in custody of the mentioned sums.
“Today, it is the issue of handover. There was a joint inauguration committee with the Secretary to the State Government now, Chief Chris Okewulonu, as co-chairman.
“They were handed both assets and liabilities and taken round the key projects.”
He claimed that Ihedioha cancelled all appointments made for him to meet Okorocha before the former governor left office.
The statement added, “He (Ihedioha) avoided close contact with the man he was coming to replace. Even the Joint Inauguration Church Service fixed for May 25, 2019, at Heroes Square; he altered the whole programme to avoid being on the same page with Owelle Okorocha for a smooth handover. And we have today seen the reasons for all those pranks.
“Governor Ihedioha should tell his audience what he wants from the former governor. Let him mention those things so that we can take off from there. What has he not been handed over? Let him mention it so that his motive can be clearer.
“In any case, he should find out why it appears that Imo people are not excited about his governorship and also not in agreement with him in all his blackmail against his predecessor. And also why on the day of his inauguration, Imo people never cared to know what was happening.
“Let him also know that by July, we are going to challenge him for a road walk with Owelle Okorocha on the major streets of Owerri. As we have continued to allude, he has come to unveil the heroism of Owelle Okorocha.”
