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Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Imo State Governor, has come out to completely debunk and deny all the claims by a group that the Imo state government, under his watch, had received ₦70b from oil tax earnings.
The group had openly made accusations against the State governor, Uzodinma of receiving such money for the development of the oil-bearing communities in Ohaji/ Egbema Local Council, while accusing the governor of not utilising the funds to provide basic infrastructure in those areas.
Read Also: Stop Treating Crude Oil Thieves As Sacred Cows — Uzodinma
In a statement, at the weekend, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary / Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, the governor maintained that the claim was false.
The governor said: “No such money was released to the state government. This government runs an open and transparent process. There is no way such a huge amount of N70b could be released to the state government as accrued taxes, secretly.”
He advised those who held a press conference to take such stance to desist from that insinuation.
“The truth is that the information is false. Those behind the press conference should desist from raising false alarm,” he said.
In another report, Governor Hope Uzodinma has declared a war on Oil Bunkering and Pipeline vandalism in the State vowing to make sure the perpetrators are made to face the law.
The Governor made the declaration yesterday while meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Marlin Sylva; the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor together with his entourage, and the CEO of NNPC PLC, Mele Kyari at the Government House New Executive Chamber.
Governor Uzodimma in his address disclosed efforts the Shared Prosperity Government has made with joint forces of the security agencies to curb oil theft and secure oil production in the State which has been resuscitated from its low level production.
