The outgoing Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has revealed two reasons why he said that the South East geopolitical zone has not achieved much in the Nigerian political space.
He made the declaration while addressing reporters at the Government House, Owerri on Monday.
According to Okorocha, Igbo people have failed woefully in Nigerian politics mainly because they have failed to accept the light coming to them and also did not appreciate the person coming to assist them.
He said, “Igbo have failed politically for two reason, not to accept the light that has come to them and also not to appreciate the leaders that have come to help them.”
The governor also blamed “game of politics” for the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a Certificate of Returns for Imo West senatorial district.
In the same vein, Okorocha denied leaving behind a huge debt burden for the state as claimed by the incoming administration of Emeka Ihedioha, challenging the banks to disclose within seven days if he owed them.
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He equally challenged civil servants in the state to forward and explain if his administration owed them any salary.
On the withholding of his Certificate of Returns, Okorocha said, “Elections have come and gone and we are dealing with the outcome. For the Imo West senatorial election, somebody said that he declared the result under duress. The truth is that the gentleman was employed to do a hatchet job and he could not do that.
“The drama is that he had another option he wanted to declare it in Owerri, at first he said there was no result and at a point he entered the toilet and suddenly he saw the results sheets and shouted who dropped this result here. What it means is that there is a game.
“I think that the INEC, should do the needful. We are in court and I think that we don’t need much procedure to do the right thing.”
Denying that he made illegal withdrawals from the state purse and sold government property, the governor said, “After that declaration, Imo PDP went to town with the allegation that I have withdrew N17 billion. It is not possible.
“I have said this time without number, and I gave banks in Nigeria, seven days ultimatum to come and tell the world If I have borrowed from the banks any money not only that, I am not owing any worker in Imo state, I also challenged them in seven days to come out and say the truth.
“I am happy to bow out of government but I want to appeal that there should be peace in the land. There should be tolerance in the land. I here that they are counting my property, they should also go to Abuja, and count the ones in Abuja.”