Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday lambasted the Prof. Maurice Iwu-led Imo Economic Development Initiative for allegedly leaking the outcome of a private meeting they held at the Government House, Owerri on Friday, January 5, to the press.

Iwu and his group had visited the governor to discuss issues affecting the state, including the debt status of the state, which the group said stood at N93 billion; economy of the state; donor agencies, the ban of Keke operations in the state capital, IGR and poverty level among others.

Before the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, the governor had directed all those coming for the meeting to deposit their phones with the protocol personnel at the entrance of the venue to make sure that the discussion remained private.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, however, accused Iwu and his team of leaking the discussions to the press. He described the economic team as a group of people who did not deserve government’s respect.

“Less than 48 hours, the story of the meeting was everywhere in the media with some of them quoting from the document Prof. Iwu read. Which means the team released the document they came with to the press. And by so doing, justifying the initial observations of the governor concerning the timing of the meeting and the political inclinations and aspirations of key members of the team.

“For that reason, we do not think that Prof. Iwu and his team deserve our respect again, having abused the respect we had extended to them, since one does not eat his cake and still have it.

“We have always maintained that the 2019 election will be left for Imo people to decide at the poll with regard to who will govern the state after Governor Okorocha. It is not by tricks. We have our achievements to show the difference between us and all those before us.

“And they know that it will be difficult for Imo people not to listen to Rochas when the time comes with regard to his monumental achievements.

“It is going to be achievements galore versus propaganda stuff. And your guess will be as good as mine, on the one that would mean much to Imo people when the time comes.” (Daily Sun)

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