Allegation of illegal Purchase of 2.5bn vehicles: Imo Govt reacts

The Imo State Government has responded to the accusation of illegally purchasing for Government House use vehicles worth N2.5 billion which provision was not made for in the budget.

This was disclosed In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Barr( Mrs) Oby Amadiobi

In the statement, the State Government urged the public to disregard the allegation by a news medium saying it purchased vehicles worth N2.5b for Government House use without budgetary allocation.

It also described as outright mischief or pure sensationalism the report that those vehicles were for the sole use of Governor Hope Uzodinma, his wife, and the deputy governor.

It further noted that if the reporters had been more circumspect, they would have discovered that at the tail end of the document they quoted, it was clearly stated that more than N4 billion was provided in the 2023 budget for the ministry of finance for the purchase of vehicles.

They continued,” Indeed, the so-called scoop was in the state website for all to see. Nothing was hidden. The amount spent and how the money was sourced were clearly stated. Sadly, either because of sheer lethargy and/or mischief, the reporters could not read through the entire document.

“We regret that the medium set out to deceive and incite members of the public by claiming that the vehicles were for the sole use of the governor, his wife, and the deputy governor, that was very misleading. When we talk of Government House, we refer to the gamut of departments outside the Ministries. We have SA’s and other officials entitled to vehicles. All these departments and agencies are under the office of the governor. So it’s mischievous to have a jaundiced report suggesting that the vehicles are only for the governor, his wife, and the deputy governor.

“A phone call to any of the officials of government would have elucidated the news medium on the process of governance, including the various nomenclature instead of rushing out to publish outright falsehood

“The mere fact that the story abinitio emanated from government’s website means that we have nothing to hide.