The Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation said they are not worried over what they described as “recent vituperations” of Governor Hope Uzodinma, against the Labour Party governorship candidate for the November 11 governorship election, Sen. Athan Achonu.
In a statement by Chibuikem Diala, Director, Media & Publicity of the campaign organisation, “the governor had thrown decorum and caution to the wind by threatening to arrest and prosecute Sen. Achonu before the election”.
He said: “While addressing a rented stomach infrastructure group that gathered under the aegis of the Imo Social Contract Group (ISCG) at an event held at the Landmark Event Centre, Owerri, to endorse him, Gov Uzodinma accused Senator Achonu of ‘fraudulently’ obtaining a court order, certifying that he had successfully built primary healthcare centers in the 27 LGAs of Imo State, and made away with millions of dollars allocated to the healthcare project by the Federal Government.
“The governor said the Imo State federal allocation is currently being deducted at source to repay the allegedly embezzled primary healthcare funds, a situation he described as anti-developmental to the state.
“Senator Achonu is a well-known industrialist and serial investor whose investments and line of businesses are not hidden, and it is expected of Uzodinma to tell the world his source of livelihood before he sneaks onto the political stage.
“It is instructive that Uzodinma chose a motley crowd of some people under his spell, masquerading as Imo Social Contract Group whose support he had purchased with millions of dollars to make known his devious scheme.
“It is inexplicable that the nebulous group chose to endorse the failure, looting, bloodbath, and ineptitude that characterized the Uzodinma administration.
“We make bold to tell Uzodinma in the clearest terms that Agu Otu Aka (one-handed lion) cannot be intimidated by anyone, especially when he is innocent.
“It is shocking and embarrassing that Uzodinma, who came to office through a decision of the Supreme Court and even openly confessed that he came through the ‘Ben Johnson Way’, has allowed his frustration and desperation to overwhelm him to the point of describing a valid court judgment as ‘fraudulently procured’.
“That allegation in itself is not only reckless and false, but a direct affront to the judicial arm of government.
“Having crossed the red line of the rules of civil and legal engagements, we, therefore, demand that Gov. Hope Uzodimma retract his allegations within seven days, failing which our principal will explore and exploit all legal options availed him by the laws of the country”.
He however, said Achonu is not perturbed by the threat of arrest.
“The allegation that Mathan Nigeria Limited, owned by Sen. Achonu, collected billions of naira from the Federal Government for the construction of Primary Health Care Centres in each of the 774 local government areas in the country and later abandoned the project, is completely false and mere blackmail.
“We believe that Governor Uzodinma might have been hallucinating when he made such a statement.
“The project in question is an ALGON-funded project initiated by Sen. Athan Achonu 17 years ago and was approved by the Federal Government in 2007.
“The project, as we speak, is very visible in several communities of the state, including the PHC in Owerri Municipal; Ehime Mbano (Umeze 1); Umudibu Isu PHC, Isu LGA; Egbu PHC, Owerri North; Akpo, Akpodim, Ezinihite Mbaise LGA; Mgbirichi, Ohaji Egbema LGA; Amanchara, Okigwe LGA; Ebenator, Orsu LGA; Afor Otulu, Oru West; Imerienwe, Ngor Okpala LGA; Amuzu, Ikeduru LGA; Okporo, Orlu LGA; Nekede, Owerri West; Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise; Umuna, Onuimo; Omuma, Oru East, which is the governor’s country home among others.
“Specifically, these are Mathan/ALGON PHCs in Imo State most of which were completed before 2013.
“This is nothing but a political witch hunt against our principal whose popularity has overwhelmed the APC family and dwarfed its Lilliputian, ineffectual governor.
“Senator Athan Achonu is one of the most transparent, generous, and astutely accountable men of unquestionable integrity in Nigeria today.
“His word is his bond and he is not afraid to tell the truth to power, especially those operating with an abracadabra mandate”.
