Print this page
Thursday, 16 January 2020 05:29

My removal a subversion of will of Imo people who elected me – Ihedioha

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Ousted governor of Imo state, Mr Emeka Ihedioha on Wednesday said he did not agree with the Supreme Court judgment which sacked him.

Ihedioha, in a statement he personally signed, said the apex court sacked him  in contravention of the will of the people of the state.

He said he fought against “principalities and powers” to remain as governor of the state, but had submitted to the judgment which ousted him.

The former governor said that he had directed his aides to handover government properties in their possessions to the new administration, saying that he would not be a party to any pilfering of government property or funds.

He said, “I am reporting back to you our great Imo people on the fate of the mandate you freely gave to me as governor and Gerald Irona as deputy governor. This mandate has now been truncated and cut short by the Supreme Court, in contravention of the will of the people.

“We shall always cherish the tremendous goodwill and support you gave us as we grappled with setting up a new administration to rebuild a state that was devastated by bad governance.

“In the last seven months we sought to elevate merit, unity of purpose, honesty, transparency and an inclusive approach to governance, as the hallmarks of our administration. We sought to restore once again, the pride and dignity of Imo people. We worked very hard to re-engineer the Imo renaissance. But God knows why he has allowed this current state of affairs.

“No doubt, yesterday’s Supreme Court verdict, came to us as a rude shock and surprise considering the facts on the ground, legal precedence and clear verdict of Imo People on March 9, 2019, that returned me as governor with the highest valid votes of 273,404

“I do not agree with the judgment of the Supreme Court. I think it is unfair, unjust and does not reflect the voting that took place during the elections. It also didn’t take care of the sensibilities of the people of Imo State. But as true democrats, Gerald Irona and I have no option but to respect the outcome of that judgment.”

 

Punch