Imo is distressed financially, says Uzodinma

• Seeks refund of N32b expended on federal roads
• Laments state’s education status

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma yesterday said that the state was financially distressed, just as he declared that the education status was also backward compared to others.

He also said that infrastructure in the state, especially roads, was in bad shape.

The governor, who spoke while addressing State House Correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said he was in the Villa to seek intervention for critical areas in the state and a request for the refund of money used by the previous administrations to repair federal roads, which amounts to about N32 billion.

Uzodinma said that the state was in dire need of financial intervention from the Federal Government with its current insolvent situation.

“I came to discuss this with the President in some critical areas. Imo State you know is not solvent. Imo State is financially distressed, the roads are so bad, the security situation is rough, education is backward and a lot of things to do and we don’t have the money.

“So, I have come to request the kind intervention of the President to at least refund some monies spent on some of the federal roads in Imo State before my arrival so that we can address some pressing issues like pension arrears, salary arrears so that we can get back the people, recover the people first before we begin to talk of infrastructure.”

On what difference the financial intervention would make in the state, he said: “Well, a journey of one thousand miles will start with one step. Wherever it can take us to, it will be a lift even if for palliative purposes.”

“Whatever we will be able to achieve with whatever intervention was given to us by the President we will. It does not necessarily mean that all those monies owed us will be given to us.

“There are so many other ways of Federal Government intervening in critical situations as we find ourselves in Imo State.”

Uzodinma, who described Imo State as the least corrupt state in Nigeria, said he was set to look into what led to its pitiable condition.

He said: “Today is not for me to begin to discuss the activities of past administrations, a time will come when we shall discuss it in a very holistic manner that you will get every information you need.”