A progressive public interest group, Ndi Imo Youth Forum, has accused Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, of lying to the public when he said that the state under his watch does not owe any bank, both in Nigeria and overseas.

The governor was reacting to the content of a letter addressed to him by the Imo Economic Development Initiative (IEDI) led by former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which detailed causes of the failing economy of the state with suggestions on what the governor should do to reflate the state’s stagnant economy. The IEDI lamented the growing debt of the state which stands at over N93 billion, according to figures from the nation’s foremost debt management and monitoring office, the Debt Management Office (DMO).

But Governor Okorocha has dismissed the letter and its authors as unserious, claiming that Imo State, in spite of figures from the DMO, does not owe any bank in Nigeria and offshore. However, the governor’s claim has attracted reaction from some indigenes of the state under the aegis of Ndi Imo Youth Forum. Led by a former banker and businessman, Tony Onukwe, the Forum chided Okorocha for lying over the state of the Imo economy especially as regards the issue of debt.

In a chat with our correspondent in Owerri on Tuesday, the Abuja-based business mogul wondered why the governor could with a wave of the hand dismiss the wise counsel of the distinguished and eminent sons and daughters of the state.

He said: “I have read the letter from the Imo Economic Development Initiative to the governor, there was nowhere His Excellency was abused or insulted by the group. They only pointed out what they considered the solutions to the poor state of our dear Imo. Everything they wrote there is correct, so why is Rochas angry. He should be happy that he has the opportunity of getting wise advice from such persons.

His words: “All the members of the IEDI are successful men and women who have excelled in their callings, professions and businesses. They are our pride and very good ambassadors of the state. A wise leader should listen and work with their advice rather than wave it off.

“On the issue of debt, it is public knowledge that all the states in Nigeria and the nation itself have one form of debt or another. The case of Imo is well documented that we have been living on borrowed funds with a good part of the debt incurred by Rochas administration. He cannot therefore resort to deceiving the people that the state does not owe any bank.

“We are worried by this brand of governance by deceit. But since he has said Imo does not owe any bank in Nigeria or abroad, we want the banks to take note of this. In 2019 when Rochas would cease to be governor, we do not want any bank to lay claim to any debt owed it by the state. If the same banks cannot speak out now, they should remain silent forever. We also want to warn the banks not to entertain sponsoring any candidate in the 2019 governorship election in the state”.

He described Okorocha’s reaction to the letter as unfortunate and uncalled for, stressing that the governor should take time to study the suggestions of these eminent Imo sons and daughters. According to him, Governor Okorocha has plunged the state into more suffering especially with the ban on Keke Marwa which was not only a source of livelihood for many families but also the only reliable means of transport in the state.

Onukwe said he and his mates were worried because “it is the future of our children that we are mortgaging today with huge debts that the state government has not been able to address”.