15th March, 2019
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has warned the state Governor-elect, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, to desist from giving directives to financial institutions in the state over their dealings with the state government.
Okorocha issued the caution in a release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Friday,
He described the directive by Ihedioha in Owerri on Thursday as “unfortunate and a sign of ugly things to come.“
He advised the governor-elect to be patient and wait until he was sworn in before issuing directives to financial institutions.
The governor said that “there is a government in place and until May 29, 2019, that government should continue to work in the interest of the state and her people and also continue to carry out programmes and policies for the same purpose.
“To begin to harass or give directives to financial institutions in the state is an act of hostility. Financial Institutions in the state should disregard such directive and continue to do the right thing and take the right action.
“The best that the governor-elect can do is to confront the outgoing government when he takes over on any financial transaction he has reservations at.”
Ihedioha had urged financial institutions in the state not to engage in new transactions with the government and warned that anyone who engaged in such transactions did so at their own risk.