Unpaid N18bn: Contractors Vow To Stop Okorocha's Re-Election

Unpaid contractors in Imo State yesterday vowed to mount campaign
against the reelection bid of Governor Rochas Okorocha if he fails to
pay the N18 billion owed for work done, before the gubernatorial
election.

The angry contractors, who spoke under the aegis of Unpaid Imo
Contractors, UPIC, made the resolution yesterday after an eighthhour
meeting.

Chairman of the group, Rev. Udogadi Ononiwu, shortly after the
meeting, said a total of N18 billion was owed the contractors.

He said members of UPIC were legitimate contractors whose contracts
passed through normal process with Imo State government, adding that
most of them executed the contracts up to 60 per cent, but were yet to
receive any mobilisation from government.

He said at least eight of their members had died due to heart failure
and vowed that the coalition "would do everything possible to stop
Governor Okorocha from being re-elected into office if he does not pay
us before the governorship election slated for April 11."

Ononiwu further debunked the information earlier passed by Imo State
government that contractors had fully been paid, adding that such
information was unfounded. He challenged the government to take
further steps in determining who the real contractors in the state
were and also assess the job they have done so far.

"We are aware that there are contractors whose contracts did not pass
through due process and if government has paid such people, it should
not be generalised that all contractors have been paid.

"Members of UPIC are certified contractors whose contracts are backed
by relevant documents from state government," he added.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chidi
Ibe, denied that the state government was owing the contractors N18
billion, stressing that the opposition was behind the dust raised. "As
far as I am concerned, the government does not owe any contractor one
naira. I challenge anybody with a proof of evidence to provide it.

He said, except "they are contractors whose contracts were terminated
due to shoddy jobs or incomplete job. Most of these people are
sponsored by opposition to make such unnecessary claims.

"What is the total allocation of Imo State for one month? Imo State
allocation is in the neighbourhood of N2 billion to N3 billion a month
and somebody is saying that the state government is owing them N18
billion."
--National Mirror