Ideato North Chairman Debunks Allegations :
…. Says Political Jobbers and Enemies of Our Successes at Work.
Amb. Gozie Anokwute
The Executive Chairman, Ideato -North Local government Council of Imo State , Arch. Chukwunonso Okparaeke, has described the allegations of his purported order of the closures of Petrol Stations in Ideato- North on Criminal extortions of Petroleum marketers in various dispensing stations in the area as falsehood , blackmail by political jobbers and enemies, aimed at tarnishing his hard earned image over his “25 years in professional practice as an Architect .
Speaking to Newsmen, at the end of an official visit to Owerri Imo State capital, Arch. Okparaeke, said that, he is always in his Ideato North as not only a Chairman but home resident and explained that there’s no form of extortions, intimidations and exploitations of any Petrol Stations or business owners in the area.
The Local govt chairman said , nothing would warrant such nasty action . He noted that the state government is an investment friendly one as the governor Senator Hope Uzodimma has done well to attract more investors.
He maintained that the Security architecture of the area has drastically improved and the people are doing their normal legitimate businesses without fear of the Men of the underworld.
According to him, to have adequate security services in the entire Ideato -North precipitated him to organize a town hall meeting for all the business owners including the filling stations proprietors in which the people unanimously agreed to pay a token fee of (10.000) Ten Thousand Naira only monthly to the Council and not the Two hundred and fifty Thousand Naira, (250,000) falsely claimed being pedaled. He insists that no filling Station was clamped down or closed by the Council.
Anybody coming to Ideato North Local Government Area would observe that the LGA has little number of Petrol Stations to serve the people . It would be madness Crushing a crucial factor to the economy of nation , infact the Council has no reasons to close any of them except those along the Construction site and the ones without product for sales.
Arch. Chukwunonso Okparaeke said that the rumours are coming from the enemy’s of the government as he has no problem with the filling Station owners and will never have any problem with them because they contribute significantly in the State and National economy.
According to him the monthly payment is what they agreed in a meeting and not in any way exploitation and shouldn’t be seeing as intimidating because the people need a secured environment and to achieve it the security Personnel’s in the area needs to be catered for , complimenting the efforts of the Peoples governor , Senator Hope Uzodimma CON .
In his word, “the people of Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State are happy with the God sent Governor. When we went to him, with the complaints of the deplorable condition of the roads and inherited treats including insecurity and criminality .Distn. Senator Hope Uzodinma hearkened to our voice and did what our brother, former governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha could not do. Currently work is ongoing day and night at the Orlu/Mgbee/ Akokwa road” . The experts handling the gully erosion site that has ravaged the area over the years are being abated courtesy of the our God sent governor. We are happy and grateful.
Hon Chief Chukwunonso Okparaeke urged Journalists to come to Ideato -North Headquarters, Urualla and see the transformation of his headship as the Executive Chairman of the council. Right now work is ongoing on the abandoned Administrative block and many others”.
The last Christmas and New Year’s celebrations was a testament for the governor Senator Hope Uzodimma’s proactive leadership in the State as all the communities in the area witnessing rural roads grading and expansion work , opening up the entire Local Government Area.
We have no problem with filling station owners . Businesses are going well with our people since we assumed office as the efforts of our governor Senator Hope Uzodimma and our little contribution have helped to bring down the nefarious activities of hoodlums and killers in the area, while we pray for the sustainability.
He warned those making frivolous allegations to take their matter to the right sources to avoid failing victims of those that uses the name of the government to perpetrate evil as he has witnessed the scenario whereby some elements went and print tickets to collect money from Keke and Bus Vehicle operators bring bad image to the Council.
