Since Uzodinma joined the APC in 2018 and later became governor in 2020, it has been cold war with splashes of verbal exchanges.
If it was not on political matters, the desire of the incumbent to look at alleged oddities of the past have always pitched him against his predecessor.
Uzodinma hasn’t hidden desire to probe certain activities that took place during Okorocha’s time, prompting the former Governor to move to several courts to stop the plan.
Despite the court action, both Uzodinma and the anti graft agencies have continued to work on what the former Governor and new Senator Representing Orlu zone did in the state in the past.
Trumpeta learnt that Uzodinma has gone further steps for the implementation of the white paper on lands and related matters which Okorocha attempted to stop.
Signs that fresh trouble awaits Uzodinma after government had sealed some of the property belonging to the family was the inauguration of the implementation committee of the White paper on lands and related matters.
The committee which was inaugurated on Tuesday has the duty to implement the contents of the White paper.
Uzodinma told the committee to recover for Imo all the assets gazzetted in the White paper as set out in the recommendations of the commission. Going by this charge, Okorocha is in trouble as the details of the White paper disclosed how he allegedly had in possession property said to be that of the state he acquired during his tenure in office as Governor.
Stating further, Uzodinma said “it is now an established legal fact, that lands and property belonging to both the government and individuals were either illegally acquired, or misappropriated in the past as identified by the judicial commission of inquiry.
The commission’s report has been accepted by the government and gazzetted.
Apparently suspicious that the public might misconstrue his move to be a witch hunt against one of his predecessors, Uzodinma while asking the committee under the headship of Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie to follow their programs with due process and use the opportunity to disabuse the minds of those who enormously think the setting of the commission and the Whitepaper implementation was targeted at them specifically.
The governor added “what the government is doing is simply to make a statement that there is a red line with respect to abuse of office by public officers- that those who crossed this red lane must be held accountable to serve as a deterrent to future despite who abuse state power for self aggrandizement.
Imo State government under Uzodinma is at war with Okorocha over property like the Royal Spring Palm Hotels, IBC Quarters, Orji converted to Rochas Foundation, Eastern Palm University Ogboko renamed K.O. Mbadiwe University, among others.
