The apex political leadership group in Orlu Zone, Orlu Political Action Committee (OPAC) has accused the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, of willfully sabotaging the CBN Naira redesign policy by colluding with five commercial banks in Owerri to divert the new Naira notes to the tune of N800 million.

The group decries the hardship which this politically-contrived scarcity of Naira notes in Imo has brought to residents, and said every turn of event in Imo has provided an opportunity for Senator Uzodinma to demonstrate his abiding hatred for his ostensible citizens.

‘Today, these culpable commercial banks have shut down their operations, and Imo people cannot lay their hands on Naira notes to meet the bare necessities of life simply because every available money has been diverted and warehoused across the various structures of Imo APC in preparation for vote buying and election rigging.”

“OPAC deems it pertinent to reveal that, a few days ago, Senator Uzodinma held a meeting with his party leaders and members at a popular hotel next to Douglas House. In that meeting, Senator Uzodinma directed the immediate disbursement of N305 million in cash to the 305 Ward Excos of APC across the State. He also gave N1 million to each of the 27 LGA Excos of his party, and N5 million to the State Working Committee of his party.”

“OPAC, therefore, invites Senator Uzodinma to explain to Nigerians the source of the humongous slush funds which has injected into the electoral process.

Our group describes it as the height of cruelty that, even when Imo people are going through the worst form of economic misery in recent history, Senator Uzodinma’s priority is to deprive them access to cash in the bid to mobilize resources and increase his political war chest.”

We call on the EFCC to open painstaking investigations into the activities of commercial banks in Imo State with a view to arresting and prosecuting corrupt bank officials who aid this mind-boggling sabotage. Further, the CBN should step in without any more delay and impose severe sanctions on banks which make the lives of Imo people an agony just to satisfy and keep their relationship with a despotic political actor.”