The Imo State Government on Tuesday restated its resolve to recovering assets of the state allegedly diverted by a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, who responded to Okorocha’s allegation that the state Governor, Hope Uzodinma, wanted to rule by intimidation, said that Okorocha who now represents Imo West at the Senate should “differentiate between intimidation and justice”.

The commissioner said the government must implement the later reports of various Judicial Panels which recommended that assets of the state be recovered from Okorocha.

He said that no form of alarm from Okorocha would make the state government stop the recovery process.

Emelumba also debunked the speculation that the governor was summoned to Ask Rock on Tuesday because of the arrest of Okorocha on Sunday.

The Information Commissioner said that Uzodinma was in Abuja to attend the meeting of all state governors with the president Muhammadu Buhari

Responding, Sam Onwuemeodo, who is Okorocha’s spokesperson, denied the speculation that his principal was using contacts in Aso Rock to stop the governor from probing him.

‌According to Onwuemeodo, Okorocha had no skeleton in cupboard and would make himself available any time he was needed.

Asked if Okorocha was open to reconciling with Uzodinma, Onwuemeodo said “Okorocha is a man of people.”

He said ” Okorocha is a man of peace. He was governor of Imo state for eight years without fighting anybody. He will make himself available for peace as long as such a move is genuine and not a smooth screen.”

The Punch