From GEORGE ONYEJIUWA, OWERRI

The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated Governor Rochas Okorocha over his floating of Imo Airlines, describing the step as not only ill- conceived, but a further waste of dwindling resources of the state.

The party also alleged that the  Imo Airline is part of logistics of Governor Okorocha’s for his Presidential campaign for 2019.

The PDP urged President Mohammadu Buhari to immediately ground the airline and return the proceeds to the empty state coffe

In a statement signed by State Secretary of the party, Nze Ray Emeana,  and made available to The Daily Sun, on Thursday, it says, “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party, Imo State has been drawn to reports in the media on the purported procurement and inauguration of “IMO Airline”, by Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri.

“This is not only  another fraud but to  serve  the bogus 2019 political ambition of Governor Okorocha”.

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The statement further read ,”Imolites are not only in rude shock on the “inauguration of the airline” but also on the blatant lies by Governor Okorocha that wherein he claimed  that, “Imo was not affected by the much-talked about

recession in the  country because some people might wonder why the state should dabble into airline business in time of recession because the state has cleared arrears of pension and has paid salaries up to December 2016.”

The party said  Nigerians are aware that Governor Okorocha has sacked over 100  civil servants as a result of economic recession and that pensioners and civil servants in Imo State  are owed 77 months and salary arrears respectively.

“There’s  alarming unemployment among youths and total collapse of infrastructure while there’s no functional education or health system in all the  27 local government of the state.

While records show that Governor Okorocha has received on  behalf of Imo

State, over N150 Billion between January to December 2016 in internally generated Revenue,  federal allocation, ecological funds, 13% derivation,  local government allocation, bailout funds and recently the Paris Club Debt Cancellation deductions, yet there is no trace of these  funds in any sector of the state.”