I HAVE ONE TERM PACT WITH OKOROCHA –MARTIN AGBASO

A new twist emerged in
the N458 million naira contract sagas against the Imo State Deputy Governor,
Sir Jude Agbaso, when his elder brother, Chief Martin Agbaso made scathing
revelations on the deal with his family and the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas
Okorocha before the latter’s election as Imo governor in 2011.

Agbaso said Okorocha
agreed to hand over power to him after four years on the saddle, while he
(Okorocha) was to produce a deputy in the event Martin Agbaso clinches the
governorship seat in 2015.

According to him, Umeh
successfully brokered the deal that was mutually agreed by himself and
Okorocha.

He stated that he
never knew Rochas from Adam, until he approached him to use the APGA platform
to actualize his governorship ambition in 2010.

“I met Rochas Okorocha
in September 2010 when he came to appeal to me to run for the governorship of
Imo State on APGA platform. Then I had a case with Ohakim and INEC in court.
Because I had no interest to run for governorship in 2011, I bought the idea”.

Agbaso noted that
Rochas wanted to take the APGA structure by forceful means by directing his
supporters to invade APGA office.

He revealed that
Okorocha promised to award him a multi-billion naira contract to reticulate
water in Owerri on the basis that he (Agbaso) had a vast wealth of experience
in water management and distribution.

“Despite his promise,
he never came forth with the contract. He also told me to co-ordinate the IGR
of the state, I borrowed Two billion naira from Diamond Bank to finance the
project, only for him (Okorocha) to cancel the entire project. Now, I’m
indebted to the bank”.

On the issue of
appointing his kith and kin as key members of Okorocha administration, the
Ochiudo Owere, denied ever imposing his “people” on Okorocha.

He said “I never
imposed anyone on him for appointment. He only sought for my clarification on
anyone from my area he wanted to appoint in his cabinet. Is it proper for me to
condemn anyone from my area he wanted to appoint into his executive?

Agbaso stressed that
things began to fall apart when Okorocha wanted to restructure APGA
unilaterally. “I resisted, refused and persuaded him not to do so. Thereafter
we went to Kosovo, where he gave me and others who escorted him on the trip a
paltry $5,000. That was the only dime Rochas gave me, since then, nothing has
been forthcoming” he said.

Agbaso revealed that
the current travails of his younger brother, and Deputy Governor of Imo State,
Sir Jude Agbaso was stage-managed by Okorocha a long time ago. He said “Owelle
had a grand plan to impeach my brother a long time ago. Owelle gave the
contractor the contract, brought the contractor, approved the payments and the
payment was carried out by the Accountant General. How can JPross, the
contractor pay N458 million naira to my brother, who did not give him the
contract”.

He said his brother
has been singled out for vilification, saying “no one has made efforts to cross
check the accounts who withdrew the money and who authorized its withdrawal. I
will die for this battle. We will pursue this matter to the end and we shall
know who deserves to be impeached. I assure Imolites will see the truth. I
helped Owelle realize his dream of becoming governor of Imo state, I’m yet to
realize my dream, it will not succeed” he concluded.

In his speech, the
Deputy Governor and Martin Agbaso’s younger brother, Jude, said he never
collected a dime from any contractor, stating that he stands on the path of
truth and justice.

“I have no need to
steal; I have never taken bribe before. I am not a politician and I will always
thread on the path of truth and justice” he said.

Earlier, leader of
OZOPOLF, Prince Charles Amadi said he and his group are in solidarity with the
Agbasos over their ordeal.

Source: Imo Trumpeta