Why Byron Ogudede Goofed On Report against Sir Jude Ejiogu Over Imo IGR -Media Aide
A report published in the Nigerian Horn Newspapers of Monday, June 22nd, 2015 in Imo State with the caption, “O God, Send a Joseph to our Pharaoh in Douglas House” and written by one Byron Ogudede has been described as not only lacking in facts but a total negation of journalism practice.
It could be recalled that, in one of the paragraphs of the said report, the writer queried why Sir Jude Ejiogu was still retained by Governor Rochas Okorocha’s led government, accusing him of not guaranteeing the finances of the state when he was the Chairman of Internally Generated Revenue.
But in a swift reply, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Mr. Ikenna Onuoha maintained that since the writer has lost his sense of judgment to trace the achievements of Sir Jude Ejiogu when he served as Chairman of the Internally Generated Revenue in the state, he does not have any moral obligation to question his new appointment as the Secretary to the government of Imo State, and described the report as a mere academic exercise which has nothing to change on the image of the SGI.
Mr. Onuoha while challenging the writer to proof him wrong on the unwavering qualities of Sir Ejiogu, further highlighted some of the achievements of his Boss when he held sway as Chairman of IGR to include, improvement of the state internally Generated Revenue from N400 million to over N700 million by end of his tenure and pioneered the enactment of Tourism/Infrastructural Development Levy Edict aimed at developing the State.
Continuing, the Media Aide stated that Sir Ejiogu introduced the Electronic Vehicle Licensing on the Auto Registration platform, expanded the scope of withholding tax collections in the state and recovered outstanding revenues owed to the state government.
According to Mr. Onuoha, Sir Ejiogu pioneered the decentralization of the state’s Internally Generated revenue with a view to boosting the overall income through the commercialization Policy of His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha, and as well recovered government funds lost through excessive bank charges.
He therefore warned the writer to desist from peddling stories against innocent individuals which he knows were false, and as well cannot defend when called upon to do so, describing the report as an act of ignorance that should be ignored with every sense of seriousness.
Ikenna Onuoha
Special Assistant on Media/Publicity
To Secretary to the Government of Imo State