Uzodinma’s aide demands N77m refund as office expenses after resigning

Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Political Matters, Batos Nwadike has tendered his resignation from office.

Nwadike in his resignation letter, accused Governor Hope Nwadike of failing to run an inclusive government and his “undemocratic and opaque leadership style”.

He said while he continued to spend his personal money to run the office, he was not reimbursed. He therefore demanded for a refund of N77,200,000, being what he spent to run the office while he was working.

“I am proud of the accomplishments of my office in the last 2 (two) years and 6 (six) months, during which time I dedicated all my talents and energy to the success of your administration. I am equally proud to have conceived your government’s slogan of ‘Shared Prosperity’ which is widely embraced by all your supporters and now synonymous with your government.

“I had advised you even in the days preceding your election as Governor that the Imo people deserve and will only be enamoured by bold, ambitious and visionary legacy projects such as the Owerri/ Okigwe Road and Owerri/Orlu Road. I am glad that your audacious ongoing reconstruction of those roads tallies directly with that advice. My office has constantly been the first to respond to breaking news about your government.

“Since my appointment, I have consistently used my intellectual acumen to counter the attacks on your government and advanced unimpeachable arguments on your behalf which have been widely acclaimed even by your opponents. Your political opponents have been my political opponents and your allies have been my allies.

“This is not to say that I am not disappointed in your failure to run an inclusive government outside your chosen insular inner circle. Your undemocratic and opaque leadership style has caused me no small unrest. I have been appalled not merely for my political interest but on account of common decency. I was repeatedly left in the dark and denied access to power in a government and vision I played an unwavering and consistent leading role in birthing from 2001 to 2020. During this period, I never changed, disbelieved, vacillated or cross-carpeted.

“As your political adviser, I was not afforded the respect of my office or reimbursed my legitimate expenses such as Imprest of my office from inauguration till date. Your Excellency, for 28 (twenty-eight) months, I spent the sum of N2,400,000 (Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira) monthly from my pocket in running the office which you appointed and inaugurated me into.
These expenses were made on account of payment of staff salary, logistics, feeding, media, printing, travel, events, meetings and several other sub-heads of payment.

“Furthermore, I spent the sum of N10,000,000 to furnish the government residence in Commissioners Quarters which I was allocated. This is a total amount of N77,200,000 (Seventy-Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira). I humbly use this medium to once again request your Excellency to instruct that these expenses be reimbursed to me,” he said.