Mbaise (Imo)- The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has urged the state governments to evolve alternative means of running their economy outside Federal Allocation.
Ihedioha made the call when he addressed Imo indigenes who visited him Christmas at his Mbaise country home.
“With the dwindling oil revenue, it is now imperative for state governments to come up with strong economic measures to run their economy outside federal allocation which centre on crude oil revenue.
“The signs is already very clear because the 2015 budget that was presented to the National Assembly was withdrawn and represented for two or more times because of the changes in the crude oil bench mark,’’ he said.
He said that any government without alternative sources of revenue might be over stretched, noting “some states in Nigeria already having difficult times’’.
Ihedioha, who is the PDP governorship candidate in Imo, said if given the mandate he would restore the moral standing of Imo people.
“In the past it was a taboo for one to steal, but today people whose fathers were strip naked were making noise everywhere.
“If elected, I will ensure that anybody who steal will be brought to justice, while those with high moral standing will be adequately encouraged,’’ he said.
He said that if the people were meant to behave well, running an enduring and corrupt-free economy would be a smooth business.
Ihedioha called on people of Imo to continue to support PDP government led by President Goodluck Jonathan, and ensure that PDP took over Imo governorship in 2015.
“All the 305 one story buildings constructed at 305 political wards in Imo are Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) projects and all these came to Imo courtesy of President Jonathan.
“Because of false claims from some quarters, UBEC is now tagging the projects so as to enable Imo people understand the true owners of these projects,’’ he said.
Ihedioha said he hope to construct a mini-stadium in his area to encourage the involvement of youths in sports, adding “if fully developed, sports could engage many’’.