Dr. Fabian Ihekweme has fired back against the Imo State Government’s claim that he demanded N500 million from Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop his criticisms of the administration, describing the allegation as baseless and “the dumbest” ever made against a citizen. According to a close source via WhatsApp, Ihekweme insists that the government itself had approached him, asking him to “name his price” in exchange for his silence—an offer he said he turned down.
“The idea that I asked for N500 million is laughable. If I’d made such a request, it wouldn’t have been publicized. In fact, it was the government reaching out to me, asking me to name my price, and I told them I want the governor to come back and lead properly,” Ihekweme allegedly stated, adding that his only motivation is to hold the administration accountable.
Ihekweme did not mince words in his response, especially when addressing Imo’s Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, who had initially made the claims. Referring to Emelumba as an “ikwighikwighi” (owl) who “has run out of ideas,” Ihekweme accused him of hypocrisy. “This is the same Declan who, in 2018, claimed Sen. Hope Uzodinma was unfit for governorship. Now he’s out here reaping where he didn’t sow,” he charged.