by crossriverwatch admin
Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State yesterday denied allegations that he stole billions of funds meant for power projects from National Electric Power Authority NEPA, now Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN, while he was Minister.
In a charge to youths during the Bridge Leadership Foundation 2013 Career/Founder’s Day at the Cultural Center in Calabar, Governor Imoke said: “I was still under 40 years when former President Obasanjo sent me to NEPA and as one trained as a lawyer; I never quite knew what I was going there to do.
“When the heat was much on me across the nation that I was busy stealing money, I became emotional to the extent that I had to run back to him to let off the steam.
“With anger and close to tears, I complained to the President how I was severally accused of embezzling public funds. But this was not the truth. I was consoled by what Obasanjo advised me which kind of brought calm to me. Obasanjo said ‘Don’t be discouraged young man. All those accusing you of stealing are only telling you what they would have done if they were the ones appointed to public positions of trust”.