On Sunday, Emeka Ihedioha, the outgoing governor of Imo State, encouraged security personnel to look into anyone using his name and signature without authorization.
Ihedioha claimed that a voice message that was reportedly being circulated online and a letter to the minister of justice pleading with him not to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, were "criminally" manufactured to put him at odds with the people.
Ihedioha claimed that despite threats from the state government, he had remained silent since the Supreme Court dismissed him from office in January 2020.
The statement read, “Since January 14, 2020, when the Supreme Court of Nigeria supplanted the electoral will of the good people of Imo State by removing me from office, I have maintained a studious silence, refusing to join issues with those who orchestrated the judicial heist despite all the provocations.
“I consciously yielded to the maxim that silence is golden, so as not to inflame passion in our dear state. But there comes a time when silence is no longer golden. That time is now. It appears that some people are not satisfied with their stolen mandate.
“They want to drag me out by an orchestrated campaign of lies. And those carrying out this campaign of calumny against my person are doing so at the behest of the same man who was imposed on Imo State. But I understand their dilemma.
“Having succeeded in their evil plot of removing me from office, they realised that the bigger battle was winning the hearts and minds of the people. And that is proving difficult. That they have failed to endear themselves to the good people of Imo State in the last 34 months is why they are now desperate.
“They are also becoming dangerous. They are so dangerous that they are now working with political renegades across party lines.
“While in office, Emeka Ihedioha was their nightmare. But they have also realised to their utmost chagrin that even out of office, I have remained a bigger nemesis hence the unceasing campaign of calumny with the sole purpose of damaging my reputation and putting a wedge between me and Imolites. In doing this, there are no off-limits.
“They have forged documents, concocted voice messages, perjured and maximised the social media in throwing mud to see if anyone sticks. They use issues that are very dear to our people in this nefarious project.”