Former Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transport Chibuike Amaechi has denied allegations of misappropriating N82 million in hosting Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and dared his successor as governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike to go to court.
Amaechi in a statement accused Governor Wike of running out of ideas on account of the electoral setbacks suffered by him and his associates in the state.
In the statement by his Media Office, Amaechi accused the Wike administration of spreading lies, criminalising legitimate transactions of government and doing everything to smear Amaechi.
While daring Wike to go to court if he found anything wrong in what was done by the Amaechi administration, he said:
“Wike must stop these silly distractions. Rivers people are not interested in his lies and witch-hunt. Rather, Rivers people want to know what will happen to their children that he stopped and cancelled the funding of their scholarships abroad. Rivers people want to know why the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), an agency setup by law is no longer functioning under Wike? Why instead of quality education, a standard set by his predecessor, under Wike, grasses and weeds have taken over the beautiful schools built by Amaechi?
“Rivers people want to know why the standard health facilities and services put in place by the Amaechi administration are rotting away, not this petty rambling. Rivers people want to know why the Wike government does not care about the security of their lives and property, as violence and criminals have taken over. Rivers people want to know why it feels as if there is no government in Rivers State, and this is in spite of the billions of naira that has accrued to the Wike administration and the tens of billions of naira borrowed.”
The statement warned Wike against dragging the names of respected Nigerians who have made the country proud globally and who are internationally known to be honest and forthright, such as Prof Wole Soyinka into his unbridled, unashamed and ill-advised attack of his former boss and benefactor.
It added that since Wike is blind to his responsibilities as Governor of Rivers State and has insisted on attacking the person and clean reputation of Amaechi as his one and only project, then let him go to court to prove his allegations and stop the nefarious insinuations against Amaechi.
N82m Wole Soyinka dinner: Rivers Commissioner seeks refund
Rivers State Information Commissioner , Dr Austin Tam-George has declared that the state government will demand a refund of the N82 million expended by former Governor Amaechi on Professor Wole Soyinka’s dinner if it confirms that the Nobel Laureate received part of the the funds in cash.
Also, Dr Tam-George declared that the point of departure between former Governor Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Wike was the insistence of Governor Wike that Amaechi observed probity and accountability in all governmental actions, advice that was thrown overboard by the former governor .
Addressing Rivers people via a radio programme on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Dr Tam-George regretted that the Amaechi administration using the Ministry of Information and Communications headed by Ibim Semenitari amassed N1.1billion debt on frivolous expenditure.
According to Dr Tam-George: “I will seek the permission of the Governor to formally write Professor Wole Soyinka, a known supporter of Amaechi if he received part of the N82million spent on a 3-hour Dinner hosted for him by the Amaechi administration.
“If he agrees that he received such funds, then he will be compelled to refund same to the coffers of Rivers State. At present, we have presented these details to the Police for investigation and prosecution. We shall also take up this matter as a financial crime against the people of Rivers State. ”
He said that all the fraudulent actions of the Amaechi administration are being addressed by the Wike administration, pointing out that it will take time for the legal process to be completed because they are financial crimes.
The Information Commissioner said that Former Governor Amaechi betrayed the trust of Rivers people by embarking on irresponsible expenses, which led to the mismanagement and fraudulent misuse of N3 trillion that accrued to the state under his watch.
He said that Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had to leave the Amaechi administration when the former governor refused to adhere to patriotic advice to use Rivers State resources to develop the state.
“The point of departure between Former Governor Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was Wike’s commitment to probity and accountability. Governor Wike refused to be part of the financial mismanagement of resources that accrued to the state “, Dr Tam-George told the people of Rivers State.
He explained that already Rivers people are witnessing the proper use of resources as they are witnessing transformations across the landscape.
Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi left several months unpaid salaries, pensions abandoned projects and scholarships despite receiving N3trillion as revenue under his watch.
-Vanguard
