Governor Rotimi Amaechi
What
could be tagged as ‘executive scandal’ has allegedly hit the Rivers
State Government under the leadership of Governor Rotimi Chibuike
Amaechi.
The current government has been roped with allegation of selling the state’s property ahead of the May 29 handover date.
This
is coming barely a week after such allegation cropped up in Benue State
where the outgoing government under the leadership of Gabriel Suswam
was accused of engaging in mass looting and last-minute recruitments
with the aim of dragging the incoming government into huge debt.
The latest claim in Rivers was championed by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.
In
fact, the party has publicly noted with regrets the alleged looting
spree in Government House, Port Harcourt, Ministries and parastatals
ahead of Governor Amaechi’s exit, on May 29.
The PDP raised the
alarm of the ongoing illegal sale of Government properties to close
friends, political allies and family members of the outgoing Governor of
Rivers State.
It also described as frightening illegal employment
in Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, where about 500 people have been
secretly employed without due process.
Chairman,
Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Mr. Ngo Martins-Yellow and the
23 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen are also said to be
secretly recruiting thousands of persons to swell the number of Civil
Servants in government employ, so that the incoming PDP government will
battle the huge wage bill.
According to the claim by the incoming
government, some of the government-owned properties being stolen and
vandalized are mainly the unregistered brand new cars assigned to
different departments of current administration.
Other
equipments for the Monorail, Government Farms, Schools, Hospitals,
Government owned Media Houses, among others, have been reportedly stolen
and vandalized.
Some of the government officials and Gov
Amaechi’s political aides fingered as the brain behind the illegal deals
are: George Feyii, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Ibim
Semenitari, Information and Communications Commissioner, who has
allegedly transferred most of the cars belonging to the World Book
Capital to her Lagos residence.
Also mentioned in the looting spree is the Chief of Staff, Government House, Tony Okocha and commissioner for Agriculture.
The
State chairman of the PDP, Bro Felix Obuah in a statement signed by his
Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam said change of guards in
governance was a normal tradition and did not mean the end of government
or discontinuation of political leadership in the State.
He strongly affirmed that those behind the shady deal should desist or be ready to dace the music when he table turns.
“It
is most unfortunate that this is happening in a government which
officials are seeking the people’s mandate to continue in office; this
has explained why God who knows the inner hearts of all men has rejected
them”, Prince Obuah remarked.
The PDP State Chairman said the
only reason for the evil act was to get at the State Governor-elect,
Chief Barr Nyesom Wike hooked in debt.
“Unfortunately, it’s the
State and the people that will suffer for the wickedness. Outgoing Gov
Amaechi should therefore be called to order”, Bro Felix Obuah warned.
On
the other hand, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has also accused
President Goodluck Jonathan of last-minute looting of the nation’s
resources, hurried recruitment into the public service and rushed
privatisation of key financial institutions.
APC
had in a communique issued by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed, said it had received calls and messages by concerned
Nigerians, informing it’s leaders of the unscrupulous actions of some
members of the out going government led by President Jonathan.
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