By Simeon Nwakaudu

Recently, the proprietor  of Integrity Group of Companies, Livingstone Wechie,  appeared  on Focus APC, where he struggled in vain to exonerate  immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi.

Well, for those who do not know, it is pertinent to say this: Wechie  was never an employee of the Rivers State government under the leadership  of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.  There was  no time he acted on behalf  of the Rivers State government or the governor.

Wechie, on his different  television and radio appearances, stated unequivocally  that he was not on the  sponsorship  of the Rivers State government. Whatever    Wechie  said on  Focus APC is unfounded  falsehood. His thoughts on the  programme  were baseless concoction.

It is obvious that Wechie  imagined that Governor Wike  would use state resources to fund his activities. He is horribly mistaken. Governor Wike is a transparent leader, who will never be drawn into the sponsorship  of integrity challenged charlatans under any guise. This administration  is built on rule of law. Nothing is done outside the prescriptions  of the law. Long before Governor Wike  won elections  in 2015, it was public knowledge that Amaechi  could not account for  funds, accruing to Rivers State.  He, on May 27, 2015, declared Rivers State broke, stressing  that Governor Wike would have no resources to pay salaries or do projects.

With overwhelming  evidence  of the corruption that dogged the immediate past administration, Governor Wike  established the Judicial Commission of Inquiry  that investigated the sale of valued assets  of the state. The Minister of Transportation, instead of appearing before  the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, rushed to court, which    ruled that  the Rivers State governor was empowered by law to investigate the former administration.

Amaechi  also rushed  to the Court of Appeal to challenge  the constitution of the judicial commission of inquiry that investigated the sale of valued assets of the state by his administration. The  Appeal Court also upheld the constitution  of the commission. The former governor has approached the Supreme Court  on the investigation of his failed administration.

It is imperative  to declare that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry  that investigated the sale of valued assets of the state sat in the public. All the documents about the fraud perpetrated by the past administration  were made public. Nothing was hidden from the people of the state.

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The Chairman of the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry into the sale of valued state assets and other related matters,  Justice George Omereji, informed the governor that the commission received 442 exhibits and 27 memoranda, while 25 witnesses testified before it. It confirmed  that N53 billion was diverted.

According to Justice Omereji, “government should act fast on the report and Rivers people will be better for it. If government acts fast,  we will be able to recover billions stashed away. That money belongs to the Rivers people and I hope government would act fast to recover it, so that it would be used for the people of Rivers State.”

Justice Omereji  noted that the commission’s work was delayed by two suits filed by former governor Amaechi and Mr. Augustine  Wokocha.  He said the commission only started sitting after the dismissal of the suits.

Yes, Governor Wike set up the commission with the  mandate  to investigate the sale of the following: Omoku 150 MW gas turbine, Afam 360 MW gas turbine, Trans-Amadi 136 MW gas turbine and the Eleme 75 MW gas turbine. The panel also investigated the sale of Olympia Hotel, the execution of the mono-rail project, non-execution of the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital after the payment of $39, 200, 000 to the contractor.

The Commission also investigated the disbursement and use of the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture credit guarantee scheme fund of N2 billion and the withdrawal of  N96 billion from the State Reserve Funds. The panel was also mandated to ascertain the circumstances of the sales of the four gas turbines and to identify the purchasers and also confirm whether the transaction was conducted with  transparency. A white paper has been issued on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.  After the court processes, implementation  will take place in line with the rule of law. The bottom line is that the Amaechi government was found wanting. Amaechi’s  indictment  has nothing to do with the integrity challenged charlatan he has conscripted  to  launder  his battered  image.

Like the Rivers State governor said during the special thanksgiving service for PDP Supreme Court victory, insults and falsehood will not be an impediment to the development  of Rivers State.  Insults  will not stop good governance.  Insults  will not distract the governor from his  commitment  to  the  rule of law and delivery  of quality projects.

Governor Wike believes in using the resources of Rivers State  to serve the people.  The resources are for the greatest number; to execute projects in line with the budget duly considered and passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.  That same budget is in public domain and can be freely accessed  by well meaning persons. Therefore, nobody should  expect gratification  on the altar of blackmail.  The governor  will never be involved in activities that are untoward.

• Nwakaudu is media aide of Gov. Nyesom Wike.