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.
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.