A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Sir Ebowei Gboru, has warned the party against giving its presidential ticket to certain aspirant from the state over an alleged fraud case covering his activities and controversial sale of government assets.
The accusation, according to Gboru, borders on sales of valued assets and subsequent withdrawal of N96B from the state coffers.
“Some of the assets include the Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel, and the award of contract for the execution of the failed monorail project.
According to Sir Gboru, the APC risks undermining its anti-corruption stance if the said aspirant is allowed to emerge as its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.
He said, “as a party that has repeatedly told Nigerians that we are against corruption and determined to restore probity and transparency to public service, it would amount to a needless own-goal to give our ticket to this aspirant who is neck deep in a series of indicting corruption cases.”
“He has been invited to explain these controversial deals, but instead of seizing the opportunity to demonstrate his innocence, he has gone to court to halt investigations and protect himself from the searchlight of the investigating commission and agencies.
“There’s no telling what the Supreme court would say about his attempt to hide from accountability. However, whichever way the Supreme Court judgement expected in May goes, I think it’s clear that the party cannot make a convincing case to Nigerians on fighting corruption if our party is led by a man with such heavy corruption baggage.”
“We are already facing serious questions from Nigerians over the pardoning of some ex-Governors who were indicted by the courts. Following that with the selection of this man as our 2023 candidate will amount to self-immolation and completely destroy our credibility before Nigerians and the international community,” he said.