…Stakeholders Absolve Jonathan From Influencing EFCC

Some stakeholders from Bayelsa State have absolved the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan from any role in the recent Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) manhunt for some officials of the state government.

The stakeholders made public their view, over the weekend, during a weekly phone –in programme organised by the Silverbird Communication, Port Harcourt.

The chairman of the Action Congress (AC) in the state, Hon Imerike Ebikibina, stated that part of the problem rocking the state cabinet stems from ineptitude, hence the Acting President should not be fingered as being part of such affairs.

Ebikibina argued that instead of seeking for a blackmail, the authorities in Bayelsa State should look inwards by overhauling the cabinet, which in his view are made up of inexperienced and fraudulent persons.

The Bayelsa AC chief said the governor Sylva’s administration does not have what it takes to transform the state since its inception. He added that the government does not have any tangible project to show on ground.

His view was re-echoed by a senior lecturer in the Niger Delta University and public analysts, John Idumange who said that since Dr Jonathan’s elevation to the office of Vice President he has distanced himself from political development in the state.

Idumange noted that, ‘ Sylva wouldn’t have been the governor of the state, if Dr Jonathan had remained as the  party flagbearer. But I believe that the integrity of Sylva’s administration is being marred by his non-performing commissioners”.

Supporting Idumange’s view, Vice President of National Youth Council of Nigerian, Marvin Yorbana blamed Governor Sylva for the problem of Bayelsa State.

According to Yorbana, there is glaring corruption in the state and therefore no need for personalising issues since the EFCC is conducting its statutory function.

Yorbana argued that instead of resorting to name calling, the authorities should address the issues on ground, noting that the Acting President is now concerned with pressing national issues than picking interest in state matters.

Earlier, last week, the EFCC had declared the commissioner of Finance in Bayelsa State wanted over alleged financial misappropriation.

Already, the state director of Finance and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry are in the custody of the anti-graft agency.