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Amaechi Must Account For Sold State Assets -RSG …AS APC Crisis Escalates
The Rivers State Government says the Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi must account for the $308million (about N112billion) being proceeds of the sale of Rivers State gas turbine power stations to Sahara Energy belonging to Architect Tonye Dele Cole towards the end of his administration.
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, in Port Harcourt, last Monday, the sale of the power stations and diversion of the proceeds to fund political activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the reason why the Amaechi-led government abandoned so many uncompleted projects and owed salaries and pensions to workers before he left office in 2015.
According to Okah, “apart from the power assets which the former governor sold to Sahara Energy, the same company also bought the Olympia Hotel and other high value state assets under suspicious circumstances from the Governor Amaechi administration and the Justice Omereji Commission of Inquiry was asked to inquire.
“The Justice Omereji Commission of Inquiry investigated the spurious sales and indicted the Minister of Transportation, and instead of refunding the money, the minister rushed to court to set aside the findings of the commission. He lost at the High Court and at the Court of Appeal. His appeal to the Supreme Court has been abandoned because, for over a year, he has failed to file a brief of argument”, Okah said, noting that this was the reason why the minister was arm twisting his party members in the state and forcing Tonye Dele Cole on them as their anointed flag-bearer in the 2019 governorship polls.
“The reason for Tonye Dele Cole is now better explained”, Okah added, noting that it was because of need to cover the skeletons in his (Amaechi’s) cupboard.
“Instead of explaining why he took such contagious economic steps against the state, the former governor and minister of transportation is busy blackmailing the Government of Rivers State and supporting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to disobey existing court orders and harass the Government of Rivers State and her officials.
“For the avoidance of doubts, Rivers State Government is not against the fight against corruption. Our case is that there are two perpetual court injunctions restraining the commission from investigating the finances of Rivers State Government and until those injunctions are vacated by a superior court, the commission is duty bound in law to respect it irrespective of how worried the former governor may feel today”, the statement added.
According to Okah, “On 15th September, 2010, the transportation minister, then as governor of Rivers State protested the interference of the EFCC in the finances of the state at that time, and urged them to vacate the two judgements of the state High Court dated 16/02/2007 and Federal High Court dated 20/03/07, respectively. The EFCC under Mrs Farida Waziri agreed with Rivers State Government and allowed the rule of law to prevail.
“It is, therefore, very funny that the same person who told the EFCC to leave the state alone in 2010 is urging the same commission to invade the State even when the injunctions have not been vacated. The Rivers State Government assures the transportation minister that the law has not changed and the facts remain the same and so his collusion with the commission to harass Rivers State Government and her officials will not work,” Okah added.
Meanwhile, frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has said that what the state needs was politics of peace and unity, not hatred, acrimony or bitterness.
Abe, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, during an interactive session with 26 community-based organisations in Port Harcourt Constituency 2, last Monday, said politics of hatred, bitterness and acrimony is already destroying the state.
He said: “The first thing I believe that Rivers State needs is unity. I believe that the politics of hatred, bitterness, acrimony that has characterized our state in the recent past cannot take us anywhere”.
“It will destroy this state and it has started destroying the state. We need to bring people together. We need to learn how to tolerate one another; accommodate divergent views and bring out the best even in reluctant people”.
Abe, who is also the senator representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, declared that it was only God that could decide who would be Rivers State Governor in 2019, and not the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“A lot of people have been telling me what my former boss, the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, said about me, and I said I will not respond. But I will simply go down memory lane to remind Rivers people of few things.
“First is that when I was commissioner for information under Dr. Peter Odili, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was aspiring to be governor of Rivers State and it caused a big problem in the politics of that time between him and Dr. Peter Odili. I was a commissioner in Odili’s cabinet, but I stood with Amaechi. Practically, at a time, I was the only person in Odili’s government that Amaechi was still talking to.
“I remember one day that I had a serious argument with Dr. Odili over Amaechi. We argued to a point, and I said to Dr. Odili; Sir, can I tell you something? He said, tell me. I said, whoever God has said will be governor of Rivers State will be governor of Rivers State, and there is nothing Dr. Peter Odili can do about it.
“When I went to apologise to him, he told me not to apologise. He said, Magnus, what you have said is true
“It is to the eternal credit of Dr. Peter Odili that he allowed me to serve out my term in his cabinet. He never came out publicly to call me a traitor or a betrayer because he respected the fact that I chose to stand by my friend.
“I have said the same thing to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and I want to repeat it here. Whoever God has said will be governor of Rivers State will be governor of Rivers State and there is nothing Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi can do about it,” the senator said.
Abe denied insinuations that he was being sponsored by Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to cause crisis within the APC in the state, insisting that he was only fighting for his rights.
The governorship hopeful added, “Secondly, I have heard insinuations that I am being sponsored by Nyesom Wike (incumbent governor of Rivers State) because I decided to fight for my rights, not only as a citizen of my state but as a member of my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I remember when he also fought for his rights and he took the PDP, of which we were both members to court, up to the Supreme Court; he fought for his right and we stood by him. I did not remember that Dr. Odili came out to accuse him that he was a betrayer or being sponsored by anybody.
“He knew that he was fighting for his rights and he wanted to be governor and he respected that struggle.
“Today, I want to repeat, I am fighting for my right. I want to be the governor of Rivers State. I will fight in any way that is constitutionally allowed, and whatever God says at the end, I will accept in good faith.
“So, I will continue to refer to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the leader of our party in Rivers State. He is the only member of the party that is a former Governor and a member of the caucus of our party. I refer to him as leader to send signals to all our members no matter how aggrieved they may be that we should be ready to work with him any time he decides that it is appropriate to allow justice to prevail,” Abe added.
Meanwhile, the former governor of Rivers State, and the current Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuieke Rotime Amaechi has debunked the statement credited to Senator Magnus Abe, that he was the leader of his party in the state.
It would be recalled that Abe had asserted that “Amaechi still remains the leader of All Progressives Congress in Rivers State”.
Amaechi dismissed the claim, last Monday, during the APC rally at Rumeme Civic Centre in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
‘I am not Magnus Abe’s leader. Those I helped to climb politically are now working against me. They claimed that the president had endorsed them; let me tell you, the president will only campaign for those the party has chosen.
“No Rivers man is as close as I am to the president‘’ he boasted, saying “let me make this known to you that Magnus Abe is not working for APC, he is working for Governor Wike and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State”.
“Everyone has the right as a citizen to vie for any position so far he is qualified”, Amaechi said.
The division started when the Ogoni born senator declared to contest as the Governor of the state.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana & Emeka Sabastine Igbe
A group under the auspices of Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has urged opposition parties in the country to be constructive in criticising governments at the state and national levels.
The National Chairman of COPDEM, Prince Rwang Pam, gave the advice Saturday at the National Convention and Democracy Icons Award organised by the group in Abuja.
Pam, who expressed concern that presently there was no strong political opposition in the country, said opposition was not about developing hatred for a government in power.
“As far as political parties are concerned, we are not hearing their voices. Nobody is actually saying anything.
“An opposition is not about hitting the government or being anti-Tinubu or anti-APC.
“When it is good, say it is good and when it is not good, say it is not good.
“I think that is what an opposition should be; without fear or favour,” he said.
According to him, COPDEM is an opposition, not to politics but to anything that is standing against the health and the well being of the masses.
Pam equally advised politicians, whether in power or not, to love Nigeria and be ready to do the right thing.
He said that the award night was organised to appreciate the champions of democracy.
“Tonight, we pay tribute to the champions of democracy, whose unwavering dedication has paved the way for positive change in our nation, from grassroots activists to visionary leaders.
“Each nominee and award recipient embodies the values of integrity, transparency, and inclusivity that are the cornerstone of a thriving democracy,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that recipients of the icons award include Late President Umaru Ya’Adua; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi and Femi Falana, SAN.
Others include Bishop Mathew Kukah; Late Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili; the Yoruba leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Late Dele Giwa; Late Gani Fawehinmi; Sen. Shehu Sani; Oby Ezekwesili, among others.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the event, Peter Obi, who was represented by Chief Peter Ameh, National Secretary of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), dedicated the award to the Nigerian people.
The business community, indigenes, workers, drivers, motorists and market women from across the Nigeria have expressed joy over the completion of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo road (known as old Bori road) in Eleme local government area of Rivers State that will now serve as an alternative to the East/West road being constructed by the federal government.
The over 11km-road, constructed by the administration of Sir SiminalayiFubara and would be commissioned on Tuesday, reduces travelling time between Port Harcourt and the Ogoni, Ogu/Bolo, Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro axis of the state, and Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Recall that the East/West road owned by the federal government is presently undergoing reconstruction after being dilapidated for several years, thus causing serious traffic jams and loss of lives and property as recently witnessed in a sad fire incident.
But users of the road are now commending the Rivers State Government led by Governor Fubara for completing the alternative road and making life easy as they go about their daily activities within and outside the state.
A worker at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) in Onne, Rivers State, Fidelia Okonkwo stated that since the road was completed, going to work everyday has now become more pleasurable and less damaging to her car.
Okonkwo stressed that “The terrible nature of the East/West road really gave us nightmare and one can now imagine the difference this new road has made. I find it so easy to drive to work now, at a time; I parked my car at home and join public transport to work. I must say kudos to the Rivers State government.”
A driver that plies the Port Harcourt-Ikot Abasi route, IdongesitOkon expressed joy over the alternative route, saying he now spends less hours carrying passengers between Rivers and Akwa States, in addition to spending less fixing his car due to the bad state of the road.
He praised the Rivers State Government for delivering on the road, pointing out that when the governor awarded the contract, they thought it was the usual politician way of doing things but that they were shocked when contractors finished the project.
According to him, “Help us thank the governor, God go bless am, we no believe am when he say him go finish the road but now see as the road dey smooth, we dey enjoy am well well.”
An indigene of Aleto-Eleme, Obarilomate Godwin expressed gratitude to the government, stating that the completion of the road would save the community from perennial flooding, in addition to improved movement along the road.
“I am really happy for this road project, before now, during raining season, the road would become flooded and it will be difficult to move around. But now, we are happy that there won’t be flooding and we can easily move from one point to the other.
“I must admit that Governor Fubara is working hard despite the political distractions in the state; we can only ask that he does more for the people of Eleme, we know that the ring road is coming and the contactor is on site, this is really good, we thank him,” he added.
Mrs Agnes Ogwutum, who sells at the Eleme market, while expressing happiness over the road, saying it enables them to move their goods quickly, called on the state government to quickly finish the ongoing ring road project, saying it will help increase the number of people coming to the market.
The Nigeria Customs Service has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the General Administration of Customs, People’s Republic of China, to foster bilateral relationships and enhance economic growth.
This was contained in a statement, yesterday, by the National Public Relations Officer, NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada.
According to the statement, the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, signed the MoU when he led a management team of the service to Shenzhen metropolis of China.
Speaking during the visit, Adeniyi appreciated the Vice Minister of the Chinese General Administration of Customs, Wang Lingjun, for showing interest in signing the agreement.
Adeniyi explained that the new MoU with China “would boost the countries’ import-export operations and favour the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria,”
“We know a lot of Nigerian companies and Small and Medium Enterprises take advantage of the opportunities aided through e-commerce,” Adeniyi added.
He expressed optimism that the agreement would serve as a critical component of cooperative security and trade relationship between the two countries.
The relationship would create a cooperative mechanism for NCS and the GACC to collaborate on supply chain security standards and enhance the economic stability of both nations, he said.
According to him, these are some of the many reasons the NCS pays attention to what is happening in China.
“As you have said, China is making the biggest trade in Nigeria, and the basic context of international trade is ‘your export, our import’. I appreciate the numbers that you gain in Nigeria. But it is also common knowledge that those numbers sometimes must take account of the large volume of informal trade that exists between us,” the CGC said.
Earlier, Lingjun, who was represented by Sun Yuning, while signing the MoU, expressed satisfaction with Adeniyi’s vision.
Lingjun added that the affiliation between the two government agencies “would serve as a mechanism for creating opportunities that Nigeria and China share on a wide range of economic issues and trade facilitation.”
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