The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the April 11 governorship poll in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has accused the Rivers State Government of dishonesty.
Peterside specifically said the state government under Governor Nyesom Wike is hoodwinking the people of the state, faulting the governor’s claim that he (Wike) met an empty treasury.
He noted that the new administration had yet to make any policy statement six weeks after its inception, adding that the situation suggested that the people have a rudderless state.
Apparently making reference to Wike’s alleged recovering of government property from former aides of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Peterside said the current governor was embarking on “mindless pursuit of vendetta against individuals”.
“Too much dishonesty on the part of the government to hoodwink Rivers people. For instance, allegations of empty coffer is a spurious tale as even Mr. Wike, by his own admission, has been announcing various funds that he located in different government accounts.
“His false claim of using Julius Berger for the refilling of pot holes when he has been using local contractors and paying them peanuts. His use of the Berger name was simply a red herring to enable him to loot public funds.
“Six weeks after assuming office, the government has not made one single policy statement; rather, it appointed the Nimi Walson Jack committee to design a blueprint for the running of government after it had taken off. A move that suggests we have the case of a rudderless state manned by persons whose only bond to the state is to siphon our resources.
“The mindless pursuit of vendetta against individuals, chasing of shadows and brazen impunity against the long-term interest of the state. Obvious lack of commitment to the development of Rivers State.
“A case in point is the security situation, which has continued to deteriorate with criminality promoted at the expense of the safety of our people. Kidnapping and armed robbery are now rooted and government is doing nothing.
“Poor understanding of public finance and questionable management of public funds, as is evidenced in the borrowing of N30bn in 30 days.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, however disagreed with Peterside, maintaining that Wike did not hoodwink the people of the state.
Inko-Tariah explained that contractors had gone back to sites to continue most projects abandoned by the immediate past administration on the directive of the current administration.
“I am a little bit startled that Dakuku Peterside could make such sweeping statement against the current administration. Look at the roads, the governor is working on them. Most of these projects were abandoned by the Amaechi administration, Governor Wike decided to work on them. Then who is hoodwinking the people?
“When you talk of salaries, the immediate past governor refused to pay workers, sportsmen and women and pensioners, but the current administration, led by Governor Wike, has started paying salaries and pensions, including the payment of N400m to our footballers.”
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