The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has faulted the decision of the Governor Nyesom Wike to obtain a loan of eighteen billion from Acess Bank.
The State House of Assembly had on Monday consider a request and granted the approval for the loan which will be used for the construction of a flyover and road expansion project in Port Harcourt.
The party in a statement by Ogbonna Nwuke, its factional publicity secretary said the funds could have been used in the development of the agricultural sector,
The party maintained that some of the projects being executed by the Rivers State Government have not been properly backed by the power of appropriation.
It noted that some of the policies and programmes on which scarce funds belonging to taxpayers have been spent by Governor Nyesom Wike and his administration were never part of the budget.
“We are saddened by the fact that it took our intervention for leaders, who have failed to comply with international best practices put in place for purposes of ensuring accountability, probity and transparency, to contemplate doing so.
“Our State operates a system of laws which makes the voice of the people a major plank of our democracy. Our system is built on the notion that the executive, legislature and the judiciary are independent. This universal principle which is revered by the Rivers people, cannot be swept under the carpet.
“We owe a sacred duty as Rivers people and the owners of this State to protect rights which are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. As a political party, the APC is acutely aware of its historic mission, which to wit, includes the defence of the rights, freedoms and privileges of the people and their democratic institutions”.
The party said it will in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution refuse to abandon its mission.
“What played out today is proof of the fact that the APC is committed to the protection of the power of the people. It is a confirmation of what we have always known that the actions of the Rivers State have not been consistent, most of the time, with the provisions of our laws.
“We have insisted that what is transpiring in Rivers State amounts to a rape on democracy. We have maintained the views of the people, or their representatives must be sought. The government cannot act as if it has the power to do anything, including the power which allows it to appropriate the power of appropriation which belongs to the State House of Assembly.
“Once again, we urge the Rivers people to gird their loins. The fight ahead is greater. It is the fight against impunity, abuse of office or misuse of power. It is a fight to protect democratic tenets and the struggle to ensure that the people remain the centrepiece of our democracy.
“Now that Government has decided to start on a clean note, we believe it owes a duty to apologise to the Rivers people, especially for consistently acting in breach of canons, which preach inclusion and participation, respect for democratic processes and the rule of law as well as regular engagement between it and the people.
“Finally, we express our opposition to the use of a whooping sum of N18 billion on the construction of a flyover and road expansion project in Port Harcourt.
“That kind of money can be used judiciously in developing cottage industries and creating jobs, which would engage our youths and strengthen the economy. Roads leading to most of our Local Government Areas have completely packed up. They require to be fixed in order to end the misery of the people.
“To date, we remain a consumer State instead of a producer State, which depends solely on federal allocations. The government should fulfil its promise to embark on agriculture. Our people cannot continue to watch while their contemporaries elsewhere are motivated by their state governments to engage in productive activities”.
