Lorine Emenike
A social-political pressure group, Network for the Defense of Democratic and Good Governance (NDDGG), has joined in condemning the recent pledge of five hundred million naira to the government of Sokoto state by governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, following the market fire that destroyed properties worth millions of naira in the state.
Leader of NDDGG, Sobomabo Jackrich in a statement noted that while the group sympathizes with the government and people of Sokoto state over their loss, it views Governor Wike’s action as selfish and politically motivated.
He also added that the gesture was an unaccountable obligation.
“While we sympathize with the government and people of Sokoto state over the loss, we view this move as Governor Wike’s politically selfish, ill-motivated and reckless donation of the collective resource of River State. The NDDGG wish to sound it loud and clear that Sokoto state is not a territory of Rivers State warranting such unacceptable obligation.
“The action of the Governor clearly proves that he does not seem to have a protected future at stake or vision for our dear state. He is not bothered that the state ranks number one on the unemployment index, having the highest unemployed population as published by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics and other institutions”
Sobomabo Jackreich said it was worrisome that retirees and pensioners have not been paid their entitlement since the inception of Governor Wike-led administration in 2015.
He said the Governor has looked the other way despite several protest and pains faced by those who have served the state meritoriously resulting in avoidable death of senior citizens of the state without their statutory reward.
The NDDGG leader said the group will explore all means possible to demand accountability of the utility of public funds by the state if it fails to retrace its steps on the spate of financial impropriety.
“The state has been operating a secret budget system since 2015 even though the government denies these facts indefensibly without any evidence to the contrary. We demand full detailed transparency of the utility of the seventy-eight billion naira refunds and further call on the state government to pay our retirees from the refunds or the NDDGG will be left with no other option than to mobilize Rivers people to embark on mass action in the coming days, including exploring all legal avenues to compel the Wike-led Rivers State government to account for all our monies, if our governor fails to reorder his steps”.
“Meanwhile, the Rivers Civil Society Organization has called on the Rivers state House of Assembly to summon Governor Nyesom Wike over the five hundred million naira donation. Chairman Rivers Civil Society Organization, Enefa Georgewill condemned the silence of the state assembly on the matter, saying the governor should be invited to explain the budgetary provision covering the spending.
Enefa Georgewill wondered why the Governor did not dole out such fund for disasters of similar consequences in Rivers State.
“We call on the Rivers State House of Assembly as the representative of the people to invite the Rivers State governor to the hallow chambers to explain the following; 1. Under what budget heading the Rivers State Governor donated Rivers peoples money to Sokoto traders? If it is not appropriated In the budget, who gave him the authority to donate such amount of money in a constitutional democracy?.
“2. Why has the Governor not paid a similar visit and donate to Rivers citizens who are victims of disasters like the flood victims of the Orashi region, the gas explosion at Komkom in Oyigbo, military invasion and destruction of properties in Onelga, and Ahoada West local government area and several other disasters that have happened in the state?”
Enefa Georgewill said failure to invite the Governor will confirm insinuation in some quarters that the Assembly is not a representation of the people and its interests but a rubber stamp Assembly.
