A group, Rivers Conscience Initiative (RCI) has called on the Rivers men and women to take charge of their destinies in the upcoming governorship elections.
The group said the call was pertinent as it claimed that “men and women in the state are dejected and wary about their future and that of their children.”
In a statement signed by the chairman of the group, Kalada Wilson, Secretary, Ken Izidor, and three other members, RCI said, “Institutions of state have failed and are in advanced stages of decay as an increasing number of Rivers children are out of school and are roaming the streets.”
The group said retirees were owed gratuities with “political leaders looting the resources of the state brazenly.”
“They sell off state assets to themselves and convert public property to private estates. They secure governorship tickets for their business partners to cover their crimes. They disrespect the traditional institutions and treat Rivers people with disdain.”
The group further claimed that “since the birth of the Fourth Republic, every Rivers state governor has been profligate with state resources in the pursuit of wasteful presidential bid. Huge amounts of Rivers State funds are gifted to other states, political parties and private individuals.”
It said governors of the state were under the covering of a “perpetual court injunction” against the EFCC and another court ruling that gave the subservient Rivers State House of Assembly the exclusive right to investigate the finances of the State, which according to them, gives the governors a free ride.
Recalling the past administrations in the state, RCI said under military governors, including Alfred Diete-Spiff, the state could boast of excellent infrastructure and huge investment in human capital development.
The group urged Rivers people to “speak up and take ownership of their destinies”, noting that no longer should an elected governor rule Rivers State as serfdom.
The group maintained that all governorship candidates including the PDP and the APC must first clear their names of allegations of corruption before seeking the mandate of the people.
They further urged Governor Wike to show uncommon courage and urgently cooperate with the EFCC to vacate the perpetual court injunction stopping the anti-graft agency from investigating the State’s finances
