Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in Rivers State have expressed the need for an urgent audit of the state government’s accounts by federal financial institutions.
This follows allegations against the state governor, Nyesom Wike by Senator Dino Melaye.
Melaye, in an Interview with AIT, had alleged that Wike sponsored the political campaigns of some candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Kogi State gubernatorial aspirant had also alleged that the governor had a private jet that belongs to him.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Chairman of Rivers State CSOs, Enefaa Geogewill, and the Chairman of Coalition of Concerned Rivers Stakeholders, Sunny Dada, the groups said an investigation needed to be launched into the claims of Mr. Melaye and ensure adequate sanctioning if found to be true.
According to Georgewill, “The claim by Melaye is one of the bogus disclosures of Wike spending money on politicians in other parts of the country, while citizens of the state languish in pain and poverty.
“The governor has openly donated huge amounts of money to political interests outside the state, while the Mile One Market, which was gutted by fire since 2014 is still not allowed to function.
“It is quite pathetic that such amounts of money will be flying everywhere, yet the demonstration teachers in state higher institutions have not been paid for about seven years, the pensioners are still struggling and crying to be paid.”
In an open letter to Governor Wike, the Chairman of Coalition of Concerned Rivers Stakeholders, Sunny Dada beckoned on the governor to clear the doubts of concerned citizens and clarify the claims levelled by his former political ally, Melaye.
“On the allegation of a private jet that belongs to you, Rivers people are at a loss if Melaye is referring to the Rivers State Legacy Aircraft. However, because the legacy aircraft was only formally recovered from Germany in September 2022, it is impossible that Melaye could be referring to it. We, however, urge you to challenge him to provide evidence that you have a private jet in the interest of transparency and accountability.
“This is very important in the light of the implication of such comment, especially coming at a time when some officials of the Rivers State Government are having a running battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It is, therefore, very crucial that you come clean on the allegations to allay fears of Rivers people that their finances are safe with you and that the reason for the high rate of unemployment in the state is not connected to any licentious extravagance on your part as implied by your former friend,” Dada stated.
