The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the allegation of ghost school contracts by made against former governor Chibuike Amaechi by the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an attempt to divert attention “from looming EFCC investigation” of the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.

“The Rivers State Government and the PDP in Rivers State have, once again, resorted to their old choreograph of indulging in wild and baseless accusations as a means of diverting attention whenever the noose is tightening on the inglorious regime of Gov. Nyesom Wike who climbed on the blood of innocent citizens to power as governor,” Rivers APC said Saturday morning in a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone.

The party said: “The recent reported invitation to certain companies and persons by the Rivers State Secondary School Board on alleged monies collected for renovation of secondary schools in Rivers State by the last administration under Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is nothing more than the old tired refrain by the Wike administration and the PDP to divert attention from the widely reported decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to probe an obvious humongous fraud surrounding the unlawful withdrawal of N11 billion from the coffers of the Rivers State Government by Gov. Nyesom Wike through the Government House Director of Finance and Administration (DFA), one Mr. Kingsley Fubara between October 2015 and February 2016.

“The APC notes that it is possible that Mr. Kingsley Fubara is a fake name used by the Governor to open an account in order to siphon Rivers money away. We very well remember his antecedents especially concerning his past infractions with the EFCC.

“It must be stated clearly that the list published by the Rivers State Government of companies pencilled down for renovation of schools reflects total values of contracts and not the paltry stipends provided as mobilisation in all cases. The APC is convinced that this is a deliberate misinformation to hoodwink the ordinary Rivers man and Nigerians just to paint the Amaechi administration in bad light to deflect attention from the N11 billion fraud by the Wike government. If the government is sincere it would have published the whole contract sums alongside what was paid out to the companies as mobilisation. The government deliberately chose not to do so for obvious mischievous political reasons.

“The press release by the Rivers State Government signed by its Information and Communication Commissioner, Austin Tam-George flies in the face of proper reasoning.

For all he cares, Austin Tam-George is free to pursue his personal vendetta against Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the former governor not awarding him the running of a curious programme he so badly needed but the Commissioner must accept that he goofed big time by stating that the Attorney-General’s directive to EFCC to investigate the fraud by the governor is “manifestly illegal and ridiculous.” He should be reminded that if the Office of the AGF could, by law, direct the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to swear-in Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the AGF also has the power to order an investigation into the curious and fraudulent withdrawals from the Rivers State bank accounts. Where lies the usurpation of the powers of the Rivers State House of Assembly?

“Mr. Austin Tam-George can relish the privilege of running a campaign of calumny against Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi from one media house to another; at least that was what got him the job as Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications but he should not stand facts on their head. There was no assurance that life would have become Eldorado for Tam-George if Amaechi awarded him the contract he wanted because of the governor’s frugality. So, the Commissioner should temper his vengeful vituperations against the Minister since Gov. Nyesom Wike eventually offered him a chance for economic survival this time.

The usual refrain by the government that the Amaechi administration received over 3 trillion Naira in 8 years is already sounding like a severely broken gramophone record. Assuming without conceding that that amount was received, why is it that the Wike administration is not listing all the projects and programmes undertaken by the Amaechi administration in which he was Chief of Staff for 4 years. Were the so-called N3 trillion received in 4 years after he had left the administration or did he leave the administration in protest of that?

“The APC believes that the desire of Gov Nyesom Wike is to inspire the PDP with Rivers taxpayers’ money to win the Presidency in 2019 in order to escape what is awaiting him. This is evidenced by the loans he took to fund the failed PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt and the huge sum he provided for the failed PDP Edo State Governorship Primary Election while workers in Rivers State are groaning without salaries for upwards of 6 months depending on the Ministry, Agency or Department. Worse is the local government workers who have all become miserable across the State. However, his efforts have registered disastrous consequences already. Gov Wike must know that his inequities as Minister of education are waiting for him and would catch up with him as soon as his immunity toga falls off and it does not matter how long.

“The APC wishes to advise Gov. Nyesom Wike and his officials to simply forget contriving evil plans against the APC and the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as such insidious efforts will continue to fail. Gov. Nyesom Wike knows that his former boss is a good man but the governor is just unable to digest the fact that the Minister has since moved on.

•Photo shows Rivers APC Chairman Davies Ikanya.

Update news