Amaechi Plans to Spend N4.5bn on Rivers’ Council Poll

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has accused Governor Chibuike Amaechi of setting aside N4.5 billion for the planned local council election in the state on May 23.

The party however alleged that the Governor actually planned to give only N2.5 billion to the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the council poll, while he allegedly planned to use the remaining N2 billion to bribe members of the election petitions tribunal that would be handling all the cases pertaining to the just-concluded general election in the state.

Chairman, media committee of the Rivers PDP Campaign Organisation, Mr Emma Okah, made the accusation in a statement he personally signed and issued in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Okah said it was painful that the spending was coming at a time when pensioners and public workers in the state were being owed arrears of pensions and salaries.

His words: “We are accusing the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of setting aside the sum of N4.5b for the purpose of conducting his so-called May 23, 2015 local government election in the state.

“The irony of it all is that he is going ahead to do this when pensioners in the state have not been paid salaries; when many public servants are still being owed; when projects in the state have been stalled and a lot of contractors are being indebted to.

“Those who are handling projects in the various communities and villages, over 80 per cent of them have not been completed and they are being abandoned. This is in spite of the fact that the Karibe White Hospital had not been done and so many other projects that Amaechi promised the people of Rivers State but he has failed to do.

“But the irony is not the fact that he is pretending to be voting N4.5 billion for the election. In truth, he is going to give N2.5 billion to RISIEC for the election.

“The remaining Two Billion Naira will be used to bribe, in his view, members of the election petitions tribunal who will be handling the cases, in respect of both the federal elections and the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.”

Okah said the governor had subjected and exposed the people to the wastage and alleged looting of public resources and admonished him to retrace his step because he would, one day, be accountable for all deeds as the state governor.

He re-affirmed that Rivers PDP would not participate in the local government election, adding, “We also call on the public to take note of Amaechi’s recklessness and determination to go ahead with an election despite the fact that well-meaning Nigerians have spoken against it.

“First, it is untimely and secondly, the requisite notice have not been giving. Today (Friday) is the last day for the submission of candidates’ names. When will the parties hold primaries and all other things to be able to bring candidates?

“I am restating that we are not a party to the election. How can we be part of an illegality? If the requisite notice is given and all are given equal opportunities to prepare, we will go and prepare. Of course, we know that we will beat them any day.

“But to come and give us two days notice to prepare candidates and all that, just after we had finished a major election is irregular. And as far as we are concerned, it is illegal. We require a minimum of 90 days notice, as stipulated by law.”

While asked to react to Okah’s allegations, the Chief Press Secretary to the Amaechi, Mr. David Iyofor, simply responded in a sms, “They are delusional. They need psychiatric help.”

Amaechi Plans to Spend N4.5bn on Rivers’ Council Poll