By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News
A former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has denied withdrawing N53bn from Rivers state reserve fund without due process.
According to a statement by Amaechi media team, the former governor described the allegation as unfortunate.
Chairman of probe Panel, Justice Omeriji had accused Amaechi in his report to Wike that N53bn was withdraw from the state reserve fund without project linked to it.
Responding to the allegation, Amaechi said “The statement credited to the panel’s chairman Justice Omeriji of a “missing” N53 billion is unfortunate and leaves much to be desired.
“The mischief is all the more evident as the funds referred to are funds from the Rivers State reserve fund which was duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly and whose expenditure were duly captured and appropriated.”
The statement accused Wike of making his last effort to tarnish Amaechi’s image in order to stop his clearance by senate.
Amaechi said: “After Mr. Wike failed with his various desperate tactics to stop the nomination of the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as a minister he has embarked on this last ditch effort which is his trump card in the hope that it will diminish the former governor’s towering stature as a statesman and honest Nigerian.”
The former governor added: “Between 2013 and early 2015 revenue accruing to the government of Rivers State was cut in half due to dwindling federal allocation to states. From about an average of N 20 billion, the state began receiving between N9 and N10 billion. By the middle of the first quarter of 2015 the state revenue dipped to as low as N6 billion.
“Salaries alone stood at over N9 billion besides other expenses.
“Government had set aside the reserve funds for the rainy day and had need to fall back to it to fund salaries and projects. The details of the expenditure were very clearly captured and this information which was already in the public domain was shared with the incoming government and the Omeriji panel.
“Government business should be transparent and honest and if indeed Mr. Nyesom Wike understands the basics of governance then he should know that rather than playing to the gallery with his red herring of a panel, he should simply go to court and prove his spurious allegations of corruption.
“Spending resources left behind for the betterment of Rivers people by a prudent and thrifty government on frivolities is indeed irresponsible and unbecoming for a person who aspires to public office especially that of the exalted office of governor.
“We would counsel Mr. Wike to focus on the job at hand and try to make something of the few days he has before he leaves Brick House, per adventure he might yet make some positive impact on the minds of Rivers people.”
Missing N53B: Fund was approved by Rivers State House of Assembly - Amaechi
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