By Ibim Semenitari
On Monday, June 22, 2015 Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state briefed the media and made numerous allegations. These allegations are the same ones that Wike set up a commission of inquiry to investigate. However in keeping with his predecessor Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi’s commitment to good governance and to transparent and accountable stewardship to Rivers people, we will reiterate the facts.
1. N150bn owed Ministry of Works’ contractors: Amaechi inherited a state that was comatose and in dire need of infrastructure. He, therefore, embarked on land reclamation in our riverine communities and the massive construction of roads, bridges and interchanges all over Rivers state. It is to the credit of the Amaechi administration that by the time he was leaving office, he had completed 90% of the Phase 1A of the Rivers state monorail, completed two major interchanges, two flyovers, 25 bridges, and five shore protection projects. He also completed 890km of the on-going 1,424km road projects across the state.
Some of the roads completed were federal roads for which Rivers government was owed N108bn, Wike as minister of state for education was among those who prevented former President Goodluck Jonathan from paying the Rivers government back these funds. States like Akwa Ibom and Abia received repayment for federal roads they constructed.
When Amaechi was leaving office, the debts owed contractors in the Ministry of Works for ongoing road projects totaled N44,942,354,44.10. 2. N15bn owed to Zenith Bank: Amaechi in his valedictory address to Rivers people Amaechi announced the loans owed to various banks. The repayment for the loans is via an irrevocable standing order and so will have reduced as at today.
3. Sale of power projects: For the records, the Government of Rivers state under Dr. Peter Odili made substantial investment in electric power projects with the aim of mitigating the malaise of inadequate power supply. Amaechi recognised the importance of improved electric power supply in the socio-economy regeneration of the state.
At the time assumed office, of the 350mw total capacity
generation assets invested by the state, only 70mw or20% was available. With enthusiasm, Amaechi ramped up the efficiency to 77% availability including injecting another 360mw Green Field Generation Project at Afam, of which 180mw have been commissioned and is in commercial operation. To mitigate the swing in efficiency and its debilitating impact on the economy, the state government sought private sector operators and sold 70% equity stake in the power generating assets’ company to NG Power HPS. The state government adopted the same model as the federal government in the sale Egbin Power Plant. The sale was at a price per mw higher than all the privatisation mw rate done by the federal government.
The proceeds from sale of the equity in the power generating assets’ company was captured as income in the 2014 Appropriation Law and deployed into funding capital projects as appropriated. 4. Salaries to workers: All civil servants received their March salaries while payment for April salaries had commenced by the time the administration was winding down. 5. Refuse contractors: Waste management contractors were being owed N1.6bn amounting to four months of arrears as at when Amaechi left office.
Instruction for the payment of N488 million was with Zenith Bank as at the May 27. 6. Sharks/Dolphin: The three clubs: Sharks, Dolphins and Rivers Angels were in arrears of 7 months by the time governor Amaechi left government. Before leaving office Amaechi approved the payment of 7 months arrears to the team but this was held back along with approved payments that the banks did not pay. 7. Pension: With regards to our pension arrears, the Amaechi administration inherited pension arrears of over N4.5bn. When leaving office he was owing three months of pension arrears to the mainstream and two months of parastatals. 8. No handover notes: There is no truth in this as all commissioners and heads of MDAs submitted their handover notes to the Secretary to State Government who forwarded same to the Head of the State Civil Service as is appropriate. 10. Forceful repossession of Lexus Jeep from Mrs Ibim Semenitary:
I find it strange that Wike says that I was contacted by security agencies. It might have been necessary that he provides proof of such contact. I am also shocked that he conveniently failed to acknowledge that it was an 8-year-old car and that it was not factory proofed. He also failed to state that it was given to me after several threats to my life because of my job description and that this isn’t strange as he himself as chief of staff was aware that there are political office holders who are allotted official vehicles from government house as the need or circumstances may dictate.
Beyond all these, can Wike please confirm if as commissioner I am entitled to leave with the official cars used during my tenure and if indeed he as chief of staff and later minister of state did so?
Amaechi administration was committed to the service of Rivers people. Governor Amaechi and all officials who served with him will always be grateful for any opportunity given to them to set the records straight as their pledge then and now remains to “render transparent and accountable stewardship.” It would be helpful if Wike while he seats as governor keeps his eye on the ball by striving to protect the lives and property of Rivers people and enhance their quality of life. This is the least he can do to assuage the pains of Rivers people in the most violent elections the state had ever witnessed.
Semenitari is a Fellow of Nigeria Guild of Editors
