By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has accused the Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike, of plunging the state into a N300 billion debt.
This is just as he labelled him a hypocrite for condemning the same practices that he engages in.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Dakuku said Wike criticises the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of election rigging and excessive borrowing and claims to be an apostle of free and fair elections, but he has led the State into a N300 billion debt and bribed his way back to the Government House.
The former House of Representatives member further accused Governor Wike of stifling the State Legislature, saying: “Here is Wike that the Appeal Court agreed that he mindlessly rigged 2015 governorship election, with the death of hundreds of Rivers people and usage of underhand tactics to ride into power.
“Rivers people lost their loved ones in no less than six LGAs all because of the desperation of one man who sadistically chose to grab power by all means possible.
“This is the same governor who is on record to have given INEC officials over N300m to rig election in Rivers State, the same man who is alleged to have bribed judges to sway decisions in his favour.
“How can such a notorious person pontificate over how to conduct free, fair and credible election? He has absolutely no moral right to speak on credible electoral processes.”
While querying Wike’s management of the state’s resources, Peterside wondered why, despite increased allocation, Paris Club refund, internally generated revenue, among others, he still had to go and obtain loans running to N300 billion.
“As of today, Rivers State government is owing over N300bn from different sources. This is an administration that has received N110bn from Paris Club refund, N78bn for roads constructed by his predecessor, over N2.5trn from federal allocation without commensurate works to show for it.
“Only yesterday, the State Executive Council approved further borrowing of N25bn without stating where the money would be borrowed from and how much is allocated to each of the items that necessitated the borrowing; things are just shrouded in secrecy and lack of open bidding or following due process.
“Under Wike’s administration, Rivers people have not been opportune to see the state’s budget in the last six years, hence do not even know what is contained in it and be able to benchmark his claims,” he alleged.
Dakuku continued: “Rivers State House of Assembly only sits when Wike orders them to do so. Even when the National Assembly and President Buhari called for States’ Legislature autonomy, the governor told his boys to reject it.
“Only last week, the Rivers State House of Assembly members could not sit because the roof of the hallowed chamber is leaking seriously, forcing his rubber stamp legislators to scamper for safety.
“I really sympathise with the legislators, who are afraid to even debate matters of their own welfare on the floor of the house for fear of the emperor, who may order stoppage of their salaries.”