Nyesom Wike Vows To Probe Amaechi's Administration
Nyesom Wike, the governor-elect of Rivers state, has stated that he will probe the administration of Rotimi Amaechi after being sworn in as the chief executive of the state.
The Punch reports that the governor-elect made the statement while receiving the interim report of the transition committee in Port Harcourt on May 25, Monday.
Wike announced that his administration would carry out a forensic audit of all government accounts. He explained that the measure would enable him to recover funds that might have allegedly been stolen by top officials of the outgoing administration.
Wike warned that those who participated in the use of N4.5bn to hold a local government election by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission would be held to responsibility for their actions. According to him, the commission embarked on an illegal local government election despite the court’s position on the matter.
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Continuing his statement, Wike assured people of the state that the days of impunity and corruption were over. He noted that Rivers state would be a test case in the fight against corruption.
“I am not going to be intimidated. The only way we can work together is to check the ills of the past. The right thing must be done. Those who have stolen the resources of the state must be made to account for them.
“I have the political will to drive the process to its logical conclusion. The massive stealing of government resources was a deliberate attempt to create problems for the incoming administration,” he said.
Wike announced that all backdated appointments and certificates of occupancy, which have been hurriedly issued by Amaechi, would be set aside.
“All the top officials of Amaechi's administration who have refused to cooperate in the interest of Rivers state during the transition period will soon cooperate whether they like it or not.
“Those who have closed the courts will be the same persons rushing to the courts when we open the courts,” Wike said.
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Earlier, Tele Ikuru, the chairman of the transition committee and state deputy governor, had called on the new administration to carry out a forensic audit of all accounts in view of an alleged looting by the outgoing administration. Ikuru noted that Amaechi and top officials of his administration refused to cooperate with the committee for a smooth transition.
Reacting, Tony Okocha, the chief of staff of government house, stressed that Amaechi was not afraid of a probe and added that the governor had been transparent and sincere in governing the state.
“No government that is transparent and sincere like that of Amaechi will be afraid of probe. It (probe) is good to do except if it is originally intended to be a witch-hunt,” Okocha said.
Reacting to Wike’s claim that N4.5bn was used to conduct the council election, Okocha said: “He (Wike) should also understand that he who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.”
Meanwhile, Amaechi has recently revealed that the state is broke and that the governor-elect is in for a surprise. However, he assured the nation not to worry, saying that the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, will fix the nation’s finances.
Source: Legit.ng
