Rivers PDP accuses Amaechi's aides, APC of last minute looting

The Rivers State  chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, expressed regrets over alleged looting spree in the state’s ministries and parastatals ahead of Governor Rotimi Amaechi's exit, on May 29, 2015.

It also raised alarm over alleged illegal sale of government property to close friends, political allies and family members of the outgoing governor of the state.

PDP in a statement, yesterday, by its state Chairman, Mr Felix Obuah describes as frightening, illegal employment in Rivers State Polytechnic Bori, where about 500 people have been secretly employed without due process.

“The chairman, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Mr. Ngo Martins-Yellow and the 23 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen are also secretly employing thousands of persons to swell the number of civil servants in government employ and councils, so that the incoming PDP government will battle with the alarming wage bill.

“PDP appreciates the employment of Rivers people, but such employment must follow due process, must not be partisan and without hidden agenda.

Frowning at this uncalled for, and criminal act by political aides to the governor in connivance with some senior officials of government, Obuah said “Change of guards in governance is a normal tradition and does not mean the end of government or discontinuation of political leadership in the state.”

He warned all those involved in this wanton looting to desist, stressing that the long arm of the law will surely catch up with such perpetrators of the act.

He said that information available reveals that some of the government property being stolen and vandalized were mainly the unregistered brand new cars assigned to different departments of government.

Some equipment for the monorail, government farms, schools, hospitals, government owned media houses among others have also been stolen and vandalized.

“Some of the government officials and the governor's political aides fingered as the masterminds of the looting include George Feyii, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Information and Communications Commissioner who has allegedly transferred most of the cars belonging to the World Book Capital to his Lagos residence.

Also mentioned in the mad looting is the Chief of Staff, Government House, Tony Okocha and commissioner for Agriculture.

It is most unfortunate that this is happening in a government which officials are seeking the people's mandate to continue in office and has explained why God who knows the inner hearts of all men has rejected them, added Obuah.

Enjoining the Rivers people for whom the outgoing Amaechi and his cohorts are holding these property in trust to take note, the PDP State Chairman said the only reason for the evil act is to get at the state governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike as though he is coming to personally inherit these property.

“Unfortunately, it's the State and the people that will suffer for the wickedness. Outgoing Gov Amaechi should therefore be called to order.”