THE Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State on Tuesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari must investigate the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, over allegations of corruption.This is just as the party petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, detailing alleged corrupt practices that took place under Amaechi
The PDP Deputy Publicity Secretary in Rivers, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, said since President Buhari had promised to maintain a zero tolerance for corruption, he should not be silent on how the past administration in Rivers managed the affairs of the state.
Nwanosike, who spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt, urged the President not to spare anyone found culpable, adding that proceeds from some of the past transactions in the state could not be traced.
Reacting to statements credited to some members of the All Progressives Congress on the state of Rivers economy, Nwanosike lamented that the current administration in the state had to borrow to pay salary arrears, which the Amaechi administration failed to pay.
He dismissed the claims that some PDP members in the state were planning to defect to the APC, describing it as laughable.
According to Nwanosike, “Since the President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, has told the world that he is a man with zero tolerance for corruption, we, the people of Rivers, are asking that there should be no sacred cow. We are saying that corruption in Rivers State should be investigated and justice should be done.
“As we speak to you, we cannot trace the proceeds that emanated from all the government’s transactions that that took place in Rivers State.”
The PDP chieftain explained that a petition had been sent to the EFCC over the alleged fraudulent transactions involving the immediate past administration in the state between December 1 and 8, 2014.
He said, “Can you imagine that between December 1 and 8, 2014, with one address – 25 Trans-Amadi Road, Port Harcourt, over N21bn of Rivers funds were transferred? We are asking, where did these funds go?”
On the claim by the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, that some PDP members in the state were planning to defect to the APC, Nwanosike challenged him (Peterside) to mention the names of such PDP members.
In his reaction, however, a former aide to Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha, said Amaechi had never been afraid of probe, adding that the ex-governor was transparent in all he did for the people of the state.
Okocha explained that the PDP in the state was only interested in soiling the good name of the former governor and maintained that the party would not achieve such an aim.
