Dare Babalola
Activist Kenneth Okonkwo has condemned the recent state of emergency in Rivers State, saying it was unnecessary and allowed “outsiders to syphon the state’s resources”.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Okonkwo called for unity in the state and other Nigerian states saying, “When you are disunited in your state, strangers will be brought in to syphon your resources”.
He noted that the state of emergency was uncalled for, given that the political actors involved, including FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara, are from the same family.
Okonkwo specifically named individuals he claimed were involved in deciding the destiny of Rivers State, including President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
He alleged that these individuals, who are not natives of Rivers State, came in to exploit the state’s resources.
The activist also questioned the allocation of N22 billion for CCTV installation in the Rivers State House, describing it as excessive and calling for a probe.
“He should be probed. Accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, and innovation – these are the hallmarks of democracy,” Okonkwo said about the immediate past Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).
Recall that the Rivers State House of Assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, during its first plenary after the end of emergency rule, said it would investigate the state expenditure during the six months of emergency rule.
According to the resolutions of the House, “To explore the process of knowing what transpired during the emergency rule with regard to spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditure.”
Reacting to the House of Assembly’s move to probe expenditure under his tenure, Ibas said the lawmakers lacked the power to investigate him, pointing out that they didn’t appoint him as the Administrator of the State.
Ibas told The Punch through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, on Sunday, that it was understandable that, having been away from the business of legislation for a while, the lawmakers were merely trying to make an effort to discharge their functions.
He, however, described the lawmakers’ resolve as commentary, adding that the attempt to probe the former administrator was tantamount to probing the President, who appointed him, as well as the National Assembly, which supervised the activities of Ibas as the state administrator, as he then was.
According to Igbikiowubu, while nobody can prevent the Assembly from probing what they perceive to be their functions within the state, the attempt to probe the immediate past administrator of the state would be a “fool’s errand.”
“When you say they were going to probe the tenure of the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed the administrator?
“You see, the point to note is that commentary is free. You can’t stop people from running commentary. The House of Assembly has been on break for a very long time, and you will appreciate that they have not been able to discharge their functions for such a long time,” Igbikiowubu told The Punch.
