The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused the state government of misappropriating N48.6bn.
This figure, the party said, represents
50 per cent of the 13 per cent allocation from the Federal Government
for the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission between
May 2015 and November 2016.
The party also asked the state governor,
Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to clear the air on an allegation that one of the
South-South governors diverted a $10m bailout from the Federal
Government.
It added that an earlier explanation which exonerated the governor was “laughable.”
A statement on Friday by the party’s
acting Publicity Secretary, Leonard Obibi, said, “Such misappropriation
is an act of impunity, discrimination, injustice and an exploitation of
the wealth of the oil-producing areas of Delta State.
“Actions like this create the clear
evidence of negligence and government insensitivity that have been the
principal cause of crisis in the Niger Delta region for decades.
“It is also quite striking that at the
outset of the Okowa-led administration, the law setting up DESOPADEC was
very swiftly amended, and it may have been ‘customised’ in a manner
that has made it possible for Okowa to render the commission comatose.
It is disappointing that Okowa has now reduced activities at the
commission to mere payment of staff salaries.”
The party said, “Okowa must tell Deltans
how he has expended the huge bailout funds from the Federal Government.
Governor Okowa is very much aware that local government personnel in
the state are still being owed salaries in excess of seven months, with
some for up to 10 months. Primary school teachers are also being owed a
minimum of three months salaries.
“The nonpayment of these hardworking
Deltans, even when funds had been provided by the Federal Government, is
a travesty of good governance and reveals that he [Okowa] is deficient
in his responsibility to the people.”
Responding to the allegation, Okowa’s
Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said the state governor
would not waste his “precious” time replying to lies, stressing that the
government would never be distracted in its effort to develop the
state.
He said, “Anybody demanding explanation
on that issue, to say the least, is the most uncharitable (person)
because people know that kind of a thing cannot happen in this era. Who
will lose that kind of money? Does the Okowa you know look like a
womaniser? If that is what they think, that is not the stuff Okowa is
made of.
“Okowa’s business is to govern the whole
of Delta State and avoid distraction. There is no issue in this case
and we won’t bother ourselves with this cheap blackmail. We have told
them what the bailout was used for. Are they telling us that they were
in London when we explained? The funds were used for developments in the
local government areas and the state capital.
“If they are serious, let them come and
look at the books. We have nothing to hide. Their [APC’s] intention is
to distract us, but we are not going to fall for it. We won’t reply to
the propaganda of the APC. They (APC members) are merely seeking
attention as 2019 draws near.”
