Wike left huge debt, failed to pay contractors – Fubara

0
608
FUBARA

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that most of the projects that were executed during the administration of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, were not fully paid for, resulting in debts running into millions and billions.

Fubara disclosed this on Tuesday during the unveiling of the 10.98km Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road, also known as Old Bori Road in Eleme Local Government Area of the state by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.

He noted that the contractors who handled most of the projects for Wike’s administration are now returning for outstanding payments.

He said, “This road was previously not completed but has now been completed. It should be noted. For the record, this contract was awarded to CCECC on August 14, 2023, by this administration.

“This project was awarded N6.7bn, and I can say boldly that no kobo is remaining. We have paid the contractor completely without owing. The purpose of this is to let the world know that if there is one problem this administration has, it is debt.

“Most of the projects commissioned (by the last administration), the contractors are still coming for their balance payments running into millions and billions. I have said I don’t want to talk because I am part of that system, but when they keep pushing me, I will say it so that we will see the ‘nyansh’ of the fowl.

“But let us leave that one until they are ready; we will also be ready. The small one we are doing now, they are not sleeping; I wonder what will happen when we do the big one.”

The governor further expressed his intention to appear for the project inauguration with a ‘white paper’ detailing project funding.

“As we proceed, we will create a white paper showing the record and amounts this project was awarded,” he added.

Fubara clarified that his administration has not engaged in conflicts with the Federal Government, saying it has instead received support, although challenges persist due to the interest of an insider.

“I heard someone say that when we came in, we were fighting the Federal Government. FG did not use any instrument of state to frustrate you; our scenarios are quite different.

“If we are fighting FG, it’s a different matter; we are talking about the FG that is giving us support while there is a rat inside the house eating the bag of garri. You can imagine such a situation but we have already set the ‘otapiapia’ for that rat,” he boasted.

He also justified the presence of Otti at the commissioning, citing a commitment to aligning with progressive figures.

“You know I am not a long talker, but for the few ones, I will say the internet will be in trouble. You might be wondering why I invited the Abia State Governor. It is because he is not an artificial integrity man but an action integrity man,” he said

On his part, Otti commended Fubara for the job he is doing in Rivers State.

He described Fubara’s style of governance as true leadership, adding that true leadership is service to the people, not to a few interests.

Otti said that having served in the administration of Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Fubara had come prepared. He believes Fubara cannot be distracted by the political instability in Rivers State.

Former FRSC boss says Wike-Fubara fight similar to Awolowo-Akintola feud

Meanwhile, a former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Osita Chidoka, has likened the lingering Rivers State crisis to that which happened in Western Nigeria in 1962.

He noted that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s unending rift with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike shares a lot of similarities with the Action Group crisis.

Raising the alarm on Tuesday via his X handle, #osita_chidoka, the former minister insisted that lessons must be learnt from history to avoid unhealthy recurrence.

His tweet read, “Rivers State altercation: the parallel between Rivers State and Western Nigeria’s 1962 crisis is getting uncanny, almost spooky.

“I wrote months back about the similarity between the Action Group crisis and the unfolding Rivers altercation.

“In 1962, Dr Majekodunmi, sole administrator of the Western Region, set up the Coker Panel of Inquiry into the Affairs of certain parastatals.

“The panel found Awolowo guilty and exonerated Akintola. Rivers State panel of inquiry of the past eight years would indict someone and exonerate civil servants obeying lawful orders.”

Fubara, on Monday, disclosed plans to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate how the affairs of governance were conducted in the state before he assumed office.

Meanwhile, Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation, said, “The Federal Government’s interference in the Rivers State crisis is needless, unnecessary, and can cause grave harm to constitutional government.”

Fubara, about two weeks ago, explained that the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the crisis between him and his estranged political godfather, Wike, was political and not constitutional.

Drawing reference from a post he earlier made on December 20, 2023, on ‘Medium’ titled, “Rivers State Crisis: Lesson from 1962 Western Nigeria Crisis”, Chidoka gave a timeline of the AG crisis.

Backing his claims in the timeline, he wrote, “The sequence of events account was drawn from two opposing sources, one by Chief (Obafemi) Awolowo in his book, The Travails of Democracy and the other from Ayo Rosiji Man with Vision by Nina Mba.”

Summarily, the piece noted that in 1962, a political crisis erupted in Nigeria’s Western Region. Chief SL Akintola was removed as Premier, sparking chaos.

The former FRSC boss stated that history is available to help avert needless crises.