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| Seriake Dickson |
A leader of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief Bodi Arerebo, yesterday
challenged the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, asking him to account for
over N15bn he allegedly received from donors after the 2012 flood that
devastated the state.
Arerebo, who is
a kinsman of Dickson, recalled that after the flood disaster, philanthropic
individuals and organisations, including international donors, gave billions of
naira to the state for the resettlement of victims and rebuilding of
structures.
He, however,
expressed concern over the money, which he alleged must have been mismanaged,
especially as Dickson had yet to tell the people how the flood fund was spent.
Arerebo, who
while addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, insisted that there was nothing on ground
to show that the money was used to rebuild damaged structures and resettle
victims of the disaster.
He called on
President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) to investigate the money Dickson got from generous Nigerians
and other international donors.
Arerebo
remembered that multi-billionaires, such as Aliko Dangote, Wale Adenuga and
others were among persons who donated money to the state.
He said: “Since
1999, the PDP government has not provided good leadership for Bayelsa State.
The case of current Governor, Seriake Dickson is the worst.”
“Dickson has yet
to tell Bayelsans how he spent the money for floods victims in the state. The
state was ravaged by floods in 2013 and as a result, donations came from
Nigerians and international donors to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims.”
“But from the
look of things, the governor ate all the money. We do not even see what he used
all the money to do. He should come and tell Bayelsans how that money was
spent. We are calling on Buhari to investigate the money Bayelsa got from
international and local donors for the flood victims. Let him come and tell us
how he spent the money.”
But reacting to
the allegation, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr.
Fyneman Wilson, berated Arerebo, saying his allegation was frivolous and
fallacious.
Wilson said: “We
have a governor who is very careful in the management of resources. If such
funds were sent, he would put it back to direct project execution for the
purpose of the floods.
“You are aware
that there was a flood management committee that was put in place in this
state. They did a lot of remedial work. In Sagbama and many other places, the
areas the water passed through to cause floods were blocked.
“The governor
did not tamper with that money and such money did not come to this state. The
Federal Government did not give such money to the state.”
Speaking
further, Arerebo said that the APC was ready to sweep the Peoples PDP and
Dickson out the Government House, adding that the PDP had failed the people.
He noted that
the APC would provide the needed change for the people, asserting that the
defeat of the PDP was imminent.
“By the next
governorship election, APC will win in Bayelsa State. We will win because we
have every machinery on ground for us to win,” he said.
He also said the
leader of the party in the state and former Governor, Timipre Sylva, has
promised not to join governorship race.
He said:
“Our leader, Timipre Sylva, confided in some of us that he was not going to
run. We know that the candidate we are going to field for the election
will be a person of impeccable character.
“We know that by
the time we present him to Bayelsans, they will appreciate and love him. By
February 14, 2016, we will be in the Creek Haven (Bayelsa Government House).”
He said the gale
of defections that had hit the PDP was an indication that the party was
finished.
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