N82million Wole Soyinka Dinner: Information Commissioner to demand a refund from Nobel Laureate

Read the press statement below...

Rivers State Information Commissioner , Dr Austin Tam-George has declared  that the  state government  will demand  a refund of the N82million expended by former Governor Amaechi on Professor  Wole Soyinka's  dinner if it confirms that the Nobel Laureate received part of the  the funds in cash.

Also, Dr Tam-George  declared  that the point of departure  between Former Governor Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Wike was the insistence of Governor  Wike that Amaechi  observed  probity and accountability in all governmental actions, an advice that was thrown overboard  by the former governor . 

Addressing Rivers people via a radio programme on Wednesday  in Port Harcourt,  Dr Tam-George  regretted  that the Amaechi  administration  using the Ministry of Information and Communications  headed by  Ibim Semenitari amassed N1.1billion debt on frivolous expenditure. 

According  to  Dr Tam-George : "I will seek the permission  of  the  Governor to formally  write Professor  Wole Soyinka,  a known supporter of Amaechi  if he received  part of the N82million spent on a 3-hour Dinner hosted for him  by the Amaechi  administration. 

"If he agrees that he received  such funds, then he will be compelled to refund same to the coffers of Rivers State.  At present, we have presented  these details  to the Police for investigation  and prosecution. We shall also take up this matter as a financial  crime against  the  people  of  Rivers State. "

He said  that all the fraudulent  actions of the Amaechi  administration are being addressed by the Wike administration,  pointing  out  that  it will  take time for the legal process  to be  completed  because  they are financial  crimes.

The Information Commissioner said that Former Governor Amaechi betrayed the trust of Rivers people  by embarking  on  irresponsible  expenses,  which led to the mismanagement  and fraudulent  misuse  of  N3trillion that accrued to the state under his watch.

He said that Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had to leave the Amaechi  administration  when the former governor  received  to adhere to patriotic  advice to use Rivers State resources to  develop  the state. 

"The point of  departure  between Former Governor Amaechi and Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was Wike’s commitment  to  probity and accountability.  Governor Wike refused to be part of the financial  mismanagement  of resources  that accrued  to  the  state ", Dr Tam-George told the  people of Rivers State. 

He explained  that  already Rivers people  are witnessing  the  proper use of resources  as they are witnessing  transformations  across the  landscape. 

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi left several months unpaid salaries, pensions abandoned  projects  and scholarships despite  receiving N3trillion as revenue  under his watch. 

Simeon Nwakaudu, 

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media. 

6th January, 2016.