Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, for the first time on New Year day, linked the investigation of the state by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) to his government�s investments in Independent Power Project, (IPP). He also explained that his administration was being scutinised by the EFCC to ascertain whether his administration adhered to due process in its (government’s) aircraft deals.
Speaking at a state bnquet at the Government House, Port Harcourt on New Year day, Odili said following petitions on the projects, which inundated the Commission a week to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Convention in Abuja, some officials of the state were invited to clarify issues.
The governor, however, asured the gathering that his administration has nothing to fear about the probe of its finances by the EFCC as the clarifications demanded by the Commission on some of the government’s financial transactions have been provided.
According to him, the investigations of the EFCC bordered on the State Independent Power Project, especially the gas turbine at Omoku built by Rockson Engineering, the purchase of aircraft by the State and �other transactions�.
He assured the gathering which he said was going to be his last banquet as the State Governor that he has satisfied himself with explanations offered the Commission so that there was nothing more to fear.
Odili enthused that the IPP being queried by the EFCC was cheaper than the cost the federal government was using to construct the ones it was building in the Niger Delta, adding that some of them were awarded to Rockson Engineering which has proved its proficiency as a power company in the country.
�It would be necessary to clear the air about some of the events of the last two weeks. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the week leading to the National Convention of our great party, the PDP was inundated with petitions against some key officers of our government who were subsequently invited by the Commission to clarify some issues in relation to some government transactions.
�Let me assure our people, as the sages say, a clear conscience fears no accusation. We have provided the answers to the questions and some clarifications sought by the Commission. Some of the issues deal mainly with our successful and well acclaimed Independent Power Project. I do not need to bore you with details.
�However, it is sufficient to restate the position we have publicly maintained since our IPP began. That, if there is anybody or agency that can deliver the equivalent of the capacity of our gas turbine projects, cheaper than we did it, let him come forward and prove same.
“For indeed, Rockson Engineering, the most successful and proficient indigenous power plant company in Nigeria has not only proved its mettle in the field. It has in fact won three of the seven IPP stations modeled after Omoku Gas Turbine Station by the federal government at values higher than what the state government used in its scheme.
“The seven new stations are currently at their various stages of construction and six of them are in less geographically challenging locations than the Omoku station.
�Similar clarifications were sought in respect of our state owned new aircraft and other transactions. We have satisfied ourselves as a government that we followed due process and the law in the conduct of our public affairs. Our God is a God of justice and truth. Truth is on our side and we have nothing to fear�, he insisted.
He therefore advised indigenes of the state who, for selfish reasons, want to collaborate with outsiders to discredit the state to turn a new leaf and put their efforts into building the state for economic growth that working against its development.
The governor said his administration was not going to abandon any project and pointed at the fast pace at which works on infrastructural development were progressing and called for all hands to be on deck to ensure the completion of tasks already set for completion before the end of his tenure. He assured the gathering that he was going to bequeath a state where future generations would enjoy as a land of prosperity, equality, justice and dignity where international friends would see as a safe haven for secured investments.
For the future prosperity of the state, Odili said he has invested over N30 billion in �strategic revenue yielding ventures� in the key sectors of the economy spanning banking, insurance, brewing, petro-chemicals among others which have facilitated employment for state indigenes.
He went down memory lane to remind the people of his various interventions in the areas of education, health, agriculture, power generation and distribution, roads construction and the Rivers State Sustainable Development Programme which has its pivot as poverty alleviation intervention programmes mostly in rural areas.
He called on all hands to be on deck to ensure that the party retains power in the state after the state party primaries where the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amechi, emerged the party’s flag bearer and called on his former contestants to bury the hatchet and work as a team.
It would be recalled that the EFCC had at a point, arrested no fewer than five state commissioners and the Accountant General of the State who were quizzed over alleged improper application of resources belonging to the state. The Commission had said it was in the state to ascertain how the state purchased aircraft at allegedly bloated prices and the remainder of the money found its way into personal and political accounts.
Also, the EFCC alleged that some of the contracts executed were done with bloated prices. They state officials were, however, later released though sources in the Commission had told THISDAY that those who were detained were those that refused to cooperate with the investigations.
But the development took a new turn when the same Commission on the eve of the PDP Convention arrested Amechi in Abuja and released him the next day though not with all that were seized from him.
The EFCC was later to storm the State Assembly where they carted away all financial records from 1999 till 2006 while some of the principal officers of the Assembly were quizzed and released.
The final word on the Commission’s raid of the state in pursuit of explanations on application of funds of the state may only be heard after the next meeting of the agency with officials of the state slated on January 8.
Jan32007