A Niger Delta group known as Civil Advocacy for Good Governance and Accountability (CAGGA) has thrown its weight behind the clamour in Bayelsa for a detailed investigation into the revelation of allege wrong doing and embezzlement during the eight years tenure of Senator Seriake Dickson as Governor of the State.
The Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Chief Perekeme Kpodoh had last week stirred the hornet nest with the filing of a defence against the N10billion libel suit brought against him by the immediate past Governor of the State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, insisting that his statement accusing the last administration of mismanaging over a trillion naira accrued to the state between 2012 and 2019 is true and correct with facts.
Former Governor Seriake Dickson, now Senator representing the Bayelsa West Senatorial district of the State, had in a suit numbered YHC/42/2020 against Chief Perekeme Kpodoh (First respondent) and the Silverbird Communications Limited (Second respondent) over a statement signed by the first respondent describing him as spending stolen state fund during the just concluded Senatorial campaigns and elections in the state
The Niger Delta group, Niger Delta group known as Civil Advocacy for Good Governance and Accountability (CAGGA), in its reaction on the development, called on the Elders, Youths and Civil Society Organisations in the state to investigate the allegations of financial wrong doings brought against the Former Governor of the State, Hon. Seriake Dickson instead of being distracted by party loyalty and personality threats.
The National Coordinator of the Niger Delta group known as Civil Advocacy for Good Governance and Accountability (CAGGA), Comrade Preye Alamene in a statement issued on friday said though the issues was thrown up due to the allege defamation suit between the former Governor and a Former Security Adviser, the crux of the matter to the people of the state should be the allege financial wrong doing.
He said despite the facts that many politicians in the state considered Chief Perekeme Kpodoh as a fierce critic and a respected voice in the state due to his positions on issues, “it does not leave out the facts that his defense and claims on the issue of Bayelsa spending under Former Governor Dickson should not be investigated.”
“We are calling on those PDP youth groups to separate politics from the defence of Chief Perekeme Kpodoh in court. They should also be warned not to drag the incumbent, Senator Douye Diri into the murky battle between Dickson and Kpodoh. They should look at the fact that was dragged to court and in defence, he made such staggering revelations. If these pro-Dickson groups have some facts different from what Kpodoh presented, they should present it to the public.”
“We are calling on Chief Perekeme Kpodoh to furnish us with more facts in order to assist us with our investigation into the issue of allege plundering carried out by the previous administration. We,in turn, will make these facts and more available to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to assist in the prosecution of such indicted former and officials .”
“Our call for investigation is not limited to the administration of Former Governor Seriake Dickson but should be extended to the tenure of Dr.Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Timipre Sylva and others.
Alamene said the group have launched their separate investigation to cross check the allege huge amount accrued to the state in the eight years tenure of the former Governor based on the facts presented by Chief Perekeme Kpodoh in his defense and will also cross check the issue of ecological funds, Internally Generated Revenue, the finances of the Eight Local Government Councils under caretaker executives during his tenure and the sum of N35billion Soku Oil proceeds from Oil wells located in Oluasiri community in Nembe granted the state under the administration of Former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Alamene said the group is urging other concerned Bayelsans to break their allege conspiracy of silence over the issue of governance in the state and take a cue from Imo State where the Governor, Hope Uzodinma is striving to recover allege monies stolen under the last administration. Right thinking Bayelsa peoples should shrug off fear and intimidation and fight for the future of the state.”
“How can we as a state be cowed by one person and not be able to say the truth. The state need money to support development and deliver the needed dividend to the people of the state. Our Ecological fund meant for the state was not accounted for and the issue of perennial flooding has washed away communities.”
Kindly contact us @ Naijalivetv@gmail.com
Call or Whatsapp: 07035262029, 07016666694, 08129340000
