A leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, Chief Bodi Arerebo, Friday, challenged the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to account for the over N15bn he allegedly received from donors after the 2012 flood that devastated the state.
Arerebo, a kinsman of Dickson, said 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 said he was concerned that the money must have been mismanaged, especially as Dickson was yet to tell the people how the flood fund was spent.
Arerebo stated this while addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, the state capital, insisting that there was nothing on ground to show that the money was used to rebuild damaged structures and resettle victims of the disaster.
He further 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.
According to Arerebo, 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.”
Reacting to the allegation, the 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.”
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