The embattled 22 Local government chairmen in Rivers State have accused the state governor, Nyesom Wike of directing the Accountant-General of the state to divert funds meant for the local government areas in the state.
The Chairmen stated this while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on the sharing of the May allocation by the Federal Government.
Chairman of Ahaoda-West Local Government Area of the state, Samuel Eyiba, who spoke on behalf of the Chairmen, said the reason for the alleged directive from the governor was yet to be ascertained.
They, however, threatened to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the alleged plan by Wike.
While celebrating the court order granted by the National Industrial Court in Bayelsa, the council Chairmen alleged that members of the State APC were attacked by supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party at the premises of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
Eyiba also claimed that PDP thugs intimidated and harassed innocent people, while some local government chairmen were beaten and dispossessed of some of their belongings by thugs allegedly led by the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Sam Wonosike.
According to the Chairmen, “We are also aware that the Rivers State Government under Barr. Nyesom Wike has given instruction, though not written, to the Accountant-General of the State to divert the FAAC allocation meant for the 23 local government councils for this month.
“The reason for this instruction is unknown to us. We have resolved to take this unpopular instruction to the appropriate quarters, should they go on with their plans, including petitioning the EFCC and related agencies.
“We have noted sadly that PDP and their thugs today at the Federal High Court premises, Port Harcourt, displayed high level of violence by intimidating, harassing, dispossessing innocent by-standers, including some local government chairmen.
“In spite of their violence, the APC supporters were not deterred. We, therefore call on the security agencies to check the excesses of the PDP thugs led by Mr. Samuel Nwanosike.”
Reacting to the allegation, the Assistant publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers state, Sam Wonosike denied leading thugs to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
Wonosike said they were in court to witness the court proceeding like every other citizen of the state.
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