9th August, 2018
Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the freezing of the accounts of Governments of Benue and Akwa Ibom States by the APC Federal Government through the EFCC is the worst coup since the return to democracy.
He stated that there is no worse form of impunity than attempting to cripple a tier of government simply because the APC Federal Government plans to attain unconstitutional political mileage.
Speaking on national issues at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday, Wike said that the ultimate target of the APC Federal Government is Rivers State, where they have already detailed the EFCC to carry out very unconstitutional activities.
He said: “There is no worse impunity than for the EFCC to shutdown a tier of government through the freezing of the accounts of two State Governments.
“An agency of federal government has frozen the accounts of Akwa Ibom and Benue State Governments . This is the worst coup against the constitution and the law-abiding people of those states.
“But the target is not Benue or Akwa Ibom States. The real target is Rivers State. The EFCC as a federal agency has no business with State Funds. That is the responsibility of the State House of Assembly “.
He said that Rivers State Government under former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili obtained and got a court judgment that the EFCC has no constitutional power to investigate state funds, pointing out that the EFCC is yet to vacate that order at a superior court.
Wike noted that the APC Federal Government has continued to use the EFCC for illegal actions in Rivers State, despite the Attorney General of Rivers State writing to the EFCC and attaching the said judgement against the Federal Agency.
Wike said that he is not moved by the sack of Former Director General of DSS, noting that it was a function of internal politics.
“If you are sacking Lawan Daura for coup at the National Assembly, what will you do with a man who overthrew two state governments through two separate coups?” he asked.
Wike added that the APC Federal Government has enthroned a culture of impunity using all security agencies to destroy democracy.
He said: “The sack of the DG of DSS is mere internal politics. If not, even the Inspector General of Police has done worse. The Inspector General of Police invaded the Benue State House of Assembly. He also invaded the Rivers State High Court Complex. No action has been taken against the Inspector General of Police “.