The political conflict within the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party in Nigeria’s oil rich Rivers state took a new turn today with the
suspension of the speaker of the state assembly and 26 other members.
The disputed chairman of the party, Mr Felix Obuah accused the
27 members of the House elected on the party platform for insubordination.
Obuah announced the suspension to newsmen in Port Harcourt on
Monday, saying the members did not comply with the party’s directive on
dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council. On April 22, the assembly
suspended the Obio/Akpor Council chairman, his deputy and the 17 councillors
for alleged reckless spending of public funds.
The assembly said that the allegations were made by the
Obio/Akpor stakeholders from the 17 wards of the local government area.
It explained that the petition was weighty and required a
thorough investigation which would require the suspension of the accused for
proper investigation to take place. The assembly said that the suspension was
pending the outcome of the investigation.
The party chairman said that the party issued a 48-hour
ultimatum to the assembly to rescind the order on dissolution of the Obio/Akpor
council but “it was flagrantly disobeyed.’’
Obuah said: “the party hereby suspended all the 27 members of
the House of Assembly that carried out such action while their matter is
referred to Disciplinary Committee for further action.’’
On the grounding of the Rivers Government aircraft, the chairman
said that the party “views with grave concern the unfolding facts surrounding
the ownership of the purported aircraft“.
Obuah said that the party would not fold its arms and allow
“monumental“ fraud to be perpetrated in the state.
He alleged that from the records available and statements
credited to the Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA), the aircraft was not bought by the government.
Obuah said the records showed that the Aircraft Bombardier BD
700, Global Express aircraft with registration No. 5N5N65 RS, was owned by Utah
Limited States of America.
He said that the aircraft registration showed that it was owned
by Bank of Utah Trustee of Salt Lake City, Utah Limited States of America.
The chairman said that the aircraft was operated illegally as
its clearance approval expired on April 2 and had since been operating in
violation of the rules of civil aviation authorities.
“It is unacceptable and embarrassing to our great party that
public funds are hopelessly mismanaged; as a result these questions must be
answered by the Rivers State Government.
“Where is the aircraft, purportedly bought with the Rivers State
funds and tax payers’ money?
“Where have the billions of naira taken from the coffers of the
Rivers State Government gone to and for what purpose was it appropriated and
where is it diverted?“ Obuah asked.
He said the state government should give a copious explanation
concerning the funds spent on the aircraft or face disciplinary action from the
party.
Obuah said that the PDP government led by President Goodluck
Jonathan had zero tolerance for corruption and that the state PDP would also
not condone such .
He, however, directed all party members in the state to be
totally loyal to the new state executive council and warned that the party
would not hesitate to deal with deviants.
Obuah warned members of the party to refrain from making
unsavory and unguarded utterances that were inimical to peace and development
in the party.
Source: PMNews
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