One of the most politically-volatile states in the country, Rivers has been the subject of a bitter feud between the outgoing All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Governor Amaechi and Mr Wike's incoming People's Democratic Party (PDP). During the elections, violence marred voting in the state and Mr Wike's victory is still the subject of several court cases.
With no love lost between the two sides, the political bickering looks set to continue for the foreseeable future. Yesterday, while receiving the interim report of the Transition Committee in Port Harcourt, Mr Wike declared that his administration would carry out a forensic audit of all government accounts.
Governor-elect Wike specifically said that those who participated in the use of N4.5bn (£14.31m) to conduct local government elections, even when the court had stopped the exercise, would be made to account for their actions. He added that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission embarked on an illegal local government election despite the court’s position on the matter.
In the elections, the APC won in all 22 local government areas in the state. Explaining that the days of impunity and corruption were over, Mr Wike noted that Rivers State would be a test case in the fight against corruption.
Mr Wike said: “I am not going to be intimidated as the only way we can work together is to check the ills of the past. The right thing must be done and those who have stolen the resources of the state must be made to account for them.
“I have the political will to drive the process to its logical conclusion. The massive stealing of government resources was a deliberate attempt to create problems for the incoming administration.”
He declared that all backdated appointments and certificates of occupancy being hurriedly issued by outgoing governor would be set aside. Tele Ikuru, the chairman of the Transition Committee and state deputy governor, had recommended that the new administration should carry out forensic audit of all accounts in view of an alleged looting by officials of the outgoing administration.
“All the top officials of Amaechi administration who have refused to cooperate in the interest of Rivers State during the transition period will soon cooperate whether they like it or not. Those who have closed the courts will be the same persons rushing to the courts when we open the courts,” Mr Wike added.
Chief Tony Okocha, the chief of staff at Government House, Port Harcourt, said that Governor Amaechi was not afraid of a probe and added that the governor had been transparent and sincere in governing the state. He argued that there was nothing wrong in probing any administration but stated that the exercise would only become a vice should it be done with mischief in mind.
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