The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has been accused of financing his political connection with Ikenga Ugochinyere, the House of Representatives member representing Ideato North Federal Constituency of Imo State, with a staggering N4.8 billion each month.
The One Nigeria Movement (ONM) made this allegation in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, expressing its inability to remain silent in the face of what it described as the gross and blatant misappropriation of funds intended for the development of Rivers State, which is being diverted to benefit a single individual.
In a statement by its Convener-General, Ahmed Sodiq-Mugoro, and Secretary, Babatunde Aliyu, ONM urged the citizens of Rivers State to hold the governor accountable and to put an end to the rampant looting disguised as political management amid the state’s ongoing crisis.
The group claimed that each of the 23 Council Chairmen in the State is compelled to contribute N100 million monthly as a “Political Development Fund,” augmented by N2.5 billion from Governor Fubara, totalling N4.8 billion.
“This N4.8 billion is purportedly allocated to the Action Peoples Party (APP), under which the current Local Council Chairmen and councillors contested the contentious Local Government elections.
“Monthly, Ugochinyere collects this N4.8 billion on behalf of his party, APP.
“It is essential for the people of Rivers State to start questioning Ugochinyere about what investments he has made in the State to warrant his monthly earnings of N4.8 billion,” the statement reads in part.
