The Centre for Peace and Environment Justice has accused the
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in Delta State of allegedly diverting
N3 billion of the N10 billion Paris Club Refund released by the federal
government to the state.
While calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) to immediately investigate the allegation, it disclosed that
the funds were being diverted to persecute the 2019 General Elections in the
state.
Addressing newsmen on Thursday in Effurun, Delta State while
receiving members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Warri Correspondents’
Chapel, CEPEJ National Co-ordinator, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, also accused the
anti-graft agency of ‘tactically’ declining to investigating corrupt
politicians in the state.
He said, “Let me commend EFCC for their activities. It takes
strength and gathering of evidence to fight corruption in this country.
However, most of us are disappointed in the EFCC because of the way and manner
that they go about the fight. It looks selective. Corruption had eaten deep
into the fabric of the nation.
“They beam their searchlight only on political office
holders. The EFCC had kept mute in some of the issues we have raised especially
on the issues of the diversion of the Paris Funds Refund. Some of these funds
have been diverted in Delta State and the state government has not been able to
come out openly to debunk it to a reasonable level to calm the people’s minds.
“We have information that about N3 billion of the Paris Club
Refund had been diverted to a secret account for the 2019 election. The
governors have put on machinery in place to secure and force themselves on us
because we do not practice true democracy. I have said this time without
numbers that we do not practice true democracy in Nigeria because if we do, a
lot of the leaders that we have are not supposed to be there.
Mulade, who doubled as the chairman of Kododiagbene
community in Warri South West, said the group was unhappy with the activities
of EFCC in the state despite receiving petitions from several quarters
especially the 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation funds meant for the
running of the DESOPADEC.
“In Delta state, we’re not happy with EFCC because Okowa has
not been able to tell us what he is doing or had done with our 13 percent
derivation funds. 50 percent of this fund is supposed to be given to DESOPADEC.
But today, as I am talking to you, DESOPADEC had not done any project since
2015. All the projects carried out by DESOPADEC since 2015 are all abandoned
projects right now.
“The State governor has not been able to tell us how he has
used the 50 percent that is going to DESOPADEC. So we are using this medium to
call on the EFCC to call on governor Okowa to explain to us what he has done
with our money. Most of our communities are suffering right now. Unfortunately
most of the projects are awarded on paper, executed on paper and commissioned
in paper”, Mulade added.
However, the state government had through Chief Press
Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr Charles Aniagwu, denied the allegation,
explaining the that funds had been judiciously used including the payment of
local government workers and primary school teachers.
Aniagwu said, “Governor Okowa has vowed to remain prudent,
transparent and accountable to the people because he realises that the ultimate
political power rests with the people who overwhelmingly voted him into office.
“He has assured that Deltans will get value for every money
that accrues to the state at all times.”
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