"The gas turbine stations were sold for $302,960,000 million, contrary to Wike’s figure," the former commissioner said.
Augustine Wokocha, Former Commissioner for Power in Rivers State, has faulted the position of the Rivers State Government, accusing Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of the state of diverting the funds from the sale of the state’s gas station turbines stations to finance the political activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 elections.
Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, had alleged that the proceeds of the sale of the power stations were diverted to fund APC’s political activities. [story_link align="left"]63006[/story_link]
Denying the claims of diversion of funds, Wokocha noted that the sale of the stations was part of efforts to improve revenue and ensure efficiency.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, he said: “This is completely untrue. The money from the gas turbines was budgeted for the appropriation bills of the state for the period which the transactions occur. This even formed part of revenue for the government. The record of the state through the budget within the period of that transaction shows that for most of infrastructure done by the government, the projects were financed by the sales.
“We applied all the money to the development of the state in line with the laws of the state and nothing was used by Rotimi Amaechi to fund any rally or election. Saying that the money was used to fund campaign is just mischief and there is no truth in it.”
Responding to the allegation that the sale was done for $308 million, Wokocha countered the allegation, stating that: “The gas turbine stations were sold for $302,960,000 million, contrary to Wike’s figure. It was calculated on the basis of selling out 70 per cent of the state holding in the investment. This amounts to $800,000 per megawatt. For the 70 per cent of the volume of power we had then which was 541MW and going by analysis, 541MW by $800,000 will give us $432,800,000. So, we sold only 70 per cent, which was $302,960,000. The state still owns 30 per cent of the asset of the gas turbines. I have the exact figures here; I know what I’m saying and you’re speaking with the former Commissioner of Power.”
“Every government, somewhere along the line, realises that government is not effective in running business and so we often privatise government assets, so that they can bring in private sector efficiency into the operations of the area.
“Any reasonable government who wants efficiency will privatise those assets; the same principle led the Federal Government to privatise all assets originally run by the government.
“The reason we sold the gas turbine stations was for people to be served effectively by those assets. In return, they pay you and bring in investment to the state and apply them to other structures that do not require much in terms of technicalities.
“The efficiency of those turbines has increased compared to when government was running them.”
He also highlighted the achievements of his principal’s administration, noting that there was no basis for comparison.
He said: “There’s no comparison between the administrations of Amaechi and Wike. Wike’s government is running a local administration. That is why they are only building motor parks, amusement parks, markets and dualising less than 1km road; these are the things local governments do. Amaechi’s government was a state government that focused on key projects.
“Wike has been able to force himself into the governance of Rivers State, because he has never won election by the good people of Rivers. He has only won election by unleashing violence and terror on the people. He should begin to develop the state and stop playing politics with lives.”