April 11, 2010
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is now in the blackmail business, Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru has said in New York. And he accused Saharareporters of being a part of the “clique” blackmailing the “rich states”.
“They shake you a little, and tell you please just go and see these people so that this issue will end once and for all,” the Deputy Governor said. “Some of the states who had a similar situation with us actually went to them and paid them off and their names were removed, but Rivers State refused.”
Mr. Ikuru was speaking at Columbia University two weeks ago, at the Niger Delta Investment Summit, which was sponsored by the Rivers State government at the Columbia University’sAfrican Economic Forum.
At the occasion, on March 27, 2010, Mr. Ikuru reeled out the “achievements” of the Governor Amaechi administration and other developments in the Niger Delta region, painting a rosy picture of a state that is open for business. Knowing that investment and development are difficult anywhere investment is endangered by corruption and mediocrity, Saharareporters asked the Deputy Governor questions about the menace of corruption in the state, as well as other issues relating to governance there, thereby prompting the “clique” theory.
Deputy Governor Ikuru said that Saharareporters might be part of the “clique” because of our ability to report on events as they happen. He accused Saharareporters because we had broken the news of the arrest of the Secretary to the Government of Rivers State in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “Before [the man] even knew that he would not be released, Saharareporters had already published that he had been arrested.”
Saharareporters’ Omoyele Sowore reminded the Deputy Governor that the story only demonstrates the power of emerging citizen media. Sowore recalled that Saharareporters had also reported that Umaru Yar’Adua was going to be taken to Saudi Arabia even before his train left Abuja. “Does that make me a part of the clique that got him ill?” he asked the Deputy Governor.
Describing as “wild” the allegation thatAmaechi’s Chief of Staff, Nyeson Wike had stolen the sum of three billion Naira from the state government by altering the ownership of the account from the state government to his own name, Mr. Ikuru said that was not true because one only needs five thousand Naira to open an account, without being able to explain the relevance. He also pointed out that the suspect was a lawyer, as if lawyers have never done dumb, wild or corrupt things before.
Saharareporters has challenged Mr. Ikuru to prove his allegations, and to identify the states to which he refers. During his rambling response (see video), Mr. Ikuru said he would not defend former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, who is alleged to have looted the state deeply. He said, however, that the same Odili was also recently accused of owing his bank, implying that if a man is dishonourable enough to steal from his people, he is always honourable enough to pay his debts.
While he defended Odili without acknowledging the dirty job he was doing, Mr. Ikuru never answered the questions posed by Saharareporters. Instead he portrayed the harsh attitude of Nigerian public officials who are often adept at traveling abroad to paint rosy pictures of what is happening back home, but are unable to answer the harsh questions when they come.
A few months ago, former Minster for Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, was caught in a similar situation in a secret press conference at the United Nations which was gate-crashed by Saharareporters.
“They shake you a little, and tell you please just go and see these people so that this issue will end once and for all,” the Deputy Governor said. “Some of the states who had a similar situation with us actually went to them and paid them off and their names were removed, but Rivers State refused.”
Mr. Ikuru was speaking at Columbia University two weeks ago, at the Niger Delta Investment Summit, which was sponsored by the Rivers State government at the Columbia University’sAfrican Economic Forum.
At the occasion, on March 27, 2010, Mr. Ikuru reeled out the “achievements” of the Governor Amaechi administration and other developments in the Niger Delta region, painting a rosy picture of a state that is open for business. Knowing that investment and development are difficult anywhere investment is endangered by corruption and mediocrity, Saharareporters asked the Deputy Governor questions about the menace of corruption in the state, as well as other issues relating to governance there, thereby prompting the “clique” theory.
Deputy Governor Ikuru said that Saharareporters might be part of the “clique” because of our ability to report on events as they happen. He accused Saharareporters because we had broken the news of the arrest of the Secretary to the Government of Rivers State in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “Before [the man] even knew that he would not be released, Saharareporters had already published that he had been arrested.”
Saharareporters’ Omoyele Sowore reminded the Deputy Governor that the story only demonstrates the power of emerging citizen media. Sowore recalled that Saharareporters had also reported that Umaru Yar’Adua was going to be taken to Saudi Arabia even before his train left Abuja. “Does that make me a part of the clique that got him ill?” he asked the Deputy Governor.
Describing as “wild” the allegation thatAmaechi’s Chief of Staff, Nyeson Wike had stolen the sum of three billion Naira from the state government by altering the ownership of the account from the state government to his own name, Mr. Ikuru said that was not true because one only needs five thousand Naira to open an account, without being able to explain the relevance. He also pointed out that the suspect was a lawyer, as if lawyers have never done dumb, wild or corrupt things before.
Saharareporters has challenged Mr. Ikuru to prove his allegations, and to identify the states to which he refers. During his rambling response (see video), Mr. Ikuru said he would not defend former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, who is alleged to have looted the state deeply. He said, however, that the same Odili was also recently accused of owing his bank, implying that if a man is dishonourable enough to steal from his people, he is always honourable enough to pay his debts.
While he defended Odili without acknowledging the dirty job he was doing, Mr. Ikuru never answered the questions posed by Saharareporters. Instead he portrayed the harsh attitude of Nigerian public officials who are often adept at traveling abroad to paint rosy pictures of what is happening back home, but are unable to answer the harsh questions when they come.
A few months ago, former Minster for Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, was caught in a similar situation in a secret press conference at the United Nations which was gate-crashed by Saharareporters.
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