In a scathing address to the press on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, levied serious allegations against Governor Siminialayi Fubara, accusing him of frivolously spending state funds meant for development.
Okocha minced no words as he labeled Fubara’s administration as “visionless,” citing a lack of substantial progress in the state’s development over the last 10 months.
The APC chairman particularly criticized what he deemed excessive spending on thanksgiving ceremonies across the local government areas of the state.
Expressing deep concern over what he perceived as a lack of continuity in governance, Okocha highlighted the deviation from previous road development plans initiated by former governors. He emphasized that, apart from the ring road project initiated by ex-governor Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s administration has failed to launch any significant road projects.
Okocha further questioned the governor’s priorities, citing investments in projects like the transformation of Songai Farm and the rehabilitation of a cassava plant as inadequate measures for good governance. He insinuated that such endeavors were orchestrated primarily to garner support for the governor.
Addressing the broader economic challenges facing the nation, Okocha defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies, asserting that it was a necessary step to alleviate the country’s financial strain. He commended the federal government for reallocating subsidy savings to states, including Rivers, to mitigate the impact of the policy change.
However, Okocha criticized the Fubara administration for its alleged mismanagement of federal allocations, questioning the utilization of the substantial funds received by the state.
He called on the governor to prioritize transparency and accountability in financial matters.
Moreover, Okocha urged Governor Fubara to uphold constitutional mandates by conducting local government elections and promptly constituting the State Executive Council (SEC).
He warned against unilateral decision-making and emphasized the importance of collaboration with the State Assembly, given the APC’s majority representation.
