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Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili, on Monday made light of the on-going probe into the state finances by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bragging that his administration had nothing to fear over the issue.
Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili, on Monday made light of the on-going probe into the state finances by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bragging that his administration had nothing to fear over the issue.
Odili, who made this declaration during the yearly state banquet held at Government House, Port Harcourt to mark the New Year, said the investigation of some top officials of the state government was a non-issue as his administration had no skeleton in its cupboard.
He disclosed that in the week leading to the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), some key officers of the government were invited by the commission to clarify issues following petitions against them.
According to Odili, answers to the questions sought by the commission have been provided, disclosing that most of the issues dealt with the Independent Power Project and the state-owned aircraft.
He advised those who, for selfish reasons, colluded with outsiders to discredit the state and destabilize the system to turn a new leaf and join hands in making Rivers the most attractive, investment-friendly and enviable economic bloc in Nigeria.
Odili maintained that the government is confident in its actions as it followed due process and the law in the conduct of public affairs, and expressed optimism that because the government was on the side of truth, there was nothing to be afraid of.
He announced that over N30 billion has been invested in key sectors of the economy, such as banking, insurance and petrochemicals, pointing out that the move has facilitated the recruitment of graduates of the state origin into the sectors.
According to Odili, the Rivers State Government's decision to invest over N30 billion in strategic revenue yielding ventures in the last few years is premised on the need to diversify the state's sources of revenue and maximize investment and employment opportunities for indigenes of the state.
He explained that government decided to invest in such sectors as banking, insurance, brewing and petro-chemicals, among others, by buying and warehousing their stocks for Rivers people because of the high ratio of graduate recruitment they facilitate.
Odili said that although government has made notable impact in agriculture, housing, rural water supply, sports, civil service welfare, empowerment and capacity-building, among others, its efforts at creating qualitative capacity towards job and wealth creation was of primary concern.
He appealed to the people of the state to support the government in the task of completing ongoing projects, saying that "the New Year shall herald a period of greater hard work."
Some of the achievements of the administration, according to him, are in the areas of power generation, road construction, education, agriculture, housing, rural water supply, sports and civil service welfare, among others, saying that they were there for everyone to see.
He commended the people of the state including traditional rulers, political and religious leaders, other stakeholders, the business community, women and youths as well as political parties for their solidarity and support, particularly during the period of his political campaigns for the Presidency of Nigeria.
He thanked President Olusegun Obasanjo for "the able manner he has steered the ship of the Nigerian State" and congratulated the PDP presidential flagbearer and Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Umar Musa Yar'Adua for his emergence, and for choosing Dr Goodluck Jonathan of Bayelsa State as his running mate.
Odili who observed that the gesture had shown that the South-South has become an issue that cannot be pushed aside in the democratic political calculus of Nigeria, enjoined the people of the state to work assiduously for the success of PDP in the forthcoming elections.