…Alleged threats to leaders’ lives
From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
The leadership of Concerned Citizens of Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency in Rivers State, has invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) to investigate the performance and execution of Federal Government projects in the area.
The group, which said it has been staging sensitization rallies to educate the constituents on the plans and programmes of the Federal Government for the people and to call lawmakers to account for the commonwealth, said the era of ‘powerful men and women’ diverting projects funds meant for the people was over.
Convener, Okwu Bethel-Chimzie, addressing journalists, yesterday, alleged that lives of leaders of the group had severely been threatened and bribes offered to kill the initiative.
He disclosed that the Concerned Citizens of Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency sought and obtained detailed list of projects sanctioned by the Federal Government for the people of the constituency in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Bethel-Chimzie explained: “These projects were domiciled in different federal ministries and agencies, including Ministry of Works, Science and Technology, Agriculture and Food Security, Information and National Orientation, Humanitarian and Poverty alleviation among others.
“For the past three months, we have been on a sensitization programme across the 27 wards of the constituency, with thousands of materials to educate our people about the plans and programmes of the Federal Government for their welfare in the 2024 fiscal year.
“This effort to help give hope to our people, in the face of wanton lack, hunger and confusion, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has attracted hate towards the leaders of this initiative, and crowned with a failed attempt at elimination. Direct and indirect threats had been issued at different times, and bribes offered. But, we have resolved not to be distracted by such threats or bribes.
The convener added that the group had written to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the State Security Service (SSS), and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to report the threats.
“We have a dream to see a better Nigeria. We are driven by an ideology that information drives the opinions and actions of our people. We seek for a time where approved Federal Government projects for our constituency will not be diverted by powerful men or women, and thereby pitching several unaware constituents against the Federal Government, when projects proposed are not delivered.
According to the convener, the systematic sabotage against the efforts of the Federal Government has thrived for decades, because of the inefficiency of the National Orientation Agency, which failed to adequately use its outposts in the 774 Local Government Areas across the country, to deliver vital information to Nigerians, as its core mandate.
He said: “As a group, and with our knowledge of the astronomical increase in revenues accruing to states, and local government areas in the country, as well as increased projects for members of the National Assembly for their constituencies and senatorial districts, in view of the removal of petrol subsidy, we have consulted our lawyers and in letters dated 19th February, 2024, we have delivered pre-action notices to all federal ministries and agencies, wherein projects for Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency were domiciled.
“And we have demanded strict adherence to the dictates of the Public Procurement Act, in awarding contracts for our constituency, to enable us know the company awarded the contracts and ensure we follow them up to deliver same for the welfare of our people.
“Similarly, we have also informed the EFCC, ICPC and specifically requested from the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, in a letter dated 7th February, 2024, to wake up to their duty as enshrined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, mandating them to investigate the performance and execution of Federal Government Projects in our constituency and cross the country.
According to the group, verbal abuses on social media alone against elected officials, will not yield results for the improvement of the lives of the constituents.
“As a body, we understand that verbal abuses on social media alone against elected officials, will not yield results for the improvement of the life’s of our people. This is because we have closely observed that powerful politician’s who are in the business of sabotage of government efforts, have mastered the art, and so we have shifted the goal post. We know it is unwise to play in a game with rules set by our oppressors. And so, we have changed the rules.
“We want to thank the federal government for the efforts thus far made, under the Tinubu-led administration. But, we urge the federal government to do more, in making sure that what is due to the people, gets to them directly, with undeniable certainty.
“We want to also use this medium to call on members of other federal constituencies and senatorial districts across the country, to take a hint from our efforts, irrespective of the hurdles and financial expenditure they must bear, and close out all sabotage routes in their various constituencies and districts, so as to make the lives and wellbeing of the people better.
The constituents believed the approach would improve the unity and peace in the country “and dismantle any plot, to leverage on the hunger, hopelessness and ignorance of the poor across the nation to cause riot, with intent to make the country ungovernable and unstable for all Nigerians.”
Ends.