By: UGOJI NWABUEZE Esq FORMER SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE GOVERNOR ON NON INDIGENE AFFAIRS.
On a National television interview few weeks before handing over, the Governor of Rivers State, HE Nyesom Wike, said that he will protect and hand over all government properties or assets in his care to the new government intact. He did.
Wike lamented that when he took over government House in Port Harcourt, he met it completely looted, up to the extent that bed spreads and pillow cases, spoons and plates were looted. He condemned such attitude in its entirety describing it as criminal. He said that no body in his government will descend that low to stealing government properties as they exit.
It is not only Wike that feels the pain and shame of such act. Former Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, few weeks ago raised alarm that government properties and assets are currently being looted or carted away mindlessly. To curb the excesses, the Governor scrapped and disbanded the Committee on Scraps and fingered it in pioneering and innovating the looting and stealing. He said government vehicles in good conditions are labelled as scraps and taken away. The Governor vowed to stop the act which he also described as criminal.
To ensure that he hands over all government assets or properties intact, Former Governor Ben Ayade took further steps to appoint a Commissioner on Asset Management for the state. The Commissioner was to identify,. collate and preserve state government properties and assets in a verifiable format and documented. It was a marching tall order.
The Commissioner did little or nothing because of time constraints as evidence on ground show that the looters went wild and shamelessly carted government properties including smaller items like television sets, ceiling fans , chairs and air conditioners. The dangerous angle to it now is the rumour that some persons close to the new government having seen the constraint of government to stop the ongoing shameful act took advantage to also join in the looting. It is indeed a Jamboree.
This criminal and shameful act is a common discussion on the streets, inside travelling vehicles, by commuters, social media platforms and others. Government has indeed become a laughing stock. They said that if government can not protects its own properties where is the will power to protect that of citizens.
Cross River State is yet to recover from the massive looting and destruction of its properties during the #EndDars, now those in government with statutory duty to protect its properties are the ones looting.
Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu as Governor will not tolerate this shameful act no matter the person or persons involved. Little things when condoned will become an issue tomorrow.
