The Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has cautioned Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) to steer clear of the statutory allocation and all other funds accruable or released to Rivers State.
In a statement after its strategy meeting on Friday, CP-PDP’s Protem National Coordinator, Obinna Nwachukwu, cautioned the Rivers Administrator over spending resources of the Rivers people.
The group noted that no provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) grants the Administrator the power under any circumstance whatsoever to appropriate or disburse allocation or any fund accruable to Rivers State.
“The Conference draws the attention of Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) to the express provision of Section 120 (3) (4) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that;
“…(3) No money shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the State, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State, unless the issue of these moneys has been authorized by a law of the House of Assembly of the State”
“…(4) “No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State of any other public Fund of the State except in the manner Prescribed by the House of Assembly”.
In addition, the group stressed that “Section 121 (1) of the 1999 Constitution is clear in empowering only the democratically elected governor of the State to prepare and lay the State’s revenue and expenditure estimates before the State House of Assembly for appropriation and authorization for spending.
“Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) should note that his appointment by President Tinubu as Sole Administrator of Rivers State even with the endorsement of the National Assembly, remains illegal as it is completely inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, with specific reference to Section 5(2) which provides that the executive powers of a State shall be vested only in the democratically elected governor of the State.
“Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) is particularly referred to Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that “if any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this Constitution shall prevail and that other law, to the extent of the inconsistency be void”.
“The endorsement of his appointment by the National Assembly is therefore void not being consistent with the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)
“Consequently, the CP-PDP is putting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on notice regarding any withdrawal and spending of Rivers State public funds by Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) for further action in the interest of the people of Rivers State,” the group said.
It further stated that its Foreign Affairs experts will be petitioning international bodies for appropriate sanctions including Visa ban for individuals and the families of individuals involved in undermining democracy in Nigeria, particularly in Rivers State.
The CP-PDP commends the courage of the State governors elected on the platform of the PDP in approaching the Supreme Court on the matter of Rivers State in the efforts to preserve democracy in the country.
* Media Report