The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed grave concern over what it called “more startling discoveries of monumental looting and misappropriation of public funds by officials of the Amaechi administration in the state.”

The party in a statement issued in Port Harcourt said: “The latest discovery of over N82m wasted on a three-hour dinner organised for Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, through the Ministry of Information and Communication, was another confirmation of how terribly wasteful, imprudent and corrupt that administration was.”

PDP in the statement signed by Jerry Needam, JP, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the State Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, said: “Apart from the negative implication this singular action has on the image of the guest, in whose honour the money was allegedly spent, it further goes to expose possible collaboration, a development that calls for explanation to Rivers people.”

Continuing, the statement said: “The pain of the PDP is further heightened with the fact that as at the time all these financial wastes were being carried out, staff, pensioners and contractors of the State Ministry of Information and Communication were owed several months’ salaries, pensions, gratuities, and control funds; facilities at the state-owned media establishments were also moribund and obsolete, and needed to be enhanced/upgraded.

“For the Party, this action by the then Commissioner, Mrs Ibim, was a clear case of financial recklessness and misappropriation, and one sure way this could be discouraged in public service is the prompt investigation and arrest of those responsible for the fraudulent actions.

“Meanwhile, following the antecedents of the former Information Commissioner, Ibim, who has been appointed acting Managing Director of the NDDC, the PDP also wishes to caution against diverting the fund’s of the Commission meant for the development of oil devastated communities in the region into funding the APC re-run Governorship Election in Bayelsa State, and re-run of some State and National Assembly elections of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“We call on the relevant authorities to be on alert and to check the flow of funds from the Commission thoroughly during the period she may be in charge.

“We again, reiterate our call on the Police, the EFCC and other security agencies to immediately commence investigation into the N1.8b loot, which include the N82m waste on Prof Soyinka, and ensure she is arrested and prosecuted accordingly to serve as deterrent to others.”

•Photo shows Ibim Seminetari.