Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas (rtd), has been accused of deducting N200 million from the Ahoada East Local Government’s monthly allocations.

Also, fresh facts have emerged about the assault and purported resignation of the Sole Administrator of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Goodluck Ihenacho.

According to a voice note from the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Ahoada-East LGA, Mr. Hector Ekeakita, who was invited by the police alongside the Chief of Staff to the council administrator and others, revealed that Goodluck was tortured and compelled to sign a prepared resignation letter because he was “fraternising with members of the Simplified Family and was almost employing a youth loyal to suspended Governor Siminalyi Fubara before the incident”.

This comes three months after the declaration of a State of emergency in Rivers State, when political observers and residents expected genuine reconciliation and peace to be underway between the rival political camps, led by Nyesom Wike and suspended Governor Siminalyi Fubara.

However, these recent developments suggest that peace may not be near anytime soon.

A viral video of assault by alleged hoodlums showed the council administrator seated on the floor in his office with armed youths numbering about 10 beating him up. The youths also presented him with a letter of resignation and forced him to sign it.

According to the Council CSO, in a voice note shared on the State police Command Whatsapp platform in Port Harcourt, such entanglement is “unacceptable and barbaric,” adding that “they do not play that kind of politics here.”

Speaking further, the CSO urged Ibas to explain and account for the claims of ?200 million in deductions from the council’s monthly allocation.

The CSO said, “In April, Mr. Iheanacho received ?800 million as allocation but declared only ?700 million. In May, he received ?600 million aside from the excess crude of over ?100 million, but he declared just ?500 million. Who is deceiving whom?

“For the two months we have stayed in office, what we have is only N41 million, he said, Ibas collected N200 million. I want this to come to the public domain, and Ibas should come and tell us if it’s true that he collected the council money or not.”

Ekeakita added that the council administrator reportedly neglected his critical roles, including sanitation and local security, which, according to him, drew public dissatisfaction and possibly contributed to the attack on him (Goodluck).

Ekeakita, however, claimed that he was not present at the scene of the incident and denied having any role in the assault on the council’s sole administrator. He also clarified that it was not hoodlums who attacked Goodluck, but rather angry youths from the council who demanded accountability.

With the assault on the council administrator for allegedly fraternising with the Simplified Family, political watchers in the state have questioned the peace process and urged both camps to be sincere in their reconciliation efforts. They also caution their supporters against acts that could instigate further violence. (The Guardian)