SpicyTricks

...says "You should talk like a Governor”

In the midst of the raging controversy surrounding the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whte  1000 Bed Hospital project embarked upon by the past administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samson Parker has taken a swipe at the present governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike over his continuous insistence that the said project was marred with fraud leading to the failure of the past government to execute it.

Parker who spoke to The Beam in an exclusive interview urged the governor to streamline his comments and act like a governor instead of engaging in comical mannerisms that could portray him as a jester.

He wondered why Wike, who was part of the Amaechi government as Chief of Staff and is still part of the Amaechi political family would continue to give a false impression of the project which he was deeply involved at inception when it was decided upon by the State Executive Council.

The Medical Doctor cum politician accused the governor of playing politics with the hospital project even when he knows the truth about the project.

In his reaction to the allegation made by Wike that the sum of N4.5bn was diverted by the governor using the project, Dr. Parker refuted such claims, saying that it was the same Wike as Chief of Staff who alleged that the contractor had made away with the 20 per cent mobilization fee which was paid to him. He said upon the allegation, the governor then set up a panel to investigate the matter, as well as turning him into the Police for further investigation. "Wike was the architect of those spurious allegations and petitions to the then Inspector General of Police and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC. I was 'arrested' and questioned, after which I was cleared of any wrong doing. The contractor was absolved as well, rather we, the state government were indicted for stopping the contract to the initial contractor, Clinotech Construction Company owned by Mr. Harrison Ofiyai.

He went further to explain why the hospital was not executed In spite of the 20 per cent mobilization paid to the contractor.

Parker said that the project was originally meant to be a Private Partnership Project, PPP, between the state government and Clinotech, but when the government paid its own counterpart funds to the bank, the contractor delayed in his own payment,  the. Exco decided to make a contract in order to avoid further delays.

Upon a payment of 20 per cent mobilization which is to the tune of N3.5billion, the contractor moved in machinery to the first approved site, where the former UPTH was. In line with the policy of the government to embark on the Greater Port Harcourt Scheme, the governor decided that the status of the project will befit the new Port Harcourt axis, so the contractor had to stop work in the first site, then moved to a new site. Having moved the heavy duty equipment and all the imported containers meant for the project, the management of the Greater Port Harcourt informed the government that the airport authorities had frowned at the proposed height of the 12 storey hospital complex due to the movement of airplanes around the area.

incidentally, while the contractor was yet to be allocated a new site, some people including the then Chief of Staff began to accuse the Commissioner of collusion with the Contractor to divert funds.

According to Parker, Gov. Amaechi then was furious as he would not tolerate any acts of corruption. He immediately petitioned the then Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Abba to witness the testimonies of Parker and the contractor, Harrison.

In a letter dated 24th March, 2010, from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State C.I.D., Port Harcourt, Rivers State, signed by ASP Telema Jim-Bob, it was confirmed that both local and expatriate works were still on site with clearing, acess roads, perimeter fencing, soil investigation, erection of site offices, and residential quarters and other supports had been achieved.

The final report by the Technical Committee set up the state governor and headed by Mrs. Anita Laz-Nwokeafor also confirmed that the value of actual work done including materials on site, plants, equipment and temporary structures amounted to N3.9billion and some fraction including the procurement of construction equipment which constituted part of the agreement, as such the difference of about N208million could not be deducted from the total cost expended. 

In summary, both the Technical Committe and the Police absolved the contractor and the Commissioner of any wrong, rather, they advised the State Government to continue with the project, though in phases.

The Committee went further to suggest that the government should commence a settlement negotiation with Clinotech while looking for the possibilities for new partnership under a Build, Operate and Transfer method.

According to Parker, "Gov. Wike is in the know of all these but I don't know why he chooses to make it an issue. I think that he should conduct himself as a governor now and not the Wike we used to know. It is in his character to throw jabs at people but now, its a different ball game. I will advise him not to play politics with such sensitive issues as this, even though he may be engaging in mudslinging on thje former governor because of his case at the tribunal with the APC candidate, Dakuku Peterside. Talking in this manner makes him look like a jester and I think its time to separate such mannerisms from true governance. If he wants to keep talking like that, he should hand over to the former Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, who likes talking".