HDP Wants Imoke to Explain Whereabouts of N2b Aircraft

by crossriverwatch admin

The Hope Democratic Party HDP, in Cross River State has demanded an explanation from the Governor of the State, Senator Liyel Imoke over the whereabouts and management of an aircraft that the state allegedly purchased from the Rivers State Government in 2009.

In a statement signed by the party’s governorship candidate in the last governorship election, Dr. Theo Onyuku, the party also called on the governor to explain the rationale behind the construction of an international conference centre and access road to link the Tinapa resort, a project that has been dubbed: “Tinapa Phase Two”.

The party in the statement wondered why the Tinapa project which has become a source of controversy and huge debts and a reason why the Apex bank directed all commercial banks to stop advancing loans to Cross River State will still gulp hundreds of millions in the construction of a phase two.

It said “In 2009, the CRSG purchased a needless, pointless aircraft from Rivers State at the whooping cost of N2BILLION when the issue of loss of 76 oil wells became public. The CRSG told the people that the aircraft will be used by a viable commercial airline to generate funds for the state and will also routinely fly the so called tourists from Calabar to Obudu Ranch. Since then, the aircraft where about is unknown and the aircraft is said to have disappeared”.

“We ask the CRSG the following questions:

“Where is the N2BILLION aircraft purchased with public funds? How much has the aircraft generated since it began operations? Who is in control of this aircraft?

“The CRSG must address these pertinent issues immediately. The CRS people demand unambiguous answers to these important questions”.

“The CRSG must address the people on the current status of the world class project titled: The 5000 capacity International Convention Centre and a state of the art hospital. These projects will link the Tinapa Business Resort and shorten the access time to the wasteful, prodigious, profligate white elephant investment The Tinapa Resort. The CRS people must know how their scarce resources are spent”.

“The CRSG must account for the deployment of public funds without budgetary provision which in a clime with flourishing democratic norms, the CRS Governor would have been served an impeachment notice. We submit that Senator Imoke’s procurement of the meaningless aircraft without budgetary provision was an impeachable offence and if we had a CRSHA with courage and good biceps, the Governor would have been removed from office for blatant violation of the constitution”

- by: Declan Ogar
- 12 years ago
These are very serious and important questions that deserve swift answers, otherwise be seriously indicted and sentence to prison!
- - by: Hamdi
  - 12 years ago
  YOMI People like you must be benefitting from the cabal that has eaucsalmted both the federal gov. and the Nigerian masses. I know you will like Nigeria to go down like the Greece. I know you want Nigeria to become Somalia where the army of unemployed youths had recoursed to blood shed. Peolpe like you who were working in the then NITEL in Nigeria were crying against privatisation, but today your likes are enjoying cell phone usage which principle worked proximately to deragulation. I know you saw the honourable Sanusi Lamido Sanusi when he dared the national assembly and challenged them on their frivolous salary structures, like the rest of the masses you then laughed that there is still a man that has balls in Nigeria who is still holding his head high like an eagle of a man. Yomi you were happy that such men are still remaining in Nigeria . Men who were born and raised properly. Yes Yomi you were happy. Yomi why do you think men like the same Sanusi Lamido Sanusi are ever poised in support of the same removal of petroleum subsidy.? Think twice Yomi. Try to be patriotic, We have no other country than Nigeria. You I will give you one assingment, If you listen to CNN there is a program called GPS acronym for global public square. It is presented by Fareed Zakari. Look for the one presented on sunday 14th january 2012 then find out why oil rich Nation Like Saudi are now thinking that they cannot support their National budget on their current domestic petroleum pricing.
- - by: Kaylan
  - 12 years ago
  I atcually found this more entertaining than James Joyce.
- by: Joe Odok
- 12 years ago
I think at this tym the government should be interested in structural plans to sustain Tinapa and not in spending
- - by: Roguart
  - 12 years ago
  Jeremy,I wholeheartedly agree that 4-star hotel would have semeed more glamorous (Golden Tulip, Sheraton, or the like). I don’t know why Duke didn’t manage to infuse some mid-high end brands in this…probably due to high risk factor for investors. Southern Sun was convinced and brought on board, and I bet their market segment is Nigerian mid-end customers (say $75-100/night).About the architecture, I also agree that there isnt any in this phase. In fact I requested an investors brochure back in late 2004 and Tinapa Business Resort Ltd. sent me a fancy CD with some amazing sketches of how the buildings would look and feel when complete, with some photos of precedents in South Africa. There was an emphasis on natural materials, bamboo, straw roofs, more lush vegetation, and overall “organic feel”. Yes, there was a provision for deep wooden canopies screening rainfall (looked beautiful and in theory the whole concept semeed like a tourist magnet by itself).Sadly and evidently this has not materialized and the investors opted instead for a utitalitarian approach (lower cost): metal roof, concrete structures, and CMU walls, gypsum, etc.However and to give them credit the roads are EXTREMELY well designed and executed (well drained, sidewalks, and landscaped). The lineshops are totally glazed for a contemporary feeling. Isn’t it ironic how “green architecture” today is more expensive than post-modern construction. The entertainment complex is under construction (so is the waterfront restaurant and boutiques) hopefully those will be a bit more creative and African/natural- styled.Wole
- - by: Nany
  - 12 years ago
  Jeremy,Interesting attempt at a long range pceidrtion. My comments:1. Political reform. Not much will change here – power will continue to be concentrated in the centre, with very few states making any attempt to establish financial independence. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that Yar’Adua is Shagari Mark II. Yes, they are both reluctant candidates from the North – but whereas Shagari had limited political experience, Yar’Adua has at least managed a state for eight years. Also, he is reputed to be very much his own man – so I’m not sure how willing he will be to be teleguided by the party hierarchy. We’ll see.2. Economic reform. Yar’Adua may continue with the more obvious reforms started by Obasanjo, but I’m not sure that he really ‘gets’ the reform message. Oh well, who knows? After all, Obasanjo used to be a statist in an earlier incarnation. At the very least, he has no reason to sack the technocrats who have been behind the reforms up to date.I think that the EFCC will still be around – perhaps it will be more vigorous, given Yar’Adua’s reputation for financial transparency. On the other hand, since his candidacy has been bankrolled by many of the people who the EFCC should be prosecuting, I think it will stick to catching lesser fry, and the likes of Babangida can rest easy for a while.The other stuff you mention – a credit bureau, e-payments will definitely happen in the next two to three years.3. Infrastructure. I’m not sure whether the rail infrastructure projects being promised will yield much – I guess I’ve heard it all before. I agree that the power situation will change – the NERC has already commenced the groundwork that is needed before private companies start operation – but it will be slooooow. I don’t share your pessimism regarding IT infrastructure, because this is something that depends less on government and more on private sector initiatives. The only thing to sort out is regulating access to the SAT-3 gateway that hooks up Nigeria to the rest of the world via cable.4. Education. Unfortunately, I think that you’re right, and that the impact of education is simply not immediate enough for the government to give it the attention it needs. I don’t agree with you that privatising institutions of learning is a bad idea, but that’s another discussion for another day.