The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned Governor Siminalayi Fubara for donating 100 vehicles to the State Police Command, describing the move as a “gross misplacement of priority”.
In a scathing statement signed by Tony Okocha, Chairman of the APC’s Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, the party expressed outrage that the governor would prioritize vehicle donations to the police while residents struggle with “excruciating hunger”.
Okocha noted that even those who participated in a recent protest allegedly sponsored by Fubara himself to embarrass President Bola Tinubu had informed the governor that “hunger is real”. However, Fubara allegedly ignored the APC pleas and those of other well-meaning stakeholders.
The APC chairman argued that Fubara’s actions are in stark contrast to other state governors who are implementing projects to alleviate hunger and promote food security.
Okocha cited examples of states like Niger, Akwa/Ibom, Taraba, and Lagos, where governors are providing tractors and farm implements to farmers, as well as distributing food items to citizens in need.
Okocha’s statement reads in part: “It is absurd that Governor Fubara would prioritize vehicle donations to the police while our people are suffering from hunger.
“In these States and more, Tractors and farm implements are gifted to Farmers to enhance Agricultural production and the provision of food sufficiency and security.
“Food items are bought in several mind blowing thousands in Trailers and gifted to citizens, to alleviate and ameliorate hunger.
“Unfortunately, in Rivers State, a clueless administrator chooses to donate ‘confirmed 7th hand rickety vehicles’ to the Rivers State Police Command.
A hundred pieces they claim.
“Only yesterday, a day after the vehicles were donated by a Governor, who is in the voyage of currying support and favour from any tse-tse fly that he identifies.”
Okocha questioned the rationale behind the donation, asking: “What is the relevance of this donation to the hunger experienced by Rivers State people? What is the connection between police vehicles and empty stomachs?”
He also queried whether the Police Command had been removed from the Exclusive List, which makes the Federal Government solely responsible for its funding, management, and recruitment.
Okocha further asked if Rivers State was facing large-scale insecurity issues that necessitated the governor’s intervention, or if the donation was merely a grandstanding move to curry favor.
The APC chairman accused Governor Fubara of ignoring the “scale of preference” in economics, which prioritizes needs over wants. He argued that donating vehicles to a federal agency like the police, while Rivers State people suffer from hunger, is a misplacement of priority.
Okocha concluded by condemning Governor Fubara’s actions, stating: “The governor blindly frolics into condemnable inanities, and we so condemn.”