The Executive Secretary of the
Benue State Management Agency ( SEMA), Emmanuel Shior, has denied allegations
that he embezzled the N200 million donated by Rivers State governor, Nyesom
Wike, to Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) in the state.
The state’s Publicity Secretary
of the APC, James Orguga, had in a press statement, challenged the SEMA boss to
account for the donations by Wike, and other relief materials donated in wake
of herdsmen attack on farmers, which forced many victims into IDP camps.
But reacting, through his media
aide, Moses Nongo, the SEMA boss dismissed the allegations stating that the
N200 million donation by Wike has been judiciously utilised.
“The N200 million donated by
Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike, to cater for the IDPs has been judiciously
utilised for the purpose it was meant. Mr Shior and no one embezzled any kobo.
“We challenge anyone with proof
to the contrary to step forward with it. Thousands of those displaced by
herders’ invasion of their communities are still in various camps across the
state. The money in question has been used in the procurement of food and
non-food relief materials meant for their upkeep,” said Shior.
According to him, “It takes a lot
of money to cater for the basic needs of thousands of the displaced on a daily
basis, such that, the amount is enormous when it becomes weeks and months.
On the allegation that the Vice
President (VP), Professor Yemi Osinbajo, made a cash donation to SEMA, when he
visited the state, he said the VP did not make any such donation.
Shior emphasised that Osinbajo
only promised on behalf of the Federal Government, to provide other forms of
relief including the construction of resettlement housing units, for the
displaced persons in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas.
“The general public should also
be informed that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, did not also make any
cash donation to SEMA when he visited the state and celebrated the 2018
Children’s Day with displaced children at Abagena IDP camp. “What he pledged to
do was to construct two classrooms blocks for the displaced children who were
attending lessons in makeshift classrooms. This he has done and a visit to the
Abagena IDPs camp will leave no one in doubt about this.
”We wish to state that the Benue State
Emergency Management Agency has never distributed relief materials to IDPs
privately. Distribution is carried out in the public glare sometimes with
coverage by different media houses.
“What is raising eyebrows is why
the Benue State APC would wait until a ban on political activities at IDPs
camps was pronounced before coming up with allegations of diversion of relief
materials and embezzlement of funds donated to SEMA by organisations and people
of goodwill.
“The Benue State Government under
Governor Ortom is spending huge sums of monies to provide basic relief for the
IDPs and we at SEMA will not waver no matter the attempts to disparage and
discourage us,” said Shior.
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