Subject: RESPONSE TO MR NYESOM WIKE
PRESS STATEMENT BY MRS IBIM SEMENITARI
On Thursday June 18, 2015, over 10 policemen
armed with machine guns and in two trucks - one
Ford Transit and one Hilux arrived my residence, No
12 A Ernest Ikoli Street, Old G.R.A Port Harcourt.
Without either a search warrant, letter or precious
information, they forced their way into my premises.
My security guard on duty requested to know their
mission and who sent them. They refused to disclose
either, but went round taking photographs and
videoing my premises. The security guard got in
touch with my assistant who spoke with the men,
explaining to them that I was out of town and again
requested to know their mission and purpose. Again
they declined insisting on seeing me first. She then
got in touch with me by phone as we were uncertain
as to the identity of the policemen in question. Upon
further investigation and after about 3 hours of them
laying siege on my premise, I was told that they were
from Rivers State Government House and had been
sent to recover vehicles in my possession.
They attempted to break into a Range Rover Jeep
belonging to my Husband and bought long before I
was made Commissioner in Rivers State
Government, damaging the front door. The vehicle in
question contrary to the lies being paraded is not an
armoured vehicle and has never at any point
belonged to the Rivers State Government nor its
agents including myself as Commissioner of
Information.
By the time I finally made contact with them and
expressed my displeasure, they insisted that they
would take away a Lexus jeep duly allocated to me
as Commissioner of Information and which by law I
am entitled to leave with upon leaving office. The
monetization policy of the government allows public
officers to leave government with their official
vehicles as this is in lieu of vehicle, allowance,
transport and other allowances, which they cannot
draw because of the monetization policy of 2002.
Mr. Nyesom Wike served as Chief of Staff, and upon
departure left with all the vehicles he used as Chief of
Staff. This has been the practice since this
democratic dispensation when President Olusegun
Obassanjo instituted the monetisation policy. Having
served as Commissioner for two tenures, I am
entitled to my status cars and have proof of
allocation.
While I understand that Mr. Wike feels a dire need to
destroy the reputation of Governor Amaechi and all
those worked with him, it is unacceptable that he will
engage in brigandage, thuggery and underhand
tactics to do so. A simple letter from any government
official requesting me to make a submission or
tender documentation would have been the
appropriate way to go and I would have willingly
tendered all the relevant documents to them.
Breaking into my home, invading my privacy,
damaging my property and removing property from
my premises is inappropriate and illegal.
I have chosen however to put out these details in the
public space as it is apparent that for some persons
only a destruction of my hard earned reputation
would do and this I would not accept. My records in
the Ministry of Information are crystal clear I hope
that Mr. Nyesom Wike is able to say same about his
tenure in every office he has held. Forcing their home
into my home unlawfully isn’t the appropriate way for
any government that claims legitimacy to behave.
Ibim Semenitari
June 18, 2015