N82million Dinner: Rivers PDP slams claim money covered “band, costumes, logistics”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has described as “hollow and childish”, explanations by a former Rivers State information commissioner, Ibim Semenitari, on how the state spent N82 million for a dinner honouring Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka.


Ms. Semenitari, currently the acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, had said on Monday that the money covered specific items of the event.
The money was spent on “Dance Drama by University of Port Harcourt Arts Village; Great Singha & His Highlife Band; Set Design, Stage Lighting & Costume Design; Costume Design & Stage Property; Dinner; Transportation and Accommodation of guests from outside the country and those outside Rivers State; Decoration; Travels & Logistics, etc,” a statement by Beke Anyalewechi, on behalf Mrs. Semenitari, said, according to PM News.

A statement on Wednesday by Felix Obuah, the Rivers State PDP Chairman, described Mrs. Sementari’s explanation as “hollow, petty and childish”.
The PDP said Mr. Soyinka had allowed his name for a shady event that cost the public huge.
“While we agree that the Nobel Laureate deserves any form of honour in any part of the world, we find it a terrible disservice to Professor Soyinka to use his name to steal public funds,” the statement said.
“She said the N82 million was not used only for the party but that the expenses covered costume design, set design, drama, highlife band, dinner, transportation, decoration and logistics.