Despite suggestions of many Nigerians that the country should be divided into two nations due to leadership manipulation and incessant killing of Christians and other Nigerians in the Northern part of the nation by the dreaded Boko Haram, a prominent chief in Rivers State, His Royal Highness, Owabie Tobin, the Eze Onumini 1 of Port Harcourt City LGA has advocated for one nation.
In his New Year message while in a chat with The Newswriter political editor in Port Harcourt the royal father frowned at the manner in which majority of Nigerians were suggesting the division of the country instead of proffering solution to subdue the Boko Haram set.
According to him, “if Nigeria is divided into two nations, we will no longer be the giant of Africa, the benefit and respect accorded to us in that aspect will no more be there.”.
The royal father who recalled when Mr. Anini the armed robber who was terrorizing Nigeria in the 1980s during IBB’s regime ,when Eyang who was the Inspector General of Police wanted to resign his appointment he was refused by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who urged him to arrest Mr. Anini before he would resign.
Chief Owabie further recalled how Mr. Barack Obama the president of America subdued Osama Bin Laden by sending a military troupe to kill him, advised Jonathan to borrow a leaf from President Obama and use all intelligent strategy as well as mount pressure on the present IG and other army generals to ensure that they arrest the culprits and prosecute them as well.
On his expectation at the New Year, the Onumini 1 of Port Harcourt City said his expectation was that “the country should be peaceful, whatever that could not work effectively this year, the Nigerians leaders in all states of the federation should remedy their bad situation and improve the lives of the people they are leading.”
On the removal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Owabie Tobin frowned at the removal of the subsidy in this early stage of the year, stressing that he should have gone into dialogue with the masses before going into such venture when people were just returning from their homes after Christmas, adding that removing the fuel subsidy at this early stage will bring more hardship to them.
The royal father who extended his new year greeting to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the governor of Rivers State, his wife Dame Mrs. Judith Amaechi, and members of his cabinet, commended governor Amaechi for the peaceful approach with the Rivers state civil servants over their salaries.
Chief Tobin advised civil servants in the state especially the directors and permanent secretaries to desist from including ghost workers in their salary list stressing that government will treat them like criminals if they are found guilty of the offence.
He advised Amaechi to focus more on supply of electricity because of epileptic supply of electricity last year, completion of roads that were under construction, more effort on security and improve employment for Rivers youths.
He commended Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo the Mayor of Phalga for putting food on the table of the civil servants in the LGA.
According to him, the Mayor gave N5,000 t0 junior staff while the senior staffs was given N10,000 each for the Christmas bonus stressing that such has never happened before and advised all the LGA civil servants to give him all their support to succeed.
He also commended Chief Azubuike Nmerukini, the chairman of Rivers State local government commission, for setting up promotion interviews for workers in the state. ###
By Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
