The Rivers Leadership Advance Foundation, a socio-political organization has postponed its well publicized summit scheduled to hold on Saturday 27th October, 2013.
The President of group, Chief Hon. Weli Alex stated this in a press briefing in Port Harcourt. Hon. Weli told journalists that the group has made 35% preparation for the submit which essence is to subject the 6 years of the governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi administration to public scrutiny which is also known as accountability forum.
He said the decision to call-off the submit to a latter date is to identify with the families of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on the burial of her mother, Mrs. Charity Fyneface Oba and also the burial of late Rt. Hon Tonye Harry.
The soft spoken President explained that the Bible said, “it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting”.
RIVLEAF President maintained that the shift of the summit is not unconnected to the burial of two great personalities from Rivers State which is to give them a sense of belonging and also respecting constituted authority.
Hon Weli posited that there is no need for RIVLEAF to organize accountability forum for the governor when the First Lady is burying her mother and also the burial of Rt. Hon Tonye Harry because RIVLEAF will participate in the both burial ceremonies as a mark of respect for these great citizens of Rivers State.
Some of the journalists asked the President to mention some of the achievements of the governor in the past six years. Answering, Hon Weli said RIVLEAF is not in position to blow the trumpet of the governor he said “the governor is fully prepared to tell Rivers people what he has achieved within the year in office”. On the issue of security, whether RIVLEAF has cleared with the police due to the in fight between the police and the Rivers State Government.
He stated emphatically that RIVLEAF has formally written to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu on the said summit since on 27th September, 2013 for clearance and permission. In the same vein the Director State Security Service (SSS) has also been communicated to on the same issue.
The President of RIVLEAF stated that in planning the summit a Committee on Security has also been set up where they have informed the police to provide security for the event and they were happy for the notification and the police are fully ready if not for the postponement.
Asked the new date for the summit, the President told the press that a new date will likewise be communicated to them. Explaining further, Hon. Weli said the postponement is not political while the new date for the summit must also fall in line with the schedule of the governor, saying the governor is aware of the shift in date of the event.
On why RIVLEAF tour of the various LGAs, Hon. Weli said it was for sensitization of the grassroots that it is 2015 election that was over heating the polity, saying that what ever is the problem will be resolved amicably.
He said to set the record straight “there is no problem between the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibukie Amaechi and the President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan” that the collective success of the Niger Delta on their partnership which is paramount.
