Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has come under criticism due to his draconian kind of leadership.
Addressing a section of Rivers Assembly in the New York, United Stated of America (USA), an elderstateman, Chief Precious Elekima told the people that, the state had been under siege, dictatorship and tyranny.
According to him, the people of the state have been groaning in pains under a draconian leadership, fear, disunity, adding that “that dichotomy between upland and riverine is now pronounced more than ever before with a renewed hatred, suspicion amongst brothers and sisters”.
The copy of the address made available to The Newswriter, the elderstatesman regretted that the state is now in the midst of serious political and economic crisis.
His words, “Most of our pride investments have been sold off in distress, our economy is shambles, our pride as Rivers men and women gone. Our disdain for begging has changed to love as begging for food and money remained a mainstay for survival in a state where our annual budget is well over 450 billion naira. This is outside several other billions that come in the name of either excess crude, ecological fund, etc from federal allocations”.
Chief Elekima who is also a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), decried the high rate of unemployment in the state, which he alleged is over eighty percent (80%). “Everywhere you look, the economic news is troubling, even those employed can hardly boast of three square meals”, Chief Elekima said.
He said that despite the quantum of funds accruing to the state over the years, the Governor has made no move to extend the city of Port Harcourt Westward, “from Eagle Island to Old Bakana, Witt and Bush (naval dockyard) to Bakana via Isaka, from Old Bakana to Bukuma and to Tombia across Ikukiri/Ogbakiri”.
The party chieftain went hard on the Governor, and frowned at the politics behind the contract award of the Trans Kalabri Link Road, “this road would have created 10 new cities into Port Harcourt”.
He had earlier alleged that before the posting of Mr. Mbu J. Mbu, the Commissioner of Police, the perceived political opponents of Governor were sent to jail on trumped up charges in collaboration with the past police commissioners.
Chief Elekima applauded the leadership of the Minister of Education, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike for rescuing the Rivers people from dictatorial leadership. Chief Elekima further lauded President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for an excellent performance, and called on the people to support him (President Jonathan) to actualize his second term ambition.
“We have a duty to stand by Mr. President shoulder, to shoulder side by side, his ethnic or birth place not a barrier for his acceptance, rather his good works which, is impacting positively on Nigerians, should be his testimonial to seek for retention and re-engagement into the office of President in 2015”. Chief Elekima concluded. ####
Rivers State: Fear Grips Police Over Planned Attack on Stations
Men and officers of the Nigeria Police serving in Rivers State are now living in perpetual fear following the directive issued by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to his loyalists to confront the police in the state.
The Governor on several occasions had called on his supporters to declare war on the State Police Command. Last week, while receiving the chieftains of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi openly ordered his fellowers to challenge the police in the state.
Prior to this time, the Governor has been calling on the relevant authorities to sack the Rivers State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu. The Governor accused the Rivers Police Boss of being biased in handling security issues in the state.
However, an elderstatesman, Chief Precious Elekima while addressing a cross section of the members of the Rivers Assembly in New York, United States of America (USA), faulted Governor Amaechi’s call for the transfer of Mr. Mbu.
According to him, before the posting of Mr. Mbu to the state, past Police Commissioners were used by the Governor to punish perceived political opponents.
He alleged that the refusal of Mr. Mbu to toe the line of his predecessors had led to the calls and pressure asking for his removal or transfer out of Rivers State by Governor Amaechi.
Also speaking at the inauguration of the PHALGA chapter of the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI), the supervising Minister of Education, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, said that the reason why Governor Amaechi is struggling hard to ensure that Mr. Mbu is transfered, was because he has refused to assassinate the political opponents of the governor.
His words, “Let me tell you the reason why Amaechi wants the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu to be transferred is because he refuses to assassinate politicians who are opposed to his administration. Knowledgeable sources informed this publication that, there are clandestine moves to attack police stations in the state. Hoodlums are grouping at the various locations in the state to unleash mayhem on the police. They are planning to take advantage of the Governor’s calls for the confrontation of the police.
A police sergeant who pleaded for anonymity told our crime correspondent that, since Governor Amaechi has declared that his supporters should confront the police, officers serving in the rural communities are become uncomfortable, for fear of possible attack.
“We are afraid, because anything can happen with that dangerous statement uttered by the Governor”, the Police Sergeant said.
He called on the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu not to sweep the governor’s threat to confront police under the carpet, saying that if serious precautionary measures are not taken it would result to something else that would be very difficult for the society to contain.###
