The Rivers leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF) said they are not happy with the hard policies embarked upon by Barr. Nyesom Wike since he became governor of the state.
The President of the group, Hon. Alex Weli made the remark in a press statement made available to journalists over the weekend.
Hon. Weli stated that since government is a continuous process, they are shocked in the manner Barr. Nyesom Wike is rampantly, maliciously and indiscriminately dissolving various boards, parastatals, committees, sacking of employers of institutions and establishments with disregard to the one with legitimate tenure and without due process.
RIVLEAF president noted that the security in the state is fast deteriorating and crime rate has increased especially organized crime like kidnapping, armed-robbery, car snatching, pipeline vandalism, cultism and other social vices, alleging that most of the youths who were engaged in the 2015 general elections are not demobilize.
Hon. Weli maintained that the 18 months probe of the immediate past administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi is hypocritical, deceitful and diversionary since that can not give the true picture of a probe rather the probe should start from 2007 – 2015 if it is not witch-hunting, noting that the present governor was a former Chief of staff to Rt. Hon. Amaechi for a period of four years and also his tenure as a Minister of Education State should be looked into.
The statement further condemned every attempt or step taken so far and intended to be taken to dissolve or hoodwink the legitimately elected local government councils in Rivers State that such steps are malicious, vindictive and unconstitutional while employing the governor to concentrate with the functions of the state.
He explained that the Rivers State House of Assembly is by law independent but they are now a mere rubber stamp and tools in the hands of the governor as they accept all manner of proposals, request for loans without due process, most importantly, the plan attempt by the law makers to review the chieftaincy law and the meddling into traditional institutions in the state.
On the issue of engaging multinational constitution companies like Julius Berger, CC and ECC to fill only potholes in Port Harcourt is a waste of state resources he said especially now that the federal allocation are low and there are many roads begging for attention as these action may raise suspicious or a plan to siphon state funds.
Hon. Weli who was a former S.A to governor Amaechi told journalists that the rate of borrowing by Governor Nyesom Wike may lead the state into bankruptcy or high profile debt especially as 30 billions naira are now borrowed in 30 days of the governor’s administration and wondered what will happen in the few months to come as most of the money is not directly meant for projects.
RIVLEAF further observed that the swearing-in of Gov. Nyesom Wike contravened the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the Bayelsa Chief Judge lacks the territorial jurisdiction to swearing-in the governor on 29th May, 2015 but called on the people of Rivers State to be prayerful while awaiting it nullification in the tribunal.
He tasked the people to be law abiding in the face of the current political challenges especially the present state of brazen disregard for the rule of law, due process and unethical procedures for governance in Rivers State perpetuating by Chief Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike the governor of Rivers State. ###
Pius Dukor
