A stakeholder in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State and former councilor that represented ward 8 and now ward 12 in the council, Hon. Lawrence Wali has vowed to die in supporting Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the executive governor of Rivers State, than Hon. Nyesom Wike.
Hon. Wali who served his people under the administration of Hon. Nyesom as the executive chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA of the state recalled how they were denied salaries then, if not for the support of Amaechi and his wife, Dame Judith that sustained them, adding that those salaries for eleven months are yet to be paid to them till today.
However, Wali expressed shock that the duo of Gov. Amaechi and Barr. Wike, Minister of State for Education are having political loggerhead, having been known as good brothers before, saying that it is only two of them that could tell the people whatever their problems are.
On Chidi Lloyd, Wali blamed a lot of Nigerians for threading the part of impunity, having known the law, pointing out that it was improper for the leader of Rivers State House of Assembly to be blind-folded back to his state from Abuja,, since he has not been found guilty by any competent court of law; if such allegations against the police were to be true.
Wali who said that the police should not be restricted from inviting anybody for one reason or the other, if they are to do their job very well, without acting on script, noted that some of the issues that were raised by the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Otelemaba Dan Amaechree had already played out with the recent developments in the state.
On the suspension of Obio/Akpor chairman, Hon. Prince Timothy Nsirim and the 17 councillors, Hon. Wali acknowledge that the state Assembly has the right to suspend the principal and subjects of any local government on any matter that was presented before it against those that are piloting the affairs of the council after due process of the law.
He blamed both the pro and anti-Amaechi for not allowing time for the matter to be properly looked into, believing that the matter would have been resolved before now if not for the crisis that ensued after the decision on Obio/Akpor, adding that the chairman would have returned if not found guilty of petition that was said have been presented before the State Assembly.
Lawrence further urged the lawmakers to look into the matter once again and make the petition of misappropriation against the council known to the public for a quicker resolution on the political problems in the state.
Responding on whether Nyesom would do better than Amaechi if given the opportunity, Wali said he would not know what is in the mind of Nyesom whom he described as a vibrant person, stressing that his support for Gov. Amaechi was based on his strides in the area of education, health care services, human capital development, among others.
On the way forward to the political fracas in the state, Hon. Wali said:from my own point of view, the recent moves by some politicians and stakeholders to settle Mr. President and Gov. Amaechi is a welcome development, even though they have maintained not having anything against each other. I believe that Mr. President has the political capability to settle whatever political crisis that is currently rocking the state”, he added.
Hon. Lawrence however, used the occasion of their solidarity to chief of staff to commend governor Amaechi for the appointment of their son, Tony Okocha as the State Chief of Staff, charged Okocha to maintained an exemplary conduct in the discharge of his duty as a worthy ambassador of Rumurukani community.
The people of Rumurukani community in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State, who affirmed their unflinching support to the Gov. called on Amaechi to come to their aid on the several deplorable roads that lead to flooding in their community and Ekinigbo clan in general amongst others.
Hon. Wali has in the same vein called on the youths of the state, particularly those from Obio/Akpor not to take the laws into their hands. ###
Blaise Elumezie
