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Police Exposed Us To Attack In Khana – RSG; Amaechi Dares Police, Vows Return To Khana …Says Nigeria’s Democracy In Danger
The Rivers State Government has blamed the Police for yesterday’s attack by hoodlums on innocent citizens who had converged for the inauguration of Save Rivers Movement in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the SRM rally was disrupted by hired thugs, noted that despite the group’s request for security, no response was gotten from the Nigeria Police.
“The bad days are here again”, Semenitari lamented, saying “The Police stood by and watched the thugs attack us and they failed to do anything”.
She wondered why the Police, numbering over 200, provided security for another group that tagged itself “Voice of Orashi People” last Saturday, when they forcibly entered into the premises of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Council Headquarters.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications while reacting to Police claim that it didn’t receive any request from the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) said, “you can see that the Police is economical with the truth”.
Mrs Semenitari opined that the current state of affairs in Rivers State was an indicating that the state was under siege, as she maintained that the people of the state would not be intimidated by the antics of Police.
“The people would continue to speak even though some lives would be at risk”, she insisted.
Meanwhile, a leader of the SRM and former members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Igoh Aguma, accused the Police of deliberately exposing the group to danger.
Hon. Aguma, who was an eyewitness of the violence at the All Saints Anglican Church premises Bori, where the rally was billed to hold, disclosed that at about 8.30 am when he arrived the scene, some hoodlums attacked them with machete, destroying all equipment.
“We raised alarm to the Police Division Office which is barely 200 metres from the venue, but we got no response,” Aguma stated.
He further disclosed that another group attacked and shot at his vehicle destroyed his windscreen and glass as he escaped narrowly.
According to him, about two persons suffered from bullet wounds, while over 10 vehicles, including SUVs, were battered by the hoodlums numbering over 20.
Aguma stressed that the group would not be deterred as it was poised to promote good governance and equity in the state.
He disclosed that by next week Saturday, the group would still hold its Khana rally, while that of Tai would be held on Sunday.
Another eye witness, who spoke to newsmen and a reporter with Channels television in Port Harcourt, Grace Ekang, narrated how she and her crew escaped death, as the hoodlums attacked their Outside Broadcast van and crew with machetes.
Ekang stated, “we were about to set up our equipment when the thugs pounced on us. First, they started to dismantle the canopies and public address system at the venue.
After that, they used the machetes on our vehicles. They picked our cameras and took away our belongings”.
The Channels reporter further disclosed that things came to a head when they started shooting sporadically, adding, “we started running for our dear lives. Most of the thugs were masked”.
The Tide learnt that among those attacked by the militants were the Secretary to Rivers State Government, George Feyii and Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assemby, Leyii Kwanee, whose vehicles were smashed with live bullets and matchetes.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors, Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has described yesterday’s shooting by suspected militants at Bori in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State as a sign that Nigeria’s democracy is in serious danger.
Governor Amaechi, who stated this while speaking to journalists yesterday, at Government House, shortly after inspecting some vehicles damaged by thugs suspected to be People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supporters, alleged that the present administration headed by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was worst than the Abacha regime.
According to him, “there is no difference between Abacha government and the present administration headed by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Lives were being lost, people killed, journalists were arrested. This is even worst because governors were not arrested during the regime of Abacha”.
He alleged that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wants to win presidential and governorship elections by all means, adding that the Federal Government no longer cares about its responsibility to protect the lives and property of the citizens which they sworn to protect.
“The President owes Rivers people the responsibilities to protect their lives and properties. It is ridiculous. There is difference between the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the leader of the People’s Democratic Party”, he said.
“When Chief Olusugun Obasanjo said about snipers in his letter, they said he was lying and we said police used rubber bullets, the police said they have no rubber bullets, where did the rubber bullets come from. One week ago, Senator Magnus Abe was shot, he is not in Nigeria, he is in UK hospital, he was taken to an hospital that treats heart problems and that problem was caused by Mbu Joseph Mbu and the President has not said anything about it”, he said.
He, however, said following yesterday’s incident, he will for the first time expose himself as he will attend the rally of Save Rivers Movement at Bori, in Khana Local Government on Saturday.
“I want them to come and shoot me. We shall go back to Bori next Saturday and the Save Rivers Movement will stage another rally, let them come and shoot me”, he said.
The governor denied ever having cordial relationship with the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu as the commissioner claimed, explaining that the first day Mbu arrived Rivers State, he arrested the orderly to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) at the airport and detained him.
“When he met with me, I told him that the rumour in town said you were posted by the wife of the President to protect her interest and her political ambition, and he said no, that he is here to work with me, and I said we shall see it. From that day, Mbu has neither rested nor slept.
“If the police was not aware that there is rally going on in Bori, would they also say they did not hear the sound of guns?, he asked.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha, said yesterday’s incident has revealed a lot and that the government would henceforth take precautionary measures.
He alleged that suspected militants carried out the attacks under the full glare of the police.
According to him, “the MOPOL 58 is there, the Area Command of the Police is also in Bori, would they say, they did not hear the sound of the guns?”.
When contracted, the spokes man of the Save Rivers Movement, Hon. Igo Aguma, regretted that the police in Rivers State had taken sides, adding that when the shooting was going on, he called the CP several times, but he did not pick his calls adding that he also sent an SMS at 11.17, but he never replied to the text message.
About five vehicles of different makes were riddled with bullets during the militants rampage.
The vehicles, according to our correspondent include, Land Cruiser with registration numbers Rivers ES353PH, Lagos, AAA448AA, Lexus 570, Rivers KNM815 AA, Mercedes Brilliance, Abuja ABC 830AL, Toyota Thundra, Abuja ABJ587 AE, and CHEVROLET Avalanche, Lagos 1932SR.
L-R:Governors Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Umaru Ganduje, at a meeting of the APC Governors in Lagos, last Thursday
Ike Wigodo
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.