Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi has a way of holding the public spell bound during public outings. His blunt nature stuns his listeners and at the same time leaves them giggling in admiration.<\/p>\n

At the Town Hall Meeting he held with the people of Ogba\/Egbema\/Ndoni Local Government Area two weeks ago in Omoku, he threw up one of those his nagic wands.<\/p>\n

Just as he was about ending his speech, he switched to the issue of security. Some youths who were standing opposite the podium attracted the eyes of the governor.<\/p>\n

As if a light bulb had been lit on him, he summoned 10 youths to volunteer to assist security agencies in fishing out the hoodlums who have been unleashing terror in the area.<\/p>\n

He threw a bait to them.. A youth had during the question and answer session asked why youth bodies were disbanded by government in the area. In his usual manner, the governor sought for a give-and- take scenario. He told them that he would only lift the ban if the youths would conduct themselves, while reminding them of the insecurity occasioned by incessant kidnappings in the area.<\/p>\n

Initially when he made the call, few youths came forward, and then suddenly many of them surged to the podium and the governor quickly called on the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha to take down their names for further arrangement.<\/p>\n

In the early part of his speech, he reminded the people of the area how government intervened to check the menace. According to Amaechi, prior to this time, many rich men fled the area, \u201cthen there were kidnapping everyday but when government and police came in, Chiboy was arrested and respite came.\u201d<\/p>\n

He recalled that it was after the arrest of Chiboy and other notorious criminals that peace and security returned to the place.<\/p>\n

But he expressed worry that\u201d they have started again. They attacked the mother of one of my Commissioners and almost killed her.\u201d<\/p>\n

To assure the people that he was bent on rooting out the criminals from the area, Rt. Hon Amaechi declared, \u201cThe only responsibility in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the governor has is the responsibility he swears to an oath that I will secure lives and properties, that is my responsibility to you. I promise you as I stand; they have changed the Commissioner of Police, so there is a new one. We will go and sit with him, we will review what we have done in the past and we will give them all the necessary support, all the necessary support he needs to restore law and order in ONELGA.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amaechi was prompted by the reaction of the crowd to the welcome speech made by the Council Chairman, Hon. Raymond Nwokocha.<\/p>\n

Nwokocha had said, \u201cIn the area of security, we have been able to tackle youth restiveness and criminality through the cooperation of the SSS, JTF, traditional rulers and chiefs. The problem of cultism, kidnapping, robbery and gansterism have been brought to its lowest ebb through to its lowest ebb this arrangement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd murmured. The chairman however, expressed another concern that posed threat to the people of the area. He told Governor Amaechi that \u201cthe people of Ogba\/Egbema\/Ndoni Local Government Area are faced with onerous devastation arising from the unlawful and indiscriminate grazing and wanton destruction unleashed by the Fulani herdsmen in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hon. Nwokocha lamented that the matter was becoming an issue of urgent public importance as most women have been raped in their farms while crops and farmlands have been devastated. He, therefore, appealed to the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 governor to come \u201cto our rescue as we don\u2019t intend to engage them in reprisal attack in order not to incite tribal killings as already done in the Northern states.\u201d<\/p>\n

Governor Amaechi defended the chairman saying the responsibility of ensuring security rest with the police, and pleaded for time in order for government to tackle the menace.<\/p>\n

The situation has worsened in the last months with over four lecturers taken hostage from the Federal Government Technical College of Education. The teachers and students of the institution were forced to march down to government house in January to present their plight.<\/p>\n

Governor told the crowd that security was the business of all. He called on parents to ensure that their wards are properly monitored and tasked leaders most especially the traditional rulers in the community to evolve stringent security measures.<\/p>\n

Shortly after his assurance on security, the governor went on to enunciate the achievements of his administration in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, I promised to tell you the truth all the time. So here, out of six, five primary health care centres have been completed and in use. So here, we have done 90 percent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

On education, the Rivers State Chief Executive stated that he has disbursed funds to the<\/p>\n

State Ministry of Education to complete all Model Primary Schools under construction.<\/p>\n

The schools include Community Primary School, Ndoni, Community Primary School<\/p>\n

Obiede-Erema; State Schcol, Obrikorn; St Stephens Primary Shool, Omoku among others.<\/p>\n

Governor Amaechi promised to build a Model Secondary School in the area once a land was provided by the council for the project, and hinted of plans to set up an agricultural scheme to boost employment.<\/p>\n

During the question and answer session a traditional title holder from the area, who<\/p>\n

-gave his name as Chief Titus Egunerikoha engaged the governor over what he called<\/p>\n

lack of \u201chuman capital development\u201d in the state.<\/p>\n

After few minutes of debate, Amaechi dismised Egunerikoha\u2019s view based on the<\/p>\n

government\u2019s huge investment in education. The governor believed that there was no better human capital development than education.<\/p>\n

The rot in Okwuzi General Hospital and Egbema Grammar School was brought to the notice of the governor by Engr. Nelson Nekweri. Reacting to the issue Rt. Hon Amaechi said government cannot repair all, but assured that the planned Senatorial Zonal Hospitals would address the shortfall in heath centres.<\/p>\n

The governor also assured of completing the Ndoni Shore protection project and complete all internal roads in Omoku Town.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust give us one month, you will see activities on the roads,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Member representing the area in the State House of Assembly, Hon Lucky Odili in his closing remarks revealed that already a parcel of land for the new Model Secondary School has been made available, while describing the governor\u2019s visit as a relief to an aching heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wish that you can continue to come like this because the people love you\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n

Earlier in his address, Chairman of the Council appraised the Town Hall meeting, saying, \u201c indeed, His Excellency\u2019s vision of periodically fraternizing with the people of Rivers State aimed at acquainting the people with policies and programmes of government, as well as identifying their pressing needs is highly appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi has a way of holding the public spell bound during public outings. His blunt nature stuns his listeners and at the same time leaves them giggling in admiration. At the Town Hall Meeting he held with the people of Ogba\/Egbema\/Ndoni Local Government Area two weeks ago in Omoku, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[32],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n