The news of the successful hosting of the national convention of the nation’s rising opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was fouled last week by Federal Government’s directive to bar Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and two other governors from Kano and Edo States from participating in the final mega guber rally of the party in Ekiti State.
News of the arrest of the governor filtered in on Thursday afternoon after Amaechi was held by soldiers at Odudu, outskirts of Ondo State on his way back to Akure Airport. It was also learnt that his chattered airplane was also grounded.
Shortly after, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari addressed journalists in the state with the call on the federal government to ensure that the governor was not hurt in the process.
Semenitari warned against the dangers of infringing on the constitutional rights of the governor in moving freely and associating freely.
Also, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) through its chairman, Hon Oji Ngofa, described the actions of the security agents as “imprisonment of Rivers people”, saying the governor is the symbol of Rivers State and should not be shabbily treated.
Ngofa who is also the CTC chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, hinted of plans to institute legal suit to get redress in court, while lampooning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plans to rig last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
In response to the development, Human Rights Advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falami has urged Governor Amaechi to seek legal address over the harassment he suffered in the hands of security agents last Thursday in Ekiti State.
But before the ugly incident on Thursday, the governor returned to the state on Tuesday and on Wednesday, the weekly State Executive Council meeting was convened with Governor Amaechi presiding.
The executive meeting ended in the evening and both Commissioner for Information and Communications and her counterpart from Youth Development, Hon Owene Wonodi addressed pressmen on decisions so far reached.
Wonodi disclosed plans by the state government to send a delegation of youths to the United States for an Exchange Programme that will attract young people into agriculture.
The foreign exchange programme which is a partnership between the state government and the United States Agency for International Development will take the youths to the University of Arkansas. They will also visit Mississipi and New Orleans to gather knowledge in modern agriculture production.
Mrs Semenitari informed State House correspondents that the meeting would continue on Monday (today) when more information will be made available on other policies and programmes endorsed by the council.
On Friday, members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) were struck with bad news over the sudden demise of the former President of the body, Mr Ndagene Akwu. Before he became the National President of the NUJ, Mr Akwu was one time chairman of the State Council of the union.
Shortly after the news of Mr Akwu’s death was announced, Governor Amaechi sent a delegation to deceased’s family home for a condolence visit. The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari led the delegation that comprised the Managers of Radio Rivers, Rivers State Television and other ministry officials.
She said, “I am here on behalf of His Excellency, Governor Rotimi Amaechi. He was highly distraught when he heard about the loss of the former President of the NUJ, a true Rivers son. He asked me to come and express his condolence and that of Rivers people to the family of Ndagene Akwu.
“His Excellency is not around, if not, he would have been here in person. He wanted the family to know that this is a loss to Rivers State because as you know, Ndagene today is the only Rivers man who has been President of the NUJ. Therefore, this is a loss for us as Rivers people and it’s a loss to the union. And His Excellency has asked me to tell journalists that this loss is the one that he feels very deeply and will be extremely supportive in our work and Rivers State will stand behind the family through the trying period”.