Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has directed the Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Abiye Davies, to reactivate electricity supply to the council’s headquarters within one month.

Governor Amaechi, who gave the directive during a Town-Hall-Meeting at Degema, Sunday, said if the cost of the project would be too much for the council to bear, the chairman should contact the state Governor for assistance immediately.

The Governor emphasized the need for the leaders of Kalabari Kingdom to purge their youths of the quest for quick money, and embrace education, pointing out that such quest has caused the collapse of the economy of Kalabari people.

“Drop your guns and work with me to improve the Kalabari economy,” Governor Amaechi emphasized, as he urged the youths to take advantage of the scholarship scheme of the state government to gain education.

The State Chief Executive gave the assurance that the selection of candidates for the next phase of the oversees scholarship would be conducted at the local government level to enable the poor access the scheme.

Governor Amaechi, who promised to award contract for the construction of a palace road linking Degema Town up to the Krakrama waterside, admitted that not much has been done in the area of  healthcare in the local government area with only two Model Health centres in the area.

He, therefore, promised four new Primary Health centres for the local government area with one to be sited at Ke, Bille and Bakana each, while the remaining would be decided by the leadership of the area.

Reacting to protest by the people of Degema, who carried placards with various inscriptions against the political leadership of the area, Governor Amaechi, said there was nothing wrong with such protest so long as they were not sponsored.

Answering questions during the interactive session, the Governor noted that it was wrong for Degema town to get four out of the ten Model Primary schools allocated to the area while some of the communities do not have one, and advised them to be content with what they have.

Governor Amaechi, who said he would consider the demand for the construction of a bridge to link Tombia with Ogbakiri, said the people of Tombia can only attract development if they give peace a chance.

Also speaking the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry, said the essence of the Town Hall meeting was to create a forum for interaction between the government and the people.

Earlier, the Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Abiye Davies, said the greatest challenge of his administration was the problem of insecurity which has hampered the development of the area.

Governor Amaechi and his entourage had earlier paid a courtesy call on King Ruben Zachariah Amos, the Onu-Oyan-Ekein of Degema Kingdom.