Rivers Monorail’s Train, Coaches Arrive Nigeria

R-L: Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Camillus Etokudoh and the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru during the 2nd Port Harcourt Diocesan Synod at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.

The train and coaches for the multi-billion naira monorail project embarked upon by the Rivers State government have arrived the country.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, who disclosed this last Friday at the 7th Anniversary of the National Network Newspaper noted that the arrival of the coaches had again put doubting Thomases on edge regarding the success and reality of the project which has been criticised by some Rivers citizens.

Semenitari who was reacting to a comment made by the former Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja at the occasion, denied that the government had spent N47 billion on the project.

The Information Commissioner explained that the government had only spent N1 billion and not N47 billion as claimed by the former lawmaker who was the running mate of the state governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Celestine Omehia in the April governorship election.

She noted that the Amaechi led government was doing everything within its power to be transparent and give stewardship to the state.

She said the state government was not afraid of criticism, but that those who wanted to criticise should do so constructively.

Semenitari said criticism was part of democracy, as it helps to put the government be on its toes.

The National Network newspaper used the occasion to honour some eminent sons of Rivers State including the Oba (Eze Ogba) of Ogbaland, His Eminence, Sir (Dr) Chukwumela Nnam Obi II, former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo and Provost of Federal College of Education, Sir (Dr) Silas Nkasiobi Oguzor, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, General Overseer of the Royal House of Grace. Others also honoured were Mrs Kate Sam Ngbor, Apostle Eugene Ogu, Hon Ogbonna Nwuke, a former Commissioner of Information in Rivers now a federal lawmaker and late Minere Amakiri, publisher of the Beacon Newspaper.

Other honourees were Sir Ngo Martins Yellowe, Dr (Barr) Faraday Iwuchukwu and Chief Mike Nwielaghi.

Speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwanee commended the National Netowrk for being afloat but cautioned it against toeing the path of irresponsible journalism.

The Deputy Speaker who was represented at the occasion by his Press Secretary, Mr David Amusa, charged local tabloids in the state to always consider the overall interest of Rivers State and her people in their reportage of developments.

He noted that in as much as democracy tolerates opposition, it should not be sacrificed at the expense of the truth.

R-L: Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Camillus Etokudoh and the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru during the 2nd Port Harcourt Diocesan Synod at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.