Amaechi Mourns First Lady’s Mum

Early last week Governor Chibuike Amaechi and his wife Judith sent out message of condolence to the fist lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan over the death of her foster mother, Mrs charity Oba.

Mrs Oba had died two weeks ago from a motor accident at the Elele Isiokpo axis, and since then the state has gone into a morning mood for the first family, as Governor Amaechi prayed God to strengthen Nigeria’s first lady and the entire family. On Monday, Chairman of Police Service Commission, and former Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiiro held a closed door meeting with Governor Amaechi over the stringent call for the redeployment of state Commissioner for Police. Though details of the meeting were not made available to the press, Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Manus Ngei Abe addressed the press regarding current moves  to end the political crisis in the state.

Abe used the occasion to make a fresh call for the redeployment of Mbu Joseph Mbu, whom he said had lost the confidence of Rivers people. “I think it’s actually long for the National Assembly. It’s clear from the report of the Senate Committee that crime has gone up in Port Harcourt since this man has been here. The Senator also cleared the air on the take over of the legislative functions of the Rivers Assembly  by the National Assembly saying, “section 11 (4) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives that power to the National Assembly. So it is both chambers”.

Also on Monday, the Rivers State Executive Council held its 12

th session presided over by Governor Amaechi. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenifari briefed the press. She revealed plans by State Exco to beef up efforts in checking indiscriminate parking in the city, while directing the Ministry of Transport to conduct a report on the situation.

Other plans reached by the State Exco include activities to mark the centenary celebrations in Port Harcourt. She used the media chat to lampoon the state Police Commissioner whom she said denied knowledge about the whereabouts of detained Majority Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd.

On Tuesday the Governor through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii received Rivers Community in the Diaspora, and assured them of government support at all times. He urged them to set up a committee to establish a data bank for government to tap from their pool of expertise and experience.

Interim President of Rivers community in Diaspora, Engr Kinikanwo Elenwo thanked the state for the warm reception accorded them and appealed to the state government to incorporate them in the public private partnership (PPP) programme, and to open a special Desk for Rivers People in Diaspora. On Wednesday Governor Amaechi visited the family of Mrs Emily Amadi, considered to be the oldest woman in Port Harcourt. She lived for 115 years according to one of her sons, Boniface Kinikanwo Amadi.

On Friday Governor Amaechi played host to Niger Delta Bishops Forum, who had earlier visited Mrs Patience Jonathan to broker peace between parties in the Rivers political crisis. Amaechi while thanking the bishops opened up on the cause of the face-off between him and the first lady. He recalled that things went sour after Mrs Jonathan’s visit to Okrika sometime in 2010. He said, ” So its important that you get to know this and it’s important that the public know that the altercation between myself and the wife of the President was as a result of providing services to her place, the Okrika people because you must deal with the issue of paedophils.”