PH Centenary: RSG Declares Today, Monday Work-Free

The Rivers State Government has declared today, November 15th and Monday November 18th as work free days for all public servants and employees of the state.
A statement from the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii, who is also the Chairman of the Port Harcourt Centenary Committee says the decision is to enable public servants participate fully in the activities marking the celebrations.
Already plans are in top gear for the hosting of the Centenary beauty pageant to crown the “Miss Port Harcourt Centenary”.
Other programmes slated to mark the 100 years of Port Harcourt City include a Special banquet and award night, while the Centnary Carnival covering boat regatta, street parades and big bang concert will all commence on December 15th.
It would be recalled that a week ago, President Goodluck Jonathan and former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon declared open a one-day symposium to commemorate the city’s centenary celebrations.
Feyii said the state government had decided to mark the celebrations since Port Harcourt is older than Nigeria by one year.
According to him, even though agreement for the establishment of Port Harcourt started in 1912 between some Chiefs from Diobu and Okrika, it was on August 30, 1913 that the city was finally unveiled. “When the city began we were not sure we will be the ones celebrating today and may not be the ones to celebrate another one”, he stressed.