RSG Uncovers Plot To Scuttle Governance; As Wike, Others Plot Stoppage Of Federal Allocation …APC Commends Lawmakers Over Budget Passage

Rivers State Government has uncovered a plot allegedly hatched by Supervising Minister of Education,Barrister Nyesom Wike to obtain a court judgement in order to halt the implementation of the recently passed 2014 budget in the state.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari gave the indication yesterday in a press briefing in Port Harcourt.
She told reporters that the plan was to obtain a court judgement that would enable them to stop federal allocations accruing to the state. She therefore called on Rivers people to rise up to the challenge, as the action of a tiny set of people was aimed at plunging the state and country into a fresh crisis.
Mrs. Semenitari wondered why Mr. Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) will allegedly plan to strangulate the state after the budget was passed few days ago,” we do not believe that Rivers people deserve this kind of treatment. We do not believe that Rivers people deserve this kind of treatment for voting massively for the president in 2011’’.
While expressing the commitment of the State Government to remain law abiding, she assured that the Amaechi led administration will always do what is right and therefore will not condescend to fighting dirty.
Commenting on the manner in which the bill was quickly passed, Semenitari said contrary to claims in some quarters, the bill was done in accordance with the law, “ necessary things were done before the chambers was used. And besides the Speaker can designate where the House can use.’’
She added, “ there was nothing illegal about the whole process as mush as I know. What is being questioned is morality but legality overides morality in this situation.’’
The Commissioner further argued that the plot to starve the state of funds by the opposition will not augur well, recalling that an Abuja High Court had ruled that the House should be re-opened, and which the police has failed to comply.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has commended the state lawmakers for passing the 2014 budget.
The party also praised the state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi for coming up with a realistic budget for the year and for its successful presentation before the state House of Assembly last Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
Interim Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the APC, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, who made the commendation in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Wednesday, described the budget estimate of N485.5billion as realistic, and urged the Federal Government and other state governors to emulate the Amaechi example by not deceiving the public with grossly unrealistic promises.
The statement, signed by the Media Assistant to the Chairman, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said the 2014 budget is 0.98 per cent lower than the 2013 budget of N490.32 billion, which shows a lot of wisdom in view of the reality of steadily declining revenue to the state due to the ceding of some oil wells of Rivers State to neighbouring states of Baylesa, Abia and Akwa Ibom.
Dr Ikanya also commended the decision by the Amaechi administration to focus on completing ongoing projects rather than embarking on new ones that may never be completed due to unavailability of resources.
The party chieftain praised the administration’s decision to give priority attention to health, education, roads, transport, power, water, agriculture and other critical infrastructure, noting that these are key areas of importance to the people of the state.
He extended the party’s appreciation to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, and other members of the House for their decision to temporarily relocate the sitting of the Assembly to the old Auditorium of Government House in view of the current renovation work and the barricading of the Assembly Complex by the police on orders from Abuja.
“This is another demonstration of the doctrine of necessity for which the lawmakers should be commended. While we look forward to the re-opening of the Assembly Complex presently under siege, it would be wrong to bring governance to a halt because, in the final analysis, it is the masses who will suffer for it and not Governor Amaechi as an individual,” Ikanya stated.
He commended the lawmakers for speedily debating and passing the budget into law as this will enable the wheel of government run without undue encumbrances.
Dr Ikanya condemned the criticism by the Felix Obuah-led PDP in Rivers State over the budget presentation and the threat to frustrate government’s plans to implement the budget to the letter.
He expressed sadness over comments by Obuah, who condemned the passage of the budget, and said he was not familiar with lawmaking process and also ignorant that without budget, the government can’t finance most of its projects or pay salaries.
“The fact remains that PDP needs not tell us that their main mission in Rivers State is to run down the state as we are already in the know, and this is why Rivers State and her people decided to reject them, and they will surely demonstrate this in 2015 polls”, he said.
He, however, said the House acted within the confines and contours of the law and the powers vested in them.

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi,(middle), Head of Civil Service, Barrister Samuel LongJohn (left), and Chairman Civil Service Commission, Sir Ngo Martyns-Yellowe at the prayer/ dedication service of Rivers State Civil Service in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday. Photo Chris Monynanga

Ike Wigodo