Protests Greet Rivers Govt House

Last week, Rivers State Government House was
innundated with protests. As at the last count, not less than five groups visited the Brick House to register their grievances over issues of state and national concern.
Some of the groups include women, civil rights groups who registered their grievances over the abducted Chibok school girls in Borno State.
On Monday, last week, Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council, Hon. Augustine Ahiamadu addressed pressmen during which he accused Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike for sponsoring youths and a rebellion to remove him from office.
He alleged that the steps taken by Wike include the circulation of a letter from the Presidency authorizing the suspended community development committee and the youth body to take over the activities of the council.
On Tuesday, a group known as Egi Traditional Rulers Council protested against the closure of the conucil and  for a new local government area.
They expressed worry that the crisis was a ploy to attack their son and chairman of the Council, Mr. Ahiamadu.
High Chief Shedrack Orikoha led the traditional rulers on the protest, alleging the attack and closure of the council by some hired thugs by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group was addressed by Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr. Fortune Oguru. He called on all parties, especially the youths to maintain peace, “follow peace and abhor violence”.
Returning to the state on Wednesday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi presided over the weekly Executive Council Meeting from where he proceeded to receive Senate Committee on Privatization led by its Chairman, Senator Olugbenga Obadara.
He used the visit to enumerate the State’s investments in power sector. He expressed dismay over the situation whereby the State generates power while the Federal Government collects the revenue and never remit any to the state.
He urged beneficiaries of the government privatized agencies to employ people as exemplified by Indorama Eleme Petrochemical to solve the problem of restiveness.
In the words of Governor Amaechi, “I believe that one solution to this insurgency is education and employment. The easiest employment is farming, because a large number of them are not educated and unskilled. I applied it here in Rivers State and it worked”.
On Thursday, the governor  took time off to visit ongoing projects in the state. Someof the project visited include the Woji/Elelenwo Link Road currently being expanded. He also inspected the level of work at the Dr. Odili/Woji/Akpajo bypass.
On Friday, the governor conducted two swearing in sessions during which the judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Chairperson of the State Internal Revenue Board was inaugurated.
The Rivers State Chief Executive charged the new Revnue Board boss, Mrs Orila Obele-Oshoko thus, “we believe that in the two months, we should see substantial improvement. You don’t need to increase taxes.
If you plug all those loopholes where people are stealing money from and reduce the number of touts that hang around, you will see a substantial increase in the IGR. I think that there are still so many holes that you need to close up so that we can get more money”.
She said, “Don’t pay cash to anybody. It is very important, so even when you go to the bank, go to the bank, we have the pay direct, you get there, you tell them that you want to pay revenue to Rivers State Government, the banks will attend to you because this money that we are collecting … is going to government”.
Shortly after the searing-in ceremonies at the executive Chambers, the governor moved to the Banquet Hall to declare open the monthly Inter Government Forum.
From there he proceeded on project inspection at Tai Local Government Area in company of Shell Petroleum Development Company Managing Director, Mr. Mukiu Somonu and Commissioner for Envrionment, Dr. Nyema Wali.
After a tour of the State Waste to Wealth Plant the governor spoke to the press on the N3.2 billion recyclying plant.
On Saturday, the governor attended the birthday thanksgiving service of Venerable Jolly Ndubuisi at St. Barnabas Anglican Elekahia, Port Harcourt. He thanked God for the life of the Anglican priest who was among men of God who prophesied of him becoming the governor of Rivers State.
He later on proceeded to the new International Conference centre along Chief Ake By Pass for the 7th birthday of Former Minister of Sports, Alabo Tonye Graham – Douglas.
He said of the Kalabari Chief “He is a great man. The only Rivers man who has been minister four times. He has been a Commissioner and a Chief of the Kalabari Kingdom”.