Amaechi Tasks Traditional Rulers On Ebola

The onslaught on Ebola virus scourge dominated most
part of activities in government house last week. Governor Chibuike Amaechi had a week before visited the Ebola Isolation Centre at Oduoha in Emohua Local Government Area before travelling for official duties outside the state.
On returning to the state on Tuesday in Port Harcourt he spoke to newsmen at the airport during which he enumerated various steps taken by government to check the menace of Ebola disease. He assured that the state government was on top of the situation and is bent on expending resources to bring the disease under control.
Shortly after arriving Governor Amaechi played host to World Health Organisation (WHO) officials led by country Representative, Rui Vaz at Government House, Port Harcourt while welcoming the WHO representative, Governor Amaechi disclosed that the state government has approved N300 million to the Ministry of Health to combat the scourge.
He, however, admitted that the money will not be enough, but promised to release more fund to make sure logistics and equipment are provided for the medical team to achieve success.
Governor Amaechi on Wednesday presided over the monthly Inter Governmental meeting during which policies and programme and discussed. Few hours after the inter-governmental meeting. Amaechi played host to religious and traditional leaders in the state to sensitise them on the Ebola Virus outbreak.
The governor called on over 1,000 religious and traditional rulers to assist government in the fight against Ebola.
The governor said, “We are discouraging people who have Ebola from going to church. You know why? Church is a place that you have a large crowd of people. If you touch one person or two persons, you are contaminating the environment and the people, and they get infected. If you suspect, don’t stigmatise them, called the Ebola line, will come there”.
He also urged religious leaders to preach about the disease in their churches and mosques, as well as traditional rulers in their various communities. He urged them to encourage those under them to imbibe healthy living styles, and wash their hands regularly.
Early in the week however, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lashed at those behind the molestation and arrest of Caretaker Chairman of Omuma Local Government Area, Hon. Emeka Wogu. He briefed newsmen in Government House on Sunday last week.
He was arrested a week ago by men of Swift Armed Robbery (SARS) team at his house for allegedly ordering a police orderly to shoot at the a banner carrying the picture of President Goodluck Jonathan.
State Publicity Secretary of APC, Chris Finebone said the arrest and detention of Hon. Wogu was orchestrated and planned by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain’s in Omuma led by Kelechi Wogu, a member of the State House of Assembly.
Mr. Finebone said members of the APC have become “endangered Species” because they are supporters of Governor Amaechi and vowed that the party will not be cowed by the antics of the PDP.
Hon. Wogu informed government house reporters that he is consulting with his lawyers on the next step to take in order to get redress, maintaining that no amount of intimidation will stop him from giving good governance to the people.