SSG, 32 Others Pledge Loyalty To Amaechi

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr Sam Woka (middle), addressing NUJ Exco during their working visit to the Perm Sec, at the Ministry conference hall in Port Harcourt, yesterday. With him are the state Chairman of NUJ, Opaka Dokubo (left) and Director Admin, Information, Mr Vincent .C. Amadi

Members of the Rivers State Executive Council have denied any suggestion of a division in their ranks and have reiterated their commitment and loyalty to the state governor, Rt Hon Chibiuke Amaechi.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari stated this Tuesday after the council rose from its second emergency meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt.
“As you can see, we have about 32 members of the exco present here and the executive council was chaired by Governor Amaechi and issues of concern to Rivers people were discussed”, she said.
Semenitari said “all members of the exco who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) still remain in APC. None of us has dumped the APC or intends to dump the APC.”
On the claimed defection of Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru to the Peoples Demcratic Party (PDP) on Sunday, she said “ no formal resignation letter of the deputy governor, Tele Ikuru has been received…even though we have heard and read in the media of his purported defection.”
Semenitari stated that Governor Amaechi has affirmed that despite the news, “it does not in any way affect the position of the deputy governor of Rivers State.”
She said Ikuru still remains an official member of the state exco. She reiterated that the deputy governor’s absence at the meeting does not equally suggest that the exco was divided,
Ahead the presidential elections on Saturday, she disclosed that the governor has directed the Secretary to the State Government to liaise with the various security agencies to provide effective security to citizens of the state during and after the elections.
She however expressed the displeasure of the state executive council over the spate of violence, killings and arrest meted on APC members across the state, and called on the law enforcement agencies to be alive to their responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Power, Hon. Augustine Wokocha has carpeted the police for denying that the victim of Monday gun attack at his residence was not his relation.
Wokocha accused the police of violating his fundamental human right by failing to protect lives and property in his area, while affirming that the victim was his cousin and brother.