LG Boss Denies Aiding Illegal Taskforce

The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area in Rivers State, Hon. Phillip Okparaji has denied aiding any illegal task force in his domain, describing the claim as a misconception.
Okparaji made the denial in a telephone interview with The Tide while reacting to allegations that some LG chairmen were supporting the operation of illegal task force in the state.
Recall that Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor and Coordinator of the Task Force on Street Trading, Illegal Markets and Motor Parks, Bright Amaehule had accused the council chairmen of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor and Eleme LGA’s of aiding the activities of illegal task force in the state.
But Okparaji said it is neither true that the council is operating an illegal task force nor that any personnel of the task force was attacked in Eleme, saying he is in full support of the Amaehule-led task force and the work they are doing in the state.
The Eleme council boss stated that after Governor Nyesom Wike inaugurated the body, he met with the various unions in Eleme and sensitized them on the need to support the task force set up by the state government
He stated, “It is a misconception that the task force members are being attacked in Eleme local government. There is even no illegal task force set up by the council.
“I met with the union, the Road Transport Workers, the task force members and we actually sensitized the union and their members that they must queue into the work of the task force as set up by the state government.
“Clearly no task force member has been attacked in Eleme. We are totally in support of the task force on illegal motor parks, markets and street trading set up by the state government,” Hon. Okparaji said.

Dennis Naku