Eleme LG Accuses Onne NPA Mgt Of Partisanship …Issues Seven-Day Ultimatum To Clear Itself Of Culpability

The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Obarilomate Ollor has expressed displeasure over the recent empowerment programme allegedly carried out by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi in the LGA.
Describing the move as a deliberate effort to undermine the LGA authority and instigate crisis, Ollor gave NPA Headquarters seven days ultimatum to clear her name from the allegation of partisan empowerment or face legal action.
According to Ollor: “A faction of the All Progressives Congress loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi fragrantly displayed items they purported to have been given them by NPA, and that created a lot of reaction from the people. As I speak to you now, our people are coming out with several positions that can lead to crisis in the local government.
“The reason is that NPA is not a registered political party to participate or play politics with any group of persons in our community. So, we came here to clarify the fact and know if NPA, Onne Port, is aware of the CSR that was displayed by a group of persons in Onne that NPA gave them to support them.
“I have never heard before where a corporate institution like NPA will support a particular group in a political party. Those items were shared within themselves, all leaders of that particular group in their party were there, and they claim that it was given to them by NPA.
“So, we suspect that this may have been done to undermine the leadership of the LGA and the leadership of the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
“That is why we decided to pay a visit to the port to find out why that happened and who authorised that to happen in our LGA. We want NPA to explain to us why you should participate in politics in our place.
“We feel this is completely reprehensible, and we will not accept it as a people. We will go all length to ensure that this act does not repeat itself. We are trying to build a society that is not divisive, that is peaceful without rancour but this act alone is capable of throwing our place into confusion.
“We are accusing NPA that they are the ones that want to create problems for our people. It is only when you explain that these persons were using their name that we can say they are exonerated. Is it because the minister is the leader of the group which displayed this CSR? If actually the minister meant well for those people that say they are supporting him from our area, he would have done better than that, not sewing machines in 2021 as empowerment.
“What we require from the NPA, if the minister meant well for Eleme people, is to make Onne Port busy, bring employment to our people in NIMASA and other agencies of the authority. There should be reasonable development from the authority to our place but instead, no project, no employment, and you come up with sewing machines.
“It’s a big shame and disgrace to whoever brought or received it. We want NPA to clear their name and explain to us why they should be involved in not just politics but local politics of a faction of APC loyal to the minister of transportation.
“If they do not within now and the next seven days, we will have no option than to take a very serious legal position on this issue”, Ollor added.
He used the medium to disclose plans by his administration to ensure the people of Eleme benefit tangibly from the companies operating within the area, calling on NPA, which is the ports regulating body, to stand with the LG to ensure compliance.
He said plans to organise a summit that would bring all companies together to chart a way forward was on.
Ollor said: “There is a high level of unemployment. I don’t know why the companies hurriedly go out to employ people when there are capable hands in Eleme. Even if some of our youths do not have the requisite skills for the job, why not train them in a specific skill that is relevant and can be of use, if not in that company, somewhere else.
“Now, this is where you will have to come in to help us, which is why we are here. Engage these companies to employ our youths, force it on them to train our youths on skills, if they can’t employ them, this will help in reducing crime.
“This meeting is an opportunity to let you know that we have a great problem that needs to be fixed, if not, it will affect us in the near future”, he said.
Responding, the Port Manager, Stanley Magaji Yitnoe denied knowledge of any empowerment programme by NPA in Onne.
He said they were not aware as they also witnessed it in the media.
Yitnoe said: “We also saw it in the media, and we don’t want to believe that it happened”.
He added that investigation was still on to get to the root of the matter, and possibly sanction those found culpable.

By: Chinedu Nwosu