Governor Rotimi Amaechi
A mild drama played out Monday at Rumuigbo Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State as broom-wielding youths nearly lynched the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Special Area, Rumuodomaya, Mr. Allwell Akwuonu, who led a team of policemen to stop the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area.
It took the intervention of the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, to stop the incensed youths from pouncing on the policemen at the Rumuigbo Civic Hall.
The Rumuigbo incident came just as youth, suspected to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stopped the inauguration of the APC at Okehi, headquarters of Etche Local Government Area.
Trouble started at Rumuigbo when Akwuonu, a chief superintendent of police, came into the Rumuigbo Civic Hall venue of the rally organised by APC in Obio/Akpor Ward 12, saying that he had orders to prevent the rally from holding in the community.
When the DPO failed to convince the organisers of the rally, led by former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Ike Chinwo, to stop the gathering, he left the venue.
He however returned later with reinforcement to stop the event.
His return seemed to have angered the crowd who pounced on him with their brooms. The intervention of Okocha, who pleaded with the supporters, however saved the DPO.
On sensing danger, the policemen, who had come with the DPO in three Toyota Hilux vans, shot severally into the air to stop the APC supporters from advancing towards them.
The shooting did not scare the partymen, but as soon as the DPO made his way into his vehicle, the policemen sped away from the venue.
Addressing the APC supporters before the police interruption, Okocha, an indigene of Rumuigbo community, said no amount of intimidation by security agencies would stop the people of the state from identifying with Amaechi.
He stated that the governor had left the PDP for the APC and would never return to the party again.
Meanwhile, at Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, the Head of Personnel Management (HPM), Mr. Azubuike Singer, has accused the Chairman, Prince Timothy Nsirim, of holding the council hostage following his refusal to accept the dissolution of the council by Amaechi.
The state government had on November 28 announced the dissolution of the council, a decision already being resisted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of the dissolved council, led by the chairman, Nsirim.
But Singer said yesterday while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt that Nsirim’s refusal to hand the council’s papers over to him as directed by Amaechi had stalled activities at the council secretariat as staff could not work and get paid.
Appealing to the dissolved council to obey the law and rather challenge the state’s government’s decision in court, Singer warned people doing business in the council area to desist from transacting with the dissolved council, even as he warned against entertaining tax collectors as the council had not sent anybody out to demand for tax and levy payments.
He said, “I’ve come to state here clearly that the people of Obio/Akpor local government area, banks and private business organisations operating in the area should not regard or honour any document inform of letter or announcement signed by Hon Timothy Nsirim and in view of this, I want to advise that all doing business in the area; banks and others should not honour any individual who has come in the name of revenue collection because I understand that some people are going about impounding people’s vehicles, seizing properties in the name of revenue collection.
“Please I want to use this opportunity to warn that since the dissolution council has not authorised any person to collect revenue on her behalf. We are therefore saying that all those who have not paid their levies and taxes for the year 2013 should go straight to the designated banks and pay their revenues, not to any individual. The council is dissolved and is dissolved.
“I therefore use this medium again to appeal to all aggrieved persons, in the course of this dissolution should go to the court and present their matters and allow the civil service to continue rather than disorganising the civil service. Workers are scattered here and there, they are not allowed to do their works. This is not proper, civil service has to go on; government’s job must go on. People depend on what they are paid at the end of the month, there are a lot of dependants, if the salary is not paid it is not proper. So I want to advise workers also to go about their normal duties as arrangement to pay their salaries is being made.
“You can see that here with me are directors of the council, Nsirim is holding the council hostage and the best I will advise for him is to give way so that the civil work of the council can continue. He should go to court and address his matter.”
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