The protest was led by the former militant leader Ateke Tom, as one of our correspondent reached us from Rivers State yesterday but due to network problem he was not able to send pictures to us. According to the report hundreds of youth gathered around the Isaac Boro Park and Fly-over Mile 1 Park chanting Amaechi Must Go, boldly written on their t-shirts with question from some of the protesters "Amaechi who owns the
Jet".
With interview from many News men/women, the state Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitrari, said that the government would not join issues with the ex-militants. She, however, insisted that the government had nothing to fear, adding that the ordinary people of the state were appreciative of Amaechi’s transparency.
The protesters which are said to have came from the 23 local government areas of the state, said they were tired of Amaechi’s administration style, which they claimed had impoverished them and the generality of “Rivers people”.
The atmosphere at the venue of the protest suddenly changed with the arrival of Ateke Tom as the most of the youths jumped and pumped their fists into the air. The whole place became rowdy, forcing some of the participants and onlookers to observe proceeding from a distance. Although the former militant leader did not address the protesters or entertain questions from reporters.
But Solomon Ndigbara, an ex-militant popularly known as “Osama Bin Laden” spoke during the protest. He said “This is the right time that God wants to do something for Rivers people because we have been silent for some time. The governor does not respect anybody. We support him as an Ikwerre man, but the governor does not even respect Ikwerre people. He does not have respect for anybody, including elders”.
Ndigbara alleged that the Governor declared him wanted for two years for
no justifiable reason, noting that the declaration made him to go into
hiding, and that it seriously affected his business. He also said that
he has no plans of returning to the creeks.
“Declaring me wanted
for over two years has affected my business. Apart from the fact that
the youths said I must join them, I would not have been able to come out
and join this rally. Let us see what the Federal Government will do
before we take the next line of action.
"I am not considering going back to the creeks no matter the frustration I am facing from the state government. ”
Another
ex militant turned pastor, Nature Dumale Kiegse of the Light of Glory
Outreach, said he decided to join the call for Amaechi to resign because
the governor is out of touch with reality, and has made himself
unreachable.
“We are here because there is a reaction in the
atmosphere. I see what is happening in this place as more spiritual than
a physical thing. When you pay evil for good, evil will not depart from
you. As you can see, the atmosphere looks tense. The people are
reacting and the evil seed that is been sown is coming back to them.
“We
are here because we need certain explanation from our government. We
are all stakeholders in the state and as stakeholders, we should be able
to interact with our government. In Dubai and South Africa, you don’t
need to feel form to see their President, but in Rivers State, to see
the governor is a problem. He is surrounded with many people that give
him wrong advice. So, we are gathered here today because we are not able
to accept them. We can show that we are not happy over what is
happening in our state.
“We want the state government to explain
to us what has happened to the private jet they bought with our money.
How could that kind of property be lying waste in Akure? It is painful
that the plane has been grounded and it is not functioning.
The spokesman of Rivers People Assembly (RPA), Comrade Martyns
Mannah called on Amaechi to tell them the whereabouts of the two jets
Odili left behind as governor and to tell them who really owns the
Bombardier aircraft.”
He added: “Rivers people can’t stay and
watch him (Amaechi) challenge President Goodluck Jonathan who comes from
the South-South and desires to contest in 2015.”
Mannah, who is
the security secretary of Orashi Youth Council alleged that the
governor had waged a war against those who disagreed with him on issues,
and that he had sidelined the real members, including the founding
members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
He
said: “We want Amaechi to tell us the where about of the two jets Odili
left behind and real owners of the Bombardier aircraft.”
Mannah
said they were not sponsored to carry out the protest, noting that they
decided to rise to the occasion based on the call made by the Governor.
In
a related development, the Rivers chapter of the national youth wing of
the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), known as the Rural Empowerment
Advocacy Projects (REAP) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
(ICPC) to investigate “the circumstances surrounding the ownership and
documentation of the Rivers state government’s bombardier jet after
funds have been duly appropriated by the state government.”
The
group urged the anti-graft agencies to quiz the state commissioners for
Transport, Mr. George Tolofari, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari and Mr. Chamberlain
Peterside respectively on the ownership of the jet, noting that such
step is the “only way the confidence of Rivers people can be restored.”
The
state co-ordinator, Comrade Warigbani Ezekiel also condemned the
activities of the state House of Assembly for suspending the chairman of
Obio/Akpor local government council chairman, Mr. Timothy Nsirim and
counselors executive without following due process.
Good this is it. In our Rumour section we will bring to you the full story of "Amaechi Who Owns The Jet" as our reporter will "KEEP AN EYE ON HIM"
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The actor made the announcement on his BB a few minutes ago. According to him, his dad died this evening (Saturday).
Details later…
Source: Africanspotlight
The
Boko Haram sect on Tuesday evening gave indications that it was
prepared for whatever comes with the declaration of a state of emergency
in three states. Minutes after the
declaration by the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, suspected members of
the sect shot and killed a leader of the Borno State arm of the
Christian Association of Nigeria in Borno State. The Secretary of the
association, Faye Pama Musa was killed by gunmen who trailed him to his
Maiduguri residence. In a brief statement which confirmed the incident,
Kenny Asaka, spokesman to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the CAN President
described the incident as a “sad” one.
