The Rivers State government has said that it has uncovered an alleged plot by political opponents to blackmail Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike over the demands of the G-5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also known as ‘Integrity Group’.
Stating that the collective demand of the G-5 governors remains fairness, equity and justice in the PDP, the state government, therefore, warned the group behind the campaign of calumny against Wike to desist.
It said the group seemed vexed over the role of the governor in the collective demand by the five governors (G-5) of the PDP for fairness, equity and justice in the party.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday night, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chris Finebone, displayed a well worded document allegedly bearing the sinister plot of the group, which was however, not signed.
Finebone said: “This is the evidence of the plot to blackmail Governor Wike. This is the document and it is titled, ‘proposal with hashtag, to end Wike rascality programme’.”
The Information and Communications Commissioner, who declared that the development was not totally unexpected by the government and the governor, said what was sad about the plot was that those behind it have decided to remain faceless.
He said: “We encouraged them to remove their mask and show themselves as the governor and the government is equal to the task of responding to them adequately.”
Finebone said: “That the State government already has an idea of the likely identity of the political detractors who are orchestrating the campaign of calumny against governor Wike.
He stated that they are individuals within the party and challenged them to reveal themselves if they are convinced of what they are doing and bold enough for the fight they seek.
The Commissioner said: “They can’t even sign it (the document) to push for this. It is important we warn them. It is important we also warn Nigerians about this scheme.
“We expect more of them to come. But I can assure you that the governor and the G-5 would rise to the occasion as they continue to start this type of campaign of calumny.”
Finebone also briefed on another decision of the state government to seal off the premises of the EUI Event Centre, located along Sani Abacha link Road within the Government Reserved Area (GRA) Phase 3, Port Harcourt.
He said the EUI Event Center had refused to heed several warnings from the Rivers State government instructing them not to allow their activities block the road without the requisite approval.
“The management of EUI Events Center had refused to refrain from blocking an entire stretch of part of Sani Abacha link Road, GRA phase 3 without government approval..
He declared that the Rivers State government has with effect from Wednesday 7th December 2022 sealed the EUI Events Center in GRA 3.
Finebone said very often, owners of event centres in the State fail to plan for the vehicles of their guests; how the vehicles will be parked and how other road users would use the same road.
Rather, he noted, they simply block the road and do not care about the consequences while also shunning candid advise given to them to curtail such public nuisance.
The Commissioner said: “Government cannot fold its hands and watch people exercise impunity to the highest level by appropriating property government built with tax payers money just to their own personal use and comfort.Government must protect all.”
Also briefing journalists, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Austen Ben Chioma
explained the decision followed the Wednesday’s obstruction of free flow of traffic on the road by the management of the EUI Event Center.
This, he noted, was in variance to promises they had made to government that they would always make sure that their traffic wardens control traffic properly so that other road users are not punished.
“But to the greatest surprise of the Rivers State government, today’s event that is holding there, there was no road for road users to pass and road users were complaining bitterly.
“I got the information and I went there myself and I saw that the road was totally blocked. I told the owner of the place that this cannot be tolerated. And she said that she has done her best and she cannot kill herself.”
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