The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has directed Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to pay civil servants their salary, noting that the two weeks delay in the payment of workers was a bold statement that Amaechi was using the state’s resources in the fight to survive the political crisis in the state.
The party said that it was uncomfortable with the state government’s silence on the matter, noting that workers have not been explained to why they have not received their salaries as at when due.
The party in a statement issued and signed by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman, Hon Felix Obuah, said that workers were suffering the weaknesses and mistakes of “inefficient state administrators.”
It said that the development efforts of the Amaechi administration have been abandoned for “senseless politics of showmanship” which it claimed has gulped billions of naira from the state coffers. According to the party, it was an “unfortunate and callous” situation.
“This has therefore confirmed our fears and earlier alarm, that Rivers resources are being sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition and lust for power, the party noted.
“The party insists Gov Amaechi should explain to Rivers people what informed his recourse to the paying Banks to assist him out with the July salaries which has confused the situation the more as only two of the Banks could afford to do so, and can only pay less than 40% of the workforce.
“There is no other rationale for this misnomer other than that the State is broke to the point of not paying monthly salaries. And we make bold to ask where has the money gone to, if not for the hosting of numerous supporters, fans and political gold diggers to whom Rivers State has been portrayed as a haven for such games”, the party regretted.
But in what suggests to be a reaction over the comments made by the PDP, Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha, said that Amaechi would remain focused to pursue his development agenda for the people of the state.
Speaking when the chairman and council of chiefs of Ekinigbo clan in Obio/Akpor council area of the state paid him a solidarity visit, Okocha said that Amaechi would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state in spite of a gang up against him.
He said: “We will refuse to be deterred. The governor (Amaechi) has refused to lose focus because of what is going on. His focus, his mission is to better the lives of our people. His vision is to put smiles on the faces of our people. His vision is to develop our people rapidly in a manner that nobody else would have done in the state.
“That is his mission and we are still hell-bent on it. Before the end of this month, we will be on the streets commissioning projects so that Nigerians will now know what projects the governor has been able to do in Rivers State”.
“I’m aware of the fervent prayers of the chiefs concerning the ‘madness’ of disgruntled elements of Rivers state who like Prof. Tam David West would say, would have refused to see the good works of His Excellency, the Governor and his administration and for whom Prof. Tam David West referred to as “blinder than the bat”.
