Wike-led Rivers State Government Collapses, Says APC

In a statement signed by Mr Chris Finebone in Port Harcourt Friday and made available to NF-Reports, explained that yesterday, 19 students on the scholarship of the state government through its agency, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency [RSSDA] were forced to abandon their studies and return to Nigeria because the state government had not paid their fees and upkeep in the United Kingdom. Those in Canada and other locations are also expected to return soon for same reasons.

It also made known that earlier this week, the RSUST Chapter of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities [SSANU] went on a protest and warning strike due to the mindless hiking of fees of the university’s primary and secondary demonstration schools by the state government.

According to the statement, “local Government Councils in the state have been unable to pay their staff salaries for August and September while some such as Opobo/Nkoro owe their personnel salaries from July 2015 to date. Investigations reveal that the governor harvested funds of the local councils to compromise judges of the election petition tribunals at Abuja while workers have since withdrawn their children and wards from schools due to the parents’ inability to pay their school fees.

“Students and teachers of the state-of-the-arts Nne Furo Kurubo Model Secondary School, Eleme who have been home since March cannot resume because the government has not provided necessary funds for the running of the school. The Indian managers of the school, the teachers, students and parents have since been pleading with the government for help without response.

“On the part of security, despite the tremendous efforts of the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Kimo, to tackle crime in the state, activities of cultists, kidnappers, armed robbers and sundry criminals abound across the state.

“Early this week, bandits attacked and robbed inhabitants of Alasakri fishing settlement, near Bonny where they robbed each and every household for 6 hours, carting away belongings and maiming some of the fishermen and their family members.  This is in addition to the fact that armed robbers routinely invade the Oyorokoto Fishing Settlement in Andoni, leaving death and destruction behind.

“During his administration, the former governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, at great discomfort, managed to fund the overseas scholarship scheme, the Nne Furo Kurubo Model Secondary School, Eleme and many other key establishments of the state. Things were not allowed to degenerate to the stage where our children overseas are now forced to abandon their studies and return home despite media hype by the present government that it has settled the students’ tuition and upkeep. The truth is that this is another lie that has now expired.”

The APC empathised with the people and residents of the state over the present ugly cloud hanging over the state and urged everyone to remain prayerful as God’s intervention must surely come.