By Nnamdi Uzoukwu and China Acheru
The Rivers State government have categorically denied being a part of of sponsoring thousands of youth in the state who took to the streets last week protesting the alleged harrassment of state officers by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
On Wednesday last week, the youth believed to be supporters of the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi mobilized against the EFCC over the alleged intimidation and arrest of government officials in Rivers State.
Various inscriptions were written on Posters, T-shirts and caps, as they expressed “we will not be intimidated, we will defend our state against EFCC”, “EFCC obey court order, the court is supreme’’, “EFCC now political weapon, EFCC the Nigerian Gestapo”, “Farida & EFCC are not obeying the Law, Farida obey court orders and judgments, EFCC leave Rivers State”.
Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State governor, Blessing Wikina told CityTimes that the Rivers State government had no invilvement in the protest though there was a heavy presence of top ranking government officials that met with the protesters at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt.
The state Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru was there and so was the Commissioner for Justice, Ken Chikere.
Ikuru told the protesters that the governor, Amaechi was a man of the rule of law because he came into government by the rule of law.
“We respect the rule of law in this state because our government came in by the same rule of law.
“We only want EFCC to do the right thing,” Ikuru said.
By doing the right thing he obviously meant the court order stopping the EFCC from steping into Rivers State to arrest any government official.
Blessing Wikina told CityTimes Last week that the government expect the EFCC to go to a higher court and vacate that court order before they will be welcome in the state.
Ikuru continued that the EFCC adopted this same strategy against the state in 2007
“Have we asked why they only come here when it is close to election periods?
“They must be reminded that the EFCC’s tenancy in Rivers State is owned by the state and it is not fair if they come against a state that has rendered help to them.
“The Rivers State government is the only one in the country that renders her account of stewardship. Not even the Federal Government has done that,” he said.
The Commissioner for Justice, Justice Ken Chikere said the people of the state are very comfortable with the governor state Housing of Assembly has not found the Governor wanting in any way.
“Ïhave written several letters to the Chairman of the EFCC and endorsed it to the counsel on the case involving state government versus EFCC. He said EFCC must obey the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a related development, the EFCC claim they have discovered a hotel where wanted officials of the Rivers State government are hiding.
According to an EFCC source, the hotel, Eddytims, is owned by Timothy Nsirim, the current chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
They are however afraid of moving in on them yet for fear of reprisal attacks by people loyal to the Rivers State government.
However, Rotimi Amaechi, the Rivers State governor insists that following the incessant arrest of officials of the state by the EFCC over financial fraud,it is a ploy to prevent him from contesting the 2011 election.
As a result it was alleged that he mobilized supporters from the 23 LGAs in the State to protest against the actions of the EFCC against his administration.
You will recal that early this month, governor Ameachi in an information summit held in Port Harcourt threatened to mobilize Rivers people against EFCC, a statement the PRO of the anti crime body, Femi Babafemi described as Executive recklessness.
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