Irked by the flagrant manner several critical assets and properties belonging to Rivers State were allegedly cornered, carted away and forcefully acquired by former Governor of the State and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that such assets and properties are fully recovered by his administration.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the call in an interview in Port Harcourt, said it is highly condemnable and unthinkable for a leader who claims to love the people and the State to forcefully acquire the treasured assets and properties belonging to the State, and coveting same for his personal use and purposes.
While urging Governor Fubara to take appropriate steps to recover such assets and properties, Osumah listed them to include the large expanse of fenced and reclaimed land situated at Ogbunabali by Eastern By Pass in Port Harcourt; the large portion of fenced land of the former Rainbow Market; the large expanse of land of the Oginigba/ Trans Amadi Slaughter Market; the Port Harcourt Mall; the Abacha House, former NDDC building; and civil servants quarters located at Abacha Road and the Old and New GRA axis of Port Harcourt metropolis, built by past administrations in the State for workers; among others.
The labour leader also condemned a situation where Chief Wike, by virtue of his position as Minister is allowed to control the police, the judiciary and other critical institutions in the country, and equally allowed to use these vital institutions to achieve his personal and dubious purposes, stressing that this trend ordinarily makes Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations, and portrays her in disparaging light as the giant of Africa.
According to him, the antics and conduct of the Minister leave much to be desired, as they portend grave danger and threat to the country's democracy.
Osumah condemned in strong terms the recent action of the police at the Oginigba/ Trans Amadi Slaughter Market, which Chief Wike took over from the community people and built his personal business outfit, Hypercity.
He said it was wrong for the police to have allegedly attacked and chased away the people who had staged a protest there in an attempt to take back the property.
According to him, the action of the police in defence of the Minister was a show of shame.
He, therefore, urged the Inspector General of Police, to call his men to order, particularly in matters concerning the simmering political crisis in Rivers State, which he said Chief Wike is orchestrating with his loyalists.
The unionist also called on chairmen of local government councils in the State who have not implemented the N85, 000 minimum wage approved for workers by Governor Fubara to implement the new wage without further delay, particularly during the Yuletide, and commended the Governor for prompt payment of December salaries to civil servants in the State.
He, however, appealed to him to approve the payment of Christmas bonus to the workers as he did last year.
Osumah equally applauded the Court of Appeal for recently nullifying an order by a High Court in Abuja stopping the release of federal allocations to Rivers State, describing the Appeal Court ruling as a victory for Rivers people.
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