Wike vows to dethrone traditional rulers over sale of employment slots

• Residents of Rivers community flee over shootings

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to dethrone any traditional ruler who sells employment chances, describing reports of some traditional rulers selling such for their selfish interests as ‘shameful.’

Wike spoke during the flag-off of construction works at the Ahoada Campus of Rivers State University and the expansion of Ahoada-Omoku Road in Ahoada Town.

“We want companies in Ahoada, but how do we get employment without companies? We cry about unemployment every day when the few companies that come are not allowed to stay because the residents of host communities and their traditional rulers chase them away with frivolous demands.

“They even sell employment slots of their own people. Woe betides the traditional ruler selling his people’s employment chances, because, I will dethrone such a traditional ruler,” he stated.

Wike also cautioned one Comasi, a suspect said to be terrorising Ahoada area, to take note that he could continue to kill people and go unpunished because his time was up.

He ordered the demolition of the illegal market along the Elele Alimini and Ahoada towns on the East-West Road and directed all engaged in illegal activities in the area to quit, because structures in those places would be demolished from Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
 
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chibodum Nwuche, who unveiled the Ahoada-Omoku Road, described the project as historic, saying it was propelled by Wike’s love for the Ekpeye people.

He urged the governor to transform the State University into an entrepreneurial institution where the products of teaching and research would be developed to provide employment.

MEANWHILE, residents of Ogbunabali community in Port Harcourt City Council Rivers State, yesterday, fled the community on account of sporadic shootings in the area.

The Guardian learnt that rival cult group were responsible for the shootings, which forced some residents to flee the area to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

A female resident said: “The cultists said they were marking the end of cult activities between the two major cult groups in Ogbunabali. One of them said they held a meeting in the night and resolved to make peace.

She said, whenever they are making peace, there is usually sporadic shootings to create awareness, while an elderly man said the gunshots were like war, as people and cars were sighted scampering everywhere.

The Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, could not be reached for comments on the incident, as he failed to take his calls.