The crisis in PortHarcourt, River State assumed serious dimension with the invasion of the State House of Assembly, which landed many of the Lawmakers in various hospitals, both outside and within the country.
The Rivers State imbroglio became a festering cancer with the altercation between the State Governor, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, and the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, over Amaechi’s urban renewal programe in PortHarcourt, which proposed the demolition of make-shift Houses at the water fronts, mostly occupied by the Okrikas, the ancestral home of Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan.
The wife of the President snatched the microphone from Amaechi, who left the occasion “disgraced”, while Dame Jonathan left Rivers State in a hurry without completing her stay in the state.
Next was Amaechi’s refusal to allow oil wells in River State be ceded to Bayelsa State, as he fought tooth and nail for the Oil wells to be returned to Rivers state.
Then came Amaechi’s outbursts over the inceasant lives lost on the East-West Road, which has remained uncompleted four years, since Jonathan assumed office as President.
The climax was the rumour making the rounds that Amaechi was nursing the ambition to contest the 2015 general election as the Vice Presidential candidate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.
Following these developments, it became clear to the powers that be, that Rotimi Amaechi is a spanner in the works in the 2015 presidential ambition of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who was yet to declare his intention for the race, even though all his body movements indicate that the Bayelsa State born politician wants a second term.
In order to remain relevant in the scheme of things, Amaechi, who is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF wanted to continue on the seat but was fought to a stand still by the Presidency, but yet won his challenger, Governor Jona Jang of Plateau State with 16 votes to 19, yet Jonathan recognized Jang instead of Amaechi.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP structure in Rivers State has since been removed from Amaechi, yet he marches on with sympathy garnered from many quarters who feel that the Governor was being persecuted for expressing his ambition, which is no crime in a democratic environment.
Therefore, the fight which broke out at the Rivers State House of Assembly, was a design to heat up the polity and may be, ignite mayhem and chaos as a prelude to declare state of emergency in Rivers State and show the embattled Amaechi the door, since he has remained resolute, than bow to the superior powers from Abuja.
But the current development is not favourbale to Nigeria’s nascent democracy, as the constitution guarantees all Nigerians freedom of speech and association.
Therefore, there is nothing wrong if Jonathan aspires to be President again in 2015, while Amaechi dreams of being Vice President. Let the Nigeria electorate decide. This is the beauty of democracy and free society.
Effects Of Noise Pollution
I would like to draw the kind attention of the concerned authorities towards the increasing problem of noise pollution. It is causing great damage to the health of Nigerians. It leads to irritation, loss of sleep, rest and peace. It is harmful to physical and mental health of peoples. Frequent noise affects the working efficiency of the people. Persistence noise pollution causes a loss of sense of hearing too.
Increasing noise pollution is a big threat to the health and fitness of the people. If the noise pollution is allowed to go unchecked it may rob the people of hearing capacity. Increased number of vehicles on the roads, rising growth of factories, construction site noise, noise from loudspeakers used by preaching pastors, Nite clubs and other outdoor noise are various factors responsible for causing noise pollution. Noise control laws are also openly violated. It is the thinking of many people that the authorities should do something about noise pollution. They should strictly enforce the noise control law. The noise producing factories located within residential areas should be relocated to industrial areas without any delay. The use of loudspeaker should be stopped after specific time. Above all, the public needs to be aware and cooperate in the war against noise pollution because without public cooperation, authorities cannot make much difference.
It is earnestly hoped that concerned authorities will take immediate and urgent necessary action against those responsible for noise pollution, to relieve the people from the harmful effects of noise pollution.
Uzoma oliva
Fed poly nekede.
