NPA  Roped Into APC, PDP  Crisis, Gets 7 Days Ultimatum

*NPA denies allegations, assures of thorough investigation

By Daniel Efe

Alleged empowerment by Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, for a faction of youths said to be loyal to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation in Eleme,host community of Rivers State has stirred up crisis. 

The Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Chief Hon. Obarilomate Ollor,has therefore issued a seven-day ultimatum to NPA to clear it’s name and come clean or  face consequences of any action deemed legal against it.

The local Government boss who led a delegation to Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) accused the management of empowering  a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in Eleme Local government Area excluding others different political parties.

Describing that as a deliberate move to undermine the Local Government Authority and instigate crisis, Chief Obarilomate gave NPA headquarters 7 days ultimatum to clear her name from the allegation of indulging in partisan politics through the said empowerment scheme or face legal action. 

Governor Nyesom Wike

Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Chief Hon. Obarilomate Ollor 

Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation.

According to Chief Ollor; “A faction of the All Progressive Congress loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi fragrantly displayed items they purported to have been given them by NPA and that created a lot of reaction from the people and as I speak to you now our people are coming out with several positions that can lead to crisis in the local government.

“The reason is that NPA is not a registered political party to participate or play politics with any group of persons in our community. So, we came here to clarify the fact and know if NPA, Onne Port is aware of the CSR that was displayed by a group of persons in Onne that NPA gave them to support them. I have never heard before where a corporate institution like NPA will support a particular group in a political party. Those items were shared within themselves, all leaders of that particular group in their party were there and they claim that it was given to them by NPA. “So we suspect that this may have been done to undermine the leadership of the LGA which is headed by us and the leadership of His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Rivers State.That is why we decided to pay a visit to the Port to find out why that happened and who authorized that to happen in our LGA. We want NPA to explain to us why you should participate in politics in our place.

 The local government boss said the Council feels reprehensible and will not accept it as a people and will go all length to ensure that the act does not repeat itself. 

He said  Eleme people are trying to build a society that is not divisive, that is peaceful without rancour but this act alone is capable of throwing our place into confusion.

“We are accusing NPA that they are the ones that wants to create problems for our people. It is only when you explain that these persons were using their name that we can say they are exonerated. Is it because the Minister of Transportation is the leader of the group which displayed this CRA? If actually the Minister meant well for those people that say they are supporting him from our area, he would have done better than that, not sewing machines in 2021 as empowerment.

“What we require from the NPA if the Minister meant well for Eleme people is to make Onne Port a busy Port, bring employment to our people in NIMASA and other agencies of the authority. There should be reasonable development from the authority to our place but instead no project, no employment and you come up with sewing machine, it’s a big shame and disgrace to whoever brought or received it. We want NPA to clear their name and explain to us why they should be involved in not just politics but local politics of a faction of APC loyal to the Honourable Minister of Transportation.
Ollor threatened that “If they do not within now and the next 7 days, we will have no option than to take a very serious legal position on this issue”.

He said plans to organize a summit that will bring all companies together to chart a way forward is on. Hear him; “There is a high level of unemployment. I don’t know why the companies hurriedly go out to employ people when there are capable hands in Eleme. Even if some of our youths don’t have the requisite skills for the job, why not train them in a specific skill that is relevant and can be of use if not in that company, somewhere else.”Now, this is where you will have to come in to help us which is why we are here. Engage this companies to employ our youths, enforce it on them to train our youths on skills if they can’t employ them, this will help in reducing the crime. This meeting is an opportunity to let you know that we have a great problem and needs to be fixed if not it will affect us in the near future”.

Responding, the Port Manager, Stanley Magaji Yitnoe, denied knowledge of any empowerment programme by NPA. He said they are not aware as they also witnessed it in the media. In his words; “We also saw it in the media and we don’t want to believe that it happened”. He added that investigation is still on from their other quarters to get the true state of things.

NPA is a federal government Agency under the Ministry of Transportation.