The Rivers State Government has sealed the premises of a popular hospitality spot, EUI Events Center, on Abacha Road, GRA, Phase 3 over obstruction of free flow of traffic.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chris Finebone, disclosed while briefing newsmen after the state executive council meeting which ended late on Wednesday evening at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Finebone said the government took the decision after repeated advice and warnings to the management of the facility to manage the packing of its clients fell on deaf ears.
He also said the government had noticed the blocking of the entire stretch of Sanni Abacha link Road without government approval.
He said, “The Rivers State Government has noticed that despite previous advice and warnings for the management of EUI events centre, GRA Phase 3, Port Harcourt to refrain from blocking an entire stretch of part of Sanni Abacha link Road without government approval, and subsequent refusal by the management of the events centre to properly manage packing of their clients’ vehicles, the Rivers State Government has with effect from 7th December, 2022 sealed the EUI events centre.
“Government cannot fold its hands and watch people exercise impunity to the highest level by appropriating property government built with taxpayers’ money just to their own personal use and comfort. Government must protect all.”
Also briefing journalists, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Austen Ben Chioma, said the development was at
variance to promises the management had made to government that they would always ensure their traffic wardens control traffic properly so that other road users were not punished.
“But to the greatest surprise of the Rivers State government, today’s event that is holding there, there was no road for road users to pass and road users were complaining bitterly.
“I got the information and I went there myself and I saw that the road was totally blocked. I told the owner of the place that this cannot be tolerated. And she said that she has done her best and she cannot kill herself,” Chioma said.
In a separate development, Finebone said the state government has uncovered plans by some politicians in the state to sponsor a campaign of calumny against Governor Nyesom Wike.
The commissioner warned those behind such acts to refrain forthwith or be ready to face the wrath of the law, saying there was a document to substantiate the government’s claim.
He said the plot was the handiwork of persons he termed ‘political detractors’ of Governor Nyesom Wike to begin series of campaign of calumny again him.
Finebone said, “Government has uncovered sinister plans by some political detractors to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against the Governor Nyesom Wike using faceless persons as can be seen in this document which is now in the possession of the Rivers State Government. It is titled’ Proposal to #End Wike rascality programm’.
“We encouraged them to remove their mask and show themselves as the governor and the government is equal to the task of responding to them adequately.”
He said the state government already has an idea of the likely identity of the political detractors who are orchestrating the campaign of calumny against governor Wike.
Finebone alleged that they are individuals within the party and challenged them to reveal themselves if they were convinced of what they were doing and bold enough for the fight.
