By Nwaorgu Faustinus
The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has vehemently condemned the decision by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike declaring today Friday, 5th February, 2016 as a public holiday, describing it as a “poorly conceived attempt at self-adulation” that belong to the past.
The party in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Chris Finebone, noted that the reason earlier given by Gov. Nyesom Wike for declaring today a public holiday was to enable workers go home to participate in the previously scheduled rerun elections for Saturday, February 6, 2016.
The statement reads: “Having plotted that rerun election with his electoral chief executioner, Dame Gesila Khan before she was unceremoniously redeployed from Rivers State as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, the governor got lost in the new order. Believing that their scheme will still play out, the governor declared today a public holiday in anticipation of a rerun election for tomorrow. Obviously ashamed of reversing himself, the governor then adjusted his reason by announcing that the public holiday is to mark his Supreme Court victory last week. Meanwhile, the governor had earlier announced every 27th January as public holiday in Rivers State to mark his Supreme Court victory. The APC is well aware that this is the kind of dishonesty and somersaults Rivers people and residents will be living with in the years ahead.
“On the other hand, the APC recalls that on the 25th of October, 2007, the Nigerian Supreme Court declared Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the elected governor of Rivers State. The only event that the former governor ever instituted to commemorate that day was a thanksgiving service to God all through his eight years in office as governor. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did not declare a single public holiday on that account throughout his stay as governor of Rivers State.
“Surprisingly, it is obvious that Gov. Nyesom Wike has no clue about the cost of a single public holiday especially costs occasioned by loss in man-hours across all sectors of the state economy. It amounts to obscene and primitive self-adulation and ego trip to embark on inflicting on the economy of Rivers State, with a fledgling economy especially at this time of economic downturn, unnecessary waste through loss of man hours.
“The APC understands that the governor has several reasons to celebrate his victory especially considering the magnitude of what is awaiting him out of power, but the APC makes bold to advise him to remember that most of what he thinks he has escaped will still await and catch up with him someday. In politics, time runs faster than normal.”
