***Accuses him of working against Gov. Fubara’s interest
The Commissioner for Information and Communication in Rivers State, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, has come under fire for his alleged move to clamp down on numerous pro-Governor Sim Fubara support groups in the state and beyond.
In a statement over the weekend, the commissioner disclaimed a support group for the governor under the aegis of the National Movement of Simplified Peace Network, describing it as a faceless group in the state.
The commissioner, in a statement he signed, warned the numerous pro-Governor Fubara support groups, including other intending groups and individuals, to desist forthwith from using the name and image of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State Government in their activities.
However, in its reaction to the commissioner’s statement, the Igbo community in Rivers State called on Governor Fubara to be very cautious of his role and activities in the state, warning that he may not have keyed into the peace initiative for the development of the state championed by the governor.
The Igbo community group, in a statement issued Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Ruben Okorie Agwu, accused the commissioner of working against the Governor’s peace initiative in the state, adding that he should, therefore, be sacked for incompetence and diversive tendencies being displayed in the content of a press release by Joe Johnson which affects support groups such as the Igbo Community in Rivers State. It is also pertinent to note that Joe Johnson lacks the technical and strategic capacity to manage, promote and sustain the peace and organic support that the Governor advocates.
The Igbo community’s call comes barely 24 hours after a Niger Delta group had earlier cautioned the commissioner over the same statement, warning him and the Rivers state government to desist from clamping down on the Fubara support groups.
Okorie Agwu, in the statement, wondered why the Information commissioner should work to dissuade Rivers citizens from celebrating the governor through the various support groups, stressing that Governor Fubara’s simple disposition for peace in Rivers State has earned him respect and acceptance from the people.
The Rivers group went further to advise the commissioner to either join the support group to appreciate the peaceful efforts of the governor for Rivers development or resign his appointment, stressing that what the state needs right now is a loyal and committed State Executive Council that will be of unblemished support to the governor.
“It is our position that the people of Rivers State deserve an apology from the Information and Communications commissioner over his recent statement that tried to disclaim and clamp down on those who stood bold to appreciate the governor and show him their full support over his simple posture for peace and development in Rivers State.
“Any individual or group who is opposed to the pro-Governor Fubara support groups is no doubt against the governor and the government of Rivers State and should, therefore, have no reason to be part of the government.
“It is on this note that we call on the governor to sack the Information and Communications commissioner for his incompetence and lack of commitment to the peace initiative for the government to move on seamlessly with its renewed peaceful progression that is geared towards returning glory to Rivers State,” the group posited, even as it called on the people of the state to continue their mass support for the governor and not allow any distraction to their resolve for peace in Rivers State.
