Amaechi, had in a statement issued on his behalf on Monday night, by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Bureau in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Sovens Okari, announced the extension of the work-free day, which was earlier declared for Friday, November 15, 2013 and Monday, November 18, 2013.
The statement also directed all state government employees to participate in a health walk as part of activities marking the centenary celebration, in an effort to promote good health for all civil servants in the state.
But addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Chairman of PDP in the state, Hon. Felix Obuah, said the declaration of the work-free day was political and diversionary as the state governor was using that as a ploy to pervert justice in the state, having directed government officials and council chairmen to cast aspersion on senior judicial officers in the state.
Obuah said; “Yesterday, Monday, November 18, 2013 at about 8pm, Governor Amaechi extended the work free days to Friday, November 22, 2013, without justification, other than to obstruct the course of justice in Rivers State.
“The State PDP has it on good authority, that Governor Rotimi Amaechi had within the past two months attempted to dictate to some magistrates and judges, and indeed, judicial officers in the State on how to go about handling all political cases which has revealed his insistence on having Justice Peter N. C. Agumagu as Acting Chief Judge of the State without regard to laid down rules and against all wise counsel.
“Judges and magistrates we know are on oath to deliver justice to all, irrespective of who is involved and have always stood their grounds to do only what is right, fair and just in the eyes of the law, but to Amaechi this is unacceptable and must be thwarted to suit his whims and caprices.
“The public holiday is for the personal and political reasons of Governor Rotimi Amaechi. The governor gave executive order to state officials and council chairmen to cast aspersion on some magistrates and judges, who have insisted on doing the right thing. The reason for declaring the work-free day is political and diversionary.
“Governor Rotimi Amaechi claimed that the city of Port Harcourt just turned 100. May we know which day in the year when the city of Port Harcourt turned 100? Does it mean that every day in the year 2013 is the day Port Harcourt turned 100? Just two weeks ago, he invited the President and other prominent Nigerians for the celebration of Port Harcourt centenary, saying Port Harcourt is 100.
“Which day and month in 2013 did Port Harcourt turn 100? This is a question Amaechi should answer. Which events about the Port Harcourt centenary that is going on now that warranted the declaration of work-free days?
He stated that the governor had plans of further extending the public holiday before Friday, November 22, 2013, saying that such development has never been experienced in the state since it was created in 1967.
Source: Leadership
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