Recall of Suspended Council Chairmen: ACN Commends Amaechi For  Reversing Himself

The Rivers Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), says Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has for once done well to reverse his order after realizing he acted beyond his powers in the suspension of the 11 council chairmen.

Reacting to the recall and reinstatement of the Council Chairmen in a press statement issued and signed on behalf of the ACN by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam said the State would have been better than what it is if Governor Amaechi had listened to the voice of the opposition in most of his actions and programmes.

The statement further observed that if he would henceforth begin to tow the path of the law with a listening ear, Amaechi's posture of acting before thinking will change.

The ACN spokesman said Governor Amaechi having realized the enormity and implication of his hurried action should as well tender an unreserved apology to the affected council chairmen and the Rivers people for trampling on their collective will.

“This is all that is required of Amaechi to convince us of his remorse and that he only acted in good faith otherwise we'll all regard the recall as yet another political gimmick by him”, Jerry Needam concluded.###

...Frowns At Arbitrary Suspension of Medical Personnel

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Rivers State chapter says the recent suspension of two medical doctors serving in Degema Local Government Area of the State and other medical personnel, negates laid down procedures of the Civil Service rules.

Accusing the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker of towing the path of his employer, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the ACN in a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam said arbitrariness against rule of law has now become the order of the day in Rivers State.

Jerry Needam argues that rather than query the airing medical personnel as stipulated in the civil service rules and regulations in respect of their fundamental rights before any further corrective measures, Dr Parker went all out in same spirit of Governor Amaechi to place the doctors on suspension.

“It may appear as nothing to worry about now but apparently, a regime of executive high handedness and zero-tolerance to contrary views on common issues has gradually crept into our system of governance”, the ACN spokesman lamented.

According to the ACN, the dust raised by the recent suspension of 11 council chairmen by Governor Amaechi using executive fiat in defiance of the Local Government Law is yet to settle only to be complemented with another act of lawlessness by the Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker.

In the party's view, the ACN Publicity Secretary said the State Commissioner of Health should be more concerned with the current lassa fever already detected in some parts of the State and which has claimed the life of a National Youth Corps member serving in the State.

“This is enough challenge to our health-sector than suspending the few doctors we have irrationally”, Jerry Needam concluded.###