Rivers State: Wike’s Media Aide, Another “Port Harcourt Boy”

By: Senior Fyneface
By the article: “Chidi Lloyd: The Unending Ugly Comedy Of A Murder
Suspect” published online by Simeon Nwakaudu, the Special Adviser to the
Rivers state governor on Electronic Media clearly embarrassed not only
himself but his boss as he brazenly confirmed the public perception of the
current Rivers State Government led by Nyesom Wike, as a government of
touts and “Port Harcourt boys.”
Even someone who doesn’t know anything about Rivers politics would have
done a better job of taking on Chidi Lloyd on his allegations of
corruption and misapplication of public funds against Governor Wike and
his government.
How do you reconcile that the governor’s aide could publish that: “The
only difference between Chidi Lloyd and Evans the kidnapper, is the fact
that Lloyd belongs to APC, while Evans  has not authenticated  his
membership of that party; otherwise, both are murder suspects,  notorious
for their crimes against society?” Haba!
Hear the governor’s aide: “Each time you see Lloyd on television or hear
him on radio, simply understand that a murder suspect is at large
because of the corruption of the police in collusion with Amaechi.  Lloyd
is like a bull in a China shop.  He should be handled with caution till he
is rearraigned and jailed for his crimes.”
Curiously, of the plethora of issues that borders on alleged
maladministration of his boss, Governor Wike, all that the Special Adviser
could articulate to defend and market his boss was that: “Chidi Lloyd,
former Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly is a murder
suspect. He has the deaths of two persons, one of them a policeman,
hanging on his neck.  He also attempted to murder his colleague, Mr
Michael Chinda on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Lloyd
was a major factor in the relocation of the State Assembly to the dining
hall of Government House Port Harcourt during Amaechi’s failed
administration.” Shame to my state!
Simeon, are there no serious security challenges in Rivers state now or is
it because you are enjoying the secured comfort of the Government House
with your boss? The spate of kidnapping accross the state and violent
robbery attacks even in broad day light, are these not enough to be called
“security challenge?”You should actually help us to understand you better
because from all indications it seems you have lost your sense of
integrity, honesty, and decency, the same attributes you accused Chidi
Lloyd to be lacking. Are people not living and farming in the north east
the hot bed of the Boko Haram menace?
How can you debase your reasoning to the level that you now trivialise and
politicise serious matters that are giving the people of the state cause
for serious concern? For you to declare that “Rivers State is the safest
state in Nigeria today,” all well meaning Rivers people must join you to
say a big “Amen.” That means that’s our prayer!
Rather than wasting time and and public money pushing attacks on Chidi
Lloyd, a private citizen, decent minds would have expected that the SA to
the governor would have picked genuine issues such as the raging
controversy over the exact amount his boss has received till date from the
Paris Club refunds and adequately thrash it to make the state governor
look better in the eyes of the electorates.
The question is out of N 14 billion; N17 billion; and N34 billion, which
figure are we going to take as the actual amount received by Governor Wike
from the Federal Government’s Paris Club Refund to Rivers State? Who does
Simeon Nwakaudu expect us to believe on these figures- Wike or the federal
government?
How many Statements has the governor’s media adviser articulated and
pushed out to strengthen his boss’ accusation of the federal government?
Does Simeon even work with the Port Harcourt press to market his oga’s
achievements as the governor has been trumpeting?
One would have expected this to be a more serious issue for politics by
the state government than Chidi Lloyd being on the wanted list of the
security agencies.
This man should be told that there is a very wide difference between an
intelligent press release and dumping of figures and insults on people who
for political reasons as expected, think the governor is not applying the
state’s resources in the service of his people.
As said by Simeon himself concerning Gbenga Aruleba of AIT, “One of the
worst positions for a journalist to find himself is the tight corner of
political pressures from a benefactor.” Good that he rightly observed also
that, “there should be a limit to pecuniary affiliation” not only in
broadcast journalism but also by those who today are advising those in
government on media and associated propaganda. This is where Simeon should
tactfully advice himself also because tomorrow is far bigger than today.
God bless Rivers state!
(SENIOR FYNEFACE: Elelewon Street, GRA II Port Harcourt;
senior_fyneface@yahoo.com)