By: Felix Ikpotor
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has described statements credited to the new Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barr. Emma Okah claiming to have uncovered a plan by the APC and the police to instigate and kill students of tertiary institutions in the state as infantile, a no brainer and pedestrian propaganda unbefitting of a state government.
Students of tertiary institutions in the state under the aegis of the National Union of Rivers State Students, NURSS, had earlier announced its intention to embark on a statewide protest over the non payment of bursary by the Rivers State government since 2015 and the non appointment of an Adviser on Students Affairs to the governor.
The party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone said the statement is “a lame attempt to blackmail Rivers students who have been owed bursary payments since Gov. Nyesom Wike came into office”.
It added that: “instead of doing the right thing to avert students embarking on protest over their endless neglect by the Wike government, Barr. Okah appears to have resorted to base tactics to blackmail the students, police and the APC. The news for the Commissioner is that his attempt is dead on arrival. Gov. Wike must abandon his hatred and disdain for students and education and do the right thing. No amount of spin by his Information and Communications Commissioner will fool the students and Rivers people.
Rivers APC further described as “unfortunate that the first outing on the perfidious road of propaganda by the new Commissioner is an unmitigated disaster and a disgrace”.
The statement said: “it is possible Barr. Okah decided to start from where he once stopped as Information Commission several years ago. But he desperately needs to upgrade in all ramifications if he hopes to shore up Gov. Wike’s fledgling image in the public eye of Nigerians”.
Meanwhile, the students had on Wednesday abandoned the planned protest after they helda meeting with the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Emeka Woke
