Exclusive: Etche Rice Vanishes Into Tin Air 

● As Governor Siminalayi Fubara confirms Chief Ambrose Ibokwe Nwuzi is leader of the Etche Simplified Movement worldwide

By PHC Telegraph

Bags of rice meant for the Etche Local Government Area have vanished into tin air after they were picked up from a point used by the government to distribute the commodity to all the 23 LGAs in the State.

According to information that we have gathered from those who know what is happening, the Etche Local Government Area was reportedly allocated 400 bags of rice from the State’s distributable pool.

There is no information suggesting that Nwafor, the action-oriented chairman of the council who is working on the restoration of electricity to the area, has received the bags of rice since someone surreptitiously took delivery of them.

Telegraph  checks show that the Etche people have not set  eyes on the consignment of rice meant for them more than a month after 22 other local government areas in the State took delivery of theirs.

Etche has two commissioners who are serving in the cabinet of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Telegraph has learnt that one of them, Barrister John Ngubo Otamiri went ahead of the council chairman, Dr. Uzodinma Nwafor to cart away the rice meant for the Etche people.

He has reportedly taken the said bags of rice to a location that is allegedly known to him.

So far, the said commissioner has remained in possession of the rice which should have been shared out to people in the 19 electoral wards of the LGA by the council chairman.

The rice was shared by the Rivers State Government as part of palliative meant to cushion the impact of harsh economic realities confronting the people.

A source told this publication, “The LG Council Chairman is supposed to be the one that should take delivery of the bags of rice.

“Surprisingly, a member of the State Executive Council who arrived at the venue where rice was shared before the chairman quickly went away with the rice of the Etche people.

“Uptil now, he has refused to release the consignment of rice to the Council Chairman who ought to handle the pick up and the distribution of the item. He has held the bags of rice hostage.

“As a result of the impudent action of the Commissioner, Etche people who are aware of the matter may ask for the intervention of the State Governor.”

This publication cannot confirm if the State Governor has heard about the situation.

But impeccable sources say the Commissioner who is struggling to dominate Etche by all means has insisted all along that the rice meant for the Etche people should be shared between himself and the council chairman. 

Meanwhile, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has openly declared that the leader of the Simplified Movement in Etche is Chief Ambrose Ibokwe Nwuzi.

The Governor made the declaration at Nihi during the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the enthronement of the Onyeishi Agwuru Ulakwo/Umuselem, Eze Ken Nwala.

A group led by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barrister John Ngubo Otamiri had earlier announced the removal of the leader of the Simplified Movement.

Speaking at Nihi where he received a prestigious title from the Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, Fubara promised to deliver more development projects to the people of Etche.

He said that the contract for construction of the Egwi-Afara-Mba Road has been awarded by his administration and thanked the Etche people for the organic support that he is receiving from them.

The Governor declared that Nwuzi whom he referred to as “the Leader of the Etche Simplified Movement worldwide” is the undisputable head of the body.

He directed all factional members with fictional claims to the leadership of the Movement to work with Nwuzi.