By Brave Dickson
Governor Nyesom Wike has come under heavy criticism by motorists shortly after he announced a total lockdown of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State with effect from Thursday, May 7.
The Chairman, Urban Drivers Welfare Association, Rivers State, Mr Lekia Isaac who condemned the decision of the state government told our correspondent that total lockdown was not necessary.
He said: “The announcement by the governor to impose a total lockdown on the two central LGAs of the state is not a welcome development.
“Since the governor can not feed us if we stay at home, he should have relaxed the lockdown a bit at least twice a week to enable us still be looking for our daily bread.
“It is wrong on the part of government to take measures that will increase hardship on the people, all in the name of fighting the spread of COVID-19.
“We are not happy with this total lockdown order and I pray that it shouldn’t increase crime as some persons might be forced to go into crime.”
Isaac also commended the state police command for withdrawing its personnel recently attached to the Rivers State Taskforce on Street Trading and Illegal Motor Parks.
According to him, the personnel of the state taskforce were using police cover to perpetrate crime and criminality in the state.
He therefore advised the police hierarchy not to wait for bad things to happen before taking necessary actions, adding that it was after a policeman had killed his female colleague at Eneka that the police were asked to withdraw from the state taskforce.
