Posted by By Tony Amadi on
Consequent upon its meeting with Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Adetuyi, and in full cognizance of the depth of concern shown by the police boss to maintain societal harmony and guarantee peace within the business communities of the state, the Pillar of Associations has expressed commendation to the police command.
Consequent upon its meeting with Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Adetuyi, and in full cognizance of the depth of concern shown by the police boss to maintain societal harmony and guarantee peace within the business communities of the state, the Pillar of Associations has expressed commendation to the police command.
The president of the body, Comrade Ibiye, Dick Harry who made the commendation during a chat with our reporter in Port Harcourt described the state police boss as a man of integrity who is on a mission to sincerely serve the people of the state.
He said: "With the assurance given the Pillar of Associations, I believe that nobody will entertain fears doing business in Rivers State. We will also lend support to the creation and maintenance of a peaceful business environment in the state".
Ibiye Harry stated that the CP enjoined the association to help maintain peace by reporting all acts of provocation and criminal harassments or assaults to the police rather than take the law into its hands. He, however, regretted that threats still come from agents of Port Harcourt City Council and Obio/Akpor local government council to some association members, and sought the command's intervention in this direction.
While the police is said to be continuing its investigations into the complaints lodged by the business association against the two sister councils, Comrade Harry revealed that these councils have devised another strategy to upset the body.
According to him, council agents now approach unit leaders for negotiation without passing through the parent body. He expressed fear that this approach might lead to these same councils turning around to accuse the organization of conniving with agents to defraud them (councils), and advised the business community and those unit leaders approached from the back door to resist being lured into any negotiations whatsoever.
With the suspicion that these agents would resort to violence if these latest tactics do not yield fruit, the president of the business body stated that the association would get the police alerted rather than group themselves to return violence for violence.
"The business community has no weapon to fight anybody", he said, "so we will capitalize on the open door policy of the Commissioner of Police to contribute our quota to keeping the peace in the society".
Comrade Harry also commended the efforts of the state Chief Executive, Dr. Peter Odili, towards achieving and maintaining peace in the state, and pointed out that whoever would want to hinder progress in this direction will have to be ready to face the wrath of the law.
The police command is expected to come out with a final statement on the association's complaint against the local councils, while finishing touches, Telegraph was told, as being put on the association's legal move to secure its freedom and future operations.