Gov Amaechi Apologises To Corps Members

Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has apologised to corps members for  the kidnap of their colleagues by criminals from Abia State.

He told Nigerian youths not to be deterred by the present economic situation in the  country as the future provides endless opportunities for them to excel.

Governor Amaechi, who was speaking at the passing out ceremony of Batch “C” 2009  members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), at the Isaac Boro Park, Port  Harcourt told the youth corpers that the future is bright for those that work hard  and pray fervently to God.

The governor, who recalled when he was a corps member, said the “opportunities  available in Nigeria are limitless, but to achieve the breakthrough every effort  must be backed by determination to succeed”.

He thanked the corps members for their service to the state, in spite of obvious  deprivations, and apologised over the kidnap of five of their colleagues at Omuma  Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that the perpetrators of the crime came from neighbouring Abia State  and entered the area, through a border community in the state to commit the act,  assuring that steps have been taken to avert a repeat of such incident.

The governor, who was impressed by the performance of the Best Corper of the Year,  Mr Borishade Adetola, offered him automatic employment in the state civil service,  and announced the release of all outstanding monetary allowances owed the corps  members which he said should be paid immediately to the outgoing corps members  including transportation.

The State Chairman of NYSC Governing Board and Secretary to the State Government,  Magnus Abe, lauded the corps members for successfully completing their one year  service to the country and urged them to remain good ambassadors of the scheme by  upholding its lofty ideals.

Also, the Rivers State Co-ordinator of NYSC, Mrs Esther Wogbo, congratulated the  outgoing corps members for successfully passing through the four cardinal points of  the scheme which are, orientation, primary assignments, community development  service and winding up processes leading up to passing out.

She said while some of the corps members would be rewarded for their outstanding  performances, 17 of them have been sanctioned for various offences, and would not  pass out, and announced that the state lost one member of the 2009 batch “C” ,  Amanze George Chigozie, who was serving with the Ministry of Justice, up till his  death.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt