AFRICAN CARIBBEAN ECONOMIC FORUM:GOVERNOR WIKE SEEKS WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

AFRICAN CARIBBEAN ECONOMIC FORUM : GOVERNOR WIKE SEEKS WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT


Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared  that  the  Rivers State Government will host the forthcoming African Caribbean Economic Forum if the Federal Government  gives a written approval.

He spoke at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday,  when Ambassador Justin Duru,  the President of the African Caribbean Network Foundation organisers of the  African Caribbean Economic Forum announced  that  the  Federal Government  has approved  Rivers State as the host of the biennial  inter-continental  business  summit.

Governor  Wike  said he is not sure whether the Federal Government  will allow an international  business summit to be hosted in Rivers  State because of the elevation of politics to disheartening  heights under the present  dispensation.

He said : "I don't think the Federal Government  will allow international  businessmen, diplomats and heads of government  to converge on Port Harcourt for the  promotion  of  the  positive development  strides.

"When we were hosting  international  football  matches, for political  reasons,  the Federal Government  stopped the matches and transferred  them to  other locations. For us, to accept  to host the African Caribbean Economic Forum,  the Federal Government must make a written  commitment to that  effect".

The  governor  said that  other than a written  commitment,  the Federal Government will sabotage  the  state  government  after it has committed  time  resources to the programme.

"The type of politics  being played today in the country  is unfortunate", he said.

In his remarks, President of the African Caribbean Network Foundation organisers of the African Caribbean Economic Forum,  Ambassador Justin Duru announced that agencies  of the Federal  Government in liaison with  the  group  have approved  Rivers State as the host of the  biennial inter-continental forum.

He explained  that the African Caribbean Economic Forum will attract  business  leaders and  government  officials  from Africa and the Caribbean to promote areas of mutual  economic  benefits.

He said : "The African Economic Economic Forum is  three-day event to promote  tourism and trade between Africa and the Caribbean. There will be exhibitions by participating organisations and countries ".

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
1st July, 2016.
Pictures : Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the President of the African Caribbean Network Foundation when the group  visited the governor to the forthcoming African Caribbean Economic Forum at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.