Hon. Chief Awori Miller, Chairman, Ahoada West local government Council (2007-2013)

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And it came to pass that while Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was sojourning in Ghana, after the then president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo created the K-leg in his governorship ambition, a team led by then Hon. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike were here in Nigeria, working tirelessly to straighten the K- leg .

Amongst the members of the team was Hon. Asita H Asita. He was the leader of the Amaechi support group in Ahoada West local government Area, which some of us were members.

Several meetings were held in Ghana where decisions were reached on how to zone and share positions and offices when Amaechi finally returns to Nigeria and becomes governor of Rivers State. One of such decision was that, Hon. Asita H Asita would be the one to nominate who becomes the chairman of Ahoada West local government Council.

Sir Celestine Omehia, then governor of Rivers State, had rolled out a time table for the conduct of local government elections in the state. And the ENGENNI POLITICAL FORUM (EPF), a socio/political pressure group, led by Hon. Asita H Asita, had in a meeting at late Elder Nwika ‘s house, agreed on presenting and projecting Jerry Egwu as candidate for the chairman of Ahoada West local government Council. Funds were made available and intent /nomination forms were procured. So, there was an already existing candidate for Asita H Asita, and that candidate was Jerry Egwu. However, Awori Miller was presented instead of Jerry, as the candidate for the chairman of Ahoada West local government Council. How this happened, is a story I shall tell in due course.

Awori Miller, in his wildest dreams never saw himself contesting for local government chairmanship election as at that time. He was just one of the followers of EPF who gets very excited if at the end of a political activity, he is given a thousand naira. He was a young graduate from the the Nigerian law school, with no experience in any endeavour. He lived in a self contained apartment, in a very dirty environment along Iwofe road in port Harcourt. This was Awori Miller’s state when he was made Ahoada West local government chairman.

On assumption of office as the Council chairman, Awori Miller was astonished by what he was receiving as monthly allocation to the local government Council from the Federation Account. His social live became riotous. He became profligate in his spending.

He served as local government chairman for six years and made some good investment for himself.

1. He built a duplex in his village, Akinima, for himself,

2. He built a mansion with a swimming pool for himself in Obio /Akpo,

3. He built a big shop complex also in Obio/Akpo,

4. He built an Estate for the wife at Egbelu,

5. Built a filling Station for himself at Mbiama,

6. Bought several cars for himself and wife.

For the local government Area,

1. He built the Council Secretariat which was over invoiced by the contractor, his uncle.

2. He built the Akinima Town Hall

3. He helped got some Ahoada West people employed in the Council.