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Tag: Amaechi

  • 2019: How Rivers people ‘ll chase Wike out of power –Amaechi

    Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, said yesterday that the Rivers State electorate will put an end to what he termed Governor Nyesom Wike’s poor performance, bad governance and misrule, during next year’s election Amaechi who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state spoke at a grand reception for him and the Director- General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),Dr.Dakuku Peterside, by the Free Rivers Development Initiative (FRDI) at Opobo, headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State. Peterside hails from Opobo. Amaechi asked the people of Opobo to start mobilizing now with a view to ensuring that they produce the state’s next governor. “When we start (politics), we will compare my first tenure with Wike’s first tenure,” he said. “You must start mobilising now.

    You have not shown enough anger. You must show enough anger to chase him out of power. Show enough anger, such that if anybody warns you, you should chase the person out of Opobo.” The minister who was apparently taken aback by alleged summoning of Opobo chiefs to Government House,Port Harcourt,midway into the reception said: “Correct Opobo/Nkoro LGA’s chiefs, some of them came (for the reception), but many of them have run away (to Government House, Port Harcourt). “I then asked Ikwerre chiefs to join me to Opobo. One of them is Chief Chidi Lloyd (former Majority Leader of Rivers House of Assembly). When Ikwerre people wanted to produce governor (in 2007), they came together, were united and said they wanted governorship of Rivers State, not one of our (Ikwerre) chiefs escaped. If you (people of Opobo/Nkoro LGA) do not get governorship of Rivers State (in 2019), blame your chiefs.

    They have run away. “When things were extremely bad with me, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja (indigene of Opobo) was behind me. Not politics. He (Jaja) will agree that I introduced him to major politics. I was hungry, I had a wife and children, but no money to survive then as a young man, but Dr. Sam Sam Jaja stood firmly behind me, as things were very rough then. Ike Chinwo housed us and gave us food, before I met Dr. Peter Odili (former Rivers governor). Dr. Odili played important roles in my life.” Also speaking, Peterside who was the governorship candidate of the party in Rivers during the 2015 election, said Wike is running a failed government. The government, he said, is also petty and has democratized stealing.

    The NIMASA D-G described Amaechi as a visioner and a leader, who has done a lot for the people of Opobo/Nkoro LGA and other parts of Rivers State Peterside said: “It is not always common to take up responsibility for other people’s challenges. Our leader (Amaechi), for a very long time, has taken up the challenge of the development of Opobo and Nkoro Kingdoms. Today, in Rivers State, the symbol of good governance is Rt. Hon. Amaechi. We must be grateful to him. “Today in Rivers State, soot is killing our people. The current government (of Wike) represents the mass looting of our commonwealth. Our schools are shut down. Our pensioners are being owed and they are dying daily. Our people have no means of livelihood, that is why they are taking to illegal refining of crude oil. Rivers State secretariat is stinking. “About three years ago, when Rt. Hon. Amaechi left office, the road to Opobo (Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road), remained less than two kilometres to complete. Till today, Wike’s government has refused to complete the strategic road. Before Rt. Hon. Amaechi left government, it was estimated that N6 billion would be needed to complete the road, but when Wike took over, instead of paying the contractor the N6 billion, the contract was cancelled, re-awarded to themselves and they inflated the figure to N14 billion.

    They have democratised stealing in government. “Rt. Hon. Amaechi believes that every Rivers person must be given an opportunity to participate in governance. He believes in equity, justice and fairness. Rt. Hon. Amaechi and his wife, Dame Judith, played great roles in my life. “In the elections of 2015 and rerun of 2016, they (PDP members) rigged everywhere (in Rivers State), but they could not rig here (Opobo). APC has never lost any election on this soil (Opobo). We have not had a government with this type of terrible record. The government (of Wike) has failed in every respect. We know what the votes will do. The people of Opobo/Nkoro LGA will speak (during 2019 elections) and they will speak very loud.” However,Wike, in his reaction, said he is a man of substance, with awards from all over the world. The Rivers governor, who spoke through Information and Communications Commissioner Emma Okah, alleged that Amaechi and Peterside had not attracted any development project to Rivers State, since their appointments.

  • Rivers 2019: Reconcile Amaechi, Abe Ogoni apex body begs Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by the apex socio-cultural and political organisation of the Ogoni ethnic group, KAGOTE, to intervene in the feud between the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, ahead of 2019 elections.

    President of KAGOTE, Peter Medee, of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), disclosed in an exclusive interview yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that besides seeking President Buhari’s intervention, letters were also sent to Amaechi and Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike. Wike allegedly granted the request for a courtesy visit, and approved the upgrade of state-owned Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori-Ogoni, to the University of Environment. Medee disclosed that KAGOTE’s request to pay Buhari a courtesy visit has been delivered in Abuja by a prominent Ogoni leader, although no date has been fixed for the visit.

    The group, however, wishes to meet President Buhari before the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure peace in Rivers State and put an end to the face-off between Amaechi and Abe. The group’s acronym, KAGOTE, derives from the four Local Government Areas (LGA) in Ogoni: Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme; KAGOTE was founded in 1947 when Ogoni’s separate administrative division was created from Opobo. It gave birth in 1990, to the umbrella organisation of Ogoni people, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), which was formed to carry out the objectives in the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR), adopted on August 26, 1990 by Ogoni people at Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland.

    The transportation minister, Amaechi, who hails from Ubima in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers state, is a former governor of the state (2007-2015) and an ex- Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly (1999-2007), while Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), when Amaechi was governor, is an indigene of Bera-Ogoni in Gokana LGA. Wike, a former Minister of State for Education and ex-Chief of Staff to Amaechi, hails from Rumueprikom- Port Harcourt in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state and he is seeking reelection in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Abe, a governorship aspirant of the APC in 2015, wishes to take over from Wike on May 29 next year, on APC’s platform.

    Amaechi is pushing for a riverine person as the governorship candidate of the APC in 2019, since upland persons had been governor since 1999 (Dr. Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Omehia, Amaechi and Wike), while Ogoni leaders are insisting that since the creation of Rivers state on May 27, 1967, no Ogoni person has become governor, deputy governor, speaker of the House of Assembly or chief judge of the state. According to them, this injustice and marginalisation of the area rich in crude oil and gas must now be addressed.

    The group’s letter to President Buhari, dated November 10, 2017, stated: “The Executive Committee and General Congress of KAGOTE at their meeting held on Sunday, November 5, 2017, at Wiiyakara-Ogoni, Khana LGA of Rivers State, resolved to seek audience at a date and time convenient to your Excellency. “KAGOTE is a platform that champions the peace, unity, interest, progress and development of Ogoni people at home and in the Diaspora.

    “This request for audience is predicated on our desire to thank you for the laudable projects done in Ogoniland, including the implementation of the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Bodo- Bonny Road, as well as the section of the East-West Road, from Onne Junction to Port Harcourt in Ogoni Kingdom.” The letter was signed for KAGOTE Ogoni Worldwide by Medee; the President of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, His Majesty, King Godwin Gininwa; KAGOTE’s First Vice President, King Emere Godwin Bebe-Okpabi; Second Vice President, Chief Barikunra Kabaari; and the Third Vice President, Chief Mike Nwielaghi; who are still awaiting approval for the special visit.

    The group’s letter to Amaechi was delivered by courier (DHL) and dated November 6, 2017. It stated that the meeting with the transportation minister would be at a place, date and time convenient to him. The request to see Amaechi, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) was predicated on seeking ways and means to better the lots of Ogoni people and advance their continuous support base for Amaechi. “Your Excellency would recall that this is the group (KAGOTE) that was at the forefront of galvanising support for your successful tenure as Executive Governor of Rivers State in the recent past and KAGOTE members are still in full support of your political prospects.

    “We count on this longstanding relationship with our people to seek your kind consideration of this visit of our delegation,” said the group. The organisation enjoyed a very successful visit to Wike at the Government House in Port Harcourt as the governor acceded to all its demands. Medee, in the address he presented to the Rivers governor on behalf of KAGOTE during the courtesy visit, stated in “clear and unmistakable terms” that the organisation, though sociopolitical, is non-partisan, comprising members from all the political parties, describing himself (Medee) as a founding member of the APC.

    Some of KAGOTE’s leaders who joined Medee to pay Wike the courtesy visit, included the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University (RSU), formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt, Prof. Barineme Fakae; a former Rivers Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Barinua Moses Wifa, SAN; King Emere Godwin Bebe- Okpabi; Hon. D. K. Badom; Hon. L.G.A. Korsi; Hon Friday Nke-eh and Mike Baah. In his address to Governor Wike, Medee urged him to consider the following passionate requests of Ogoni people: conversion of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic into a full-fledged University of Environment, considering the environmental degradation suffered by Ogoni people and the need to address it urgently. He also pleaded with Wike to “Assist the committee already set up by KAGOTE to facilitate the return and resettlement of over eight hundred Ogoni refugees still stranded and facing hardship in Benin Republic. “Your Excellency should prevail on the Federal Government of Nigeria to rescind its decision to establish a federal prison and cemetery in Ogoniland.

    Rather, we request an industrial park for the employment of the youths,” he said. Medee also called on the Rivers governor to upgrade the pioneer Government Secondary School, Kpite- Ogoni, Tai LGA to a fullfledged boarding school, while adding that the courtesy visit was not to endorse Wike for second term. The Rivers governor, in his response, agreed to the upgrade of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic to University of Environment, with a committee immediately put in place on the matter.

    He also assured that the construction of Bori-Kono axis of the Saakpenwa-Bori- Kono Road would be expedited, and promised that all Ogoni people stranded and suffering in Benin Republic will be returned and resettled in the state. Kenneth Kobani, an Ogoni and SSG to the state government, was asked to liaise with KAGOTE’s committee and see to the implementation of the group’s demands. Addressing KAGOTE’s complaint that the Ogoni are yet to occupy some of the highest offices in the state, Wike stated that Ogoni people must unite and struggle for power, stressing that power cannot be given on a platter of gold, but contested. Wike also assured that he would build a health facility in Tai LGA, the only council in the state that is yet to receive the attention of his administration.

  • Amaechi: Lagos delaying deadline of speed train

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday said Lagos State is his greatest headache in his efforts to deliver the speed train by December.

    Amaechi, who reiterated his commitment to the deadline, said the Federal Government was determined to complete the project with or without Lagos State.

    The minister said despite repeated meetings with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his response to the removal of encumbrances along the Lagos corridor had been slow.

    Among others, the relocation of the state’s water supply mains, the demolition of two bridges, relocation of an Army formation, acquisition of more land and relocation of gas pipeline are some of the challenges the minister said are impeding the progress of work around the Lagos axis of the project.

    Amaechi, who addressed reporters at the site headquarters at Adunbu Village, via Itori in Ogun State, said a committee, headed by the Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Usman Abubakar, had been set up to resolve issues on securing the project’s right of way.

    One of the areas he said the Federal Government may not delay is the relocation of the water mains, which he said government may acquire new pipes for and lay for the state government to connect to its water source.

    On his assessment of the level of work on the $1.5 billion project, Amaechi said his earlier doubts about delivery had been substantially reduced.

    He said: “If I earlier had any doubt abouts the delivery of this project, I must say they have been substantially addressed because appreciable work has gone between the last time I came and now. Note that this project was originally scheduled for three years and we are forcing them to deliver it within a year. It is obvious that the contractor is under intense pressure, but that is good for us because they are trying to measure up to our demands.”

    Amaechi noted that with the current speed on the project’s civil work, it is possible for the track-laying to begin across the entire corridor between Lagos to Ibadan in April.

    He added: “I have conceded to the contractor’s demand that we shift next month’s inspection to end of April. I have been assured that they would have completed the track-laying, even up to Papalanto in Ogun State.”

    According to him, because of the new alignment, which will be taken at Abeokuta, the site for the city’s train station would shift eastwards.

    Last month, Amaechi said the committee on the project advised the contractor to take another alignment to avoid the built-up environment around MKO Abiola Trade Fair Centre, which would have affected 1,004 structures that would have cost the Federal Government another N2.8 billion in compensation.

    He directed the contractor to work round the clock to complete earthworks before April ending and ensure that the project does not suffer any delay as a result of the elements, especially the rains.

    “It won’t be out of place to suggest to the contractor to increase presence in all sections of the project and ensure they work round the clock to make site that much, if the earthwork is completed before heavy rains start next month,” Amaechi said.

  • Amaechi, NRC deny attack on Abuja-Kaduna train

    Amaechi, NRC deny attack on Abuja-Kaduna train

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has described as untrue claims that the Abuja-Kaduna train was attacked by gunmen.

    The minister said it was impossible for the train to be attacked while moving, adding that armed policemen are always on board the train.

    He stated this during the inauguration of the governing board of agencies under the ministry in Abuja.

    He said: “I saw one false or what you can call fake news on social media where they said armed robbers attacked the rail line which is not correct. But you see how Nigerians on their own fabricate stories.

    “In every coach, we have armed policemen. So how can armed robbers attack the train?

    “Their claim can only be possible if they said it happened in the station but it cannot happen while the train is moving and they said the incident happened in Rijana community while the train was moving.”

    Also reacting to the alleged attack, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said the coaches were only stoned.

    The Deputy Director, Public Relations of the NRC, Yakubu Mahmud, also reassured passengers of their safety while at railway stations and onboard the trains.

    The Corporation urged traditional rulers to warn residents along the Abuja-Kaduna route to desist from any act capable of damaging government infrastructure.

    The statement reads: “This reassurance is reiterated by the NRC management in order to allay the unfounded fears of our esteemed passengers after the reported incident of miscreants along Abuja-Kaduna railway corridor engaging in unwholesome act of stoning our passengers’ trains as against the unsubstantiated and purported media report of attack by gunmen.

    “The Corporation considers this as security threat and a deliberate attempt to damage Federal Government’s property which is provided to alleviate the transportation problems in the country and also serves as a source of employment for people residing in the environment.

    “NRC is being proactive by taken measures through the deployment of additional security equipment and personals to checkmate the unwholesome, uncivilized and unpatriotic tendencies.”

     

  • Amaechi inaugurates governing boards of Shippers’ Council, NIWA, others

    Amaechi inaugurates governing boards of Shippers’ Council, NIWA, others

    The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday inaugurated the governing board of five agencies under the ministry, charging them to work in line with the policy direction of the Federal Government.

    The minister inaugurated the boards at the Office of the Secretary of the Federation (OSGF) in Abuja.

    The boards inaugurated included those of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN).

    Others were – Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) and Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT).

    Amaechi reminded the boards of their roles of setting operational and administrative policies for their respective agencies in line with government policy direction.

    “We expect them to perform their responsibilities. The ministry will not oversee them unnecessarily.

    “We will play a supervisory role, but we will want to make sure that there is peace.

    “Nigerians don’t want to hear stories, they want us to deliver. So we expect the boards to deliver in that line

    “We know that there are challenges but they have to deliver on their mandate,“ he said.

    The Chairman Governing Board of NIWA, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim, thanked the Federal Government for giving them the opportunity to serve.

    He said the boards would deliver on their mandate.

    NAN

     

     

  • Ex-deputy speaker House of Reps lied against Amaechi on road in Rivers’

    Ex-deputy speaker House of Reps lied against Amaechi on road in Rivers’

    The Inter-ethnic Network for Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (INCRA) has accused a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibodum Nwuche, of lying against the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, an ex-Governor of Rivers State.

    It also described as really unfortunate, Nwuche’s Wednesday’s statement during the inauguration of 8.4-kilometre Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers state.

    INCRA, through a member  of its Interim Management Team, Gift Elenwo, declared that the former deputy speaker did not act as a statesman.

    Construction of the strategic road, which was started by Amaechi’s government, was completed by the Nyesom Wike’s administration and inaugurated on Wednesday by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba.

    Nwuche, who is from the area, during the road’s inauguration, alleged that Amaechi abandoned the project because of him (Nwuche), while claiming that Wike was not just a politician, but a statesman.

    The ex-deputy speaker noted that the incumbent Rivers governor released funds for the construction of the road, despite the fact he (Nwuche) is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Nwuche said: “I tell people that politics is about the people.  People love Wike for his good works. They love him for the roads he has constructed for Ahoada people. I urge Governor Wike to keep being the good person that he is.”

    INCRA, however, said Nwuche’s statement was not only misleading, but fraught with falsehood.

    ‘’We are at a loss as to why the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives chose to sacrifice truth on the altar of politics. It is disheartening that a statesman in his mould would deliberately distort facts to suit a momentary political interest.

    “The Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road was awarded by former Governor Amaechi, with the Ikata-Ochigba section of the road fully completed, while the Edeoha-Ikata section was not fully completed before the expiration of his tenure on May 29, 2015, but the drainage and earthworks were fully done. Nwuche deliberately evaded the truth to misinform unsuspecting members of the public and impress his NEW (Nyesom Ezenwo Wike) benefactor, who merely asphalted the road.

    “Rather than fault Amaechi, we had expected Nwuche to have apologised to his people over his inability to influence the construction of the road, while he was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and the number six citizen of the county, between 1999 and 2003, during which period Amaechi was the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “Nwuche’s spurious allegation was made maliciously and in bad faith to discredit the genuine efforts Amaechi made as a governor to bring social and infrastructural developments to the Ahoada region. It is not contestable that Amaechi as governor, constructed many roads in the area, including 13-kilometre internal roads in Ahoada Town, with drainages on both sides and the 9-kilometre Cohisa By-pass/Abuja Road, with drainages.

    “It is our firm belief that Nwuche’s position on the road was informed more by his disinclination towards Amaechi than by the truth. It is on record that Amaechi embarked on massive construction of roads across the 23 LGAs and major towns in Rivers State. It is pertinent to point out that it might have been impossible for Amaechi to have constructed all the roads in the state, within the period he served as governor.”

    The group also stated that the former deputy speaker was one of the top politicians in Rivers state that opposed the emergence of Amaechi as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in early 2007 and that when Amaechi became governor on October 26, 2007, through the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court the precious day, he turned around to support the then governor (Amaechi).

    It noted that in the build up to the 2015 general elections, Nwuche joined forces with President Goodluck Jonathan and Wike to fight Amaechi out of the PDP, believing that the then President Jonathan would retain his seat and banish Amaechi from the political spheres.

    INCRA reiterated that shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner of the 2015 election, the former deputy speaker defected to the APC from the PDP, ahead of the governorship election of 2015, declaring that the group was not surprised that Nwuche would at this time of seeming political wilderness in Rivers, gravitate towards Wike to seek pecuniary and alimentary gains over political integrity.

    It said: “While we may understand Nwuche’s rationale for hobnobbing with Wike and the PDP, we do not seem to understand his reasons for withholding the truth from the public. Eventhough Nwuche was awarded a contract by Wike to renovate a section of the Western Ahoada County High School – a contract below his status and fit only for up and coming politicians – should that be enough reason to have smothered the truth?

    “Has Nwuche suddenly lost faith in the APC, as a result of the slight delay in inaugurating the newly-appointed board chairmen and members of some Federal Government’s parastatals, of which he was appointed a board chairman?

    “A man, who appears to have failed to reflect the kind of focus, commitment and tenacity expected of someone who once occupied the exalted office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, must not be taken seriously.”

    The group also urged Nwuche to be bold enough to define his political interest and pursue it openly and boldly, without fear or favour, rather than hiding under the guise of politicking beyond partisan limitations.

  • Amaechi: powerful people sabotaging maritime security

    Amaechi: powerful people sabotaging maritime security

    The Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said the maritime security contract approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is being frustrated by some powerful Nigerians.

    The contract, Amaechi said, was awarded by the government about two years ago to secure the nation’s maritime domain.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administrator and Safety Agency ( NIMASA), in Warri, Delta State, Amaechi threatened to give the names of those that are sabotaging the efforts of the government  if the issue becomes messy and could not be resolved on time.

    The theme of the event is ‘ Implementation of Executive Order 1 on Ease of Doing Business in a Secure Maritime Environment.’

    Amaechi identified high level of insecurity and criminalities going on in the  Delta region as one of the major reason  to protect the waters.

    He said the eastern ports are not attractive to business because of the ‘war’ insurance rate imposed by the international shipping companies on any vessel calling at the ports in the area.

    “The war insurance means if the goods cost $10,000 in Lagos I will $20,000 here because there is extra cost on it. There are people in the system sabotaging the $195million contract that will restore sanity and security on our waterways,”he said.

  • APC accuses Wike of lying against Amaechi

    APC accuses Wike of lying against Amaechi

    The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Governor Nyesom Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a calamity and failure in governance.

    It accused Wike of lying against the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers governor.

    APC, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs Consultant to Rivers Chairman of the party, Chief Davies Ikanya, declared that the collapse of the education sector under the watch of Wike was unacceptable, unfortunate, condemnable, wicked and unjust.

    The Rivers governor on Saturday, while addressing reporters, after inspecting projects, alleged that Amaechi’s spirit of demolition destroyed the basic and secondary education sub-sector, claiming that his administration inherited a rot of unimaginable proportion in the sector.

    Rivers APC said: “The total collapse of the education sector of Rivers State was further showcased and buttressed by the Rivers State students of secondary school cadre in the very heart of Port Harcourt, when they decided last week to take their destiny in their own hands by taking to the streets to protest lack of teachers and classroom blocks in their schools, insisting that they be relocated to the model secondary schools built by the administration of Amaechi, which Wike has kept under lock and key, as they would no longer be able to continue to study in unfavourable environment.

    “Wike, who has abandoned education in Rivers State, on February 10, 2018 in Port Harcourt, donated a whopping sum of ?500 million to a university owned by a former Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili, thereby continuing to squander Rivers State’s money, through disbursement of public funds to his party chieftains and cohorts, while the future of our children remains bleak and mortgaged.

    “Rivers APC notes with great sadness that the rot in our educational system could get to this disgraceful level that secondary school students in Rivers State had to embark on public protest, while Wike continues to demonstrate his hatred for Amaechi by keeping the model secondary schools built by Amaechi under lock and key, thereby jeopardising the future of our dear children.

    “We have not forgotten how Wike wickedly stopped the overseas scholarship scheme instituted by Amaechi to assist indigent and bright children of Rivers State to have a better future, thereby forcing most of these students studying abroad into prostitution and other criminal acts in foreign countries. The protests and pleas by some of the students in the streets of London fell on deaf ears.”

    The main opposition party reiterated that Amaechi, within the first three years as governor, set the state on the path that made it a world-acknowledged state in education by declaring an emergency in the sector and completely took over the payment of salaries of primary school and junior secondary school teachers, from the councils.

    It noted that Amaechi’s government initiated and targeted 700 model primary schools and within four years, about 250  were completed and inaugurated.

    Rivers APC added that Amaechi’s government, within the first three years, also built 24 model secondary schools across 23 lcouncils, which were well structured and equipped with modern educational, recreation and boarding facilities, with standard accommodation for teachers, with one of them inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while 13,200 teachers were employed for primary and secondary schools.

  • APC accuses Wike of lying against Amaechi

    The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Governor Nyesom Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a calamity and failure in governance.

    It accused Wike of lying against the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers governor.

    APC, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs Consultant to Rivers Chairman of the party, Chief Davies Ikanya, declared that the collapse of the education sector under the watch of Wike was unacceptable, unfortunate, condemnable, wicked and unjust.

    The Rivers governor on Saturday, while addressing reporters, after inspecting projects, alleged that Amaechi’s spirit of demolition destroyed the basic and secondary education sub-sector, claiming that his administration inherited a rot of unimaginable proportion in the sector.

    Rivers APC said: “The total collapse of the education sector of Rivers State was further showcased and buttressed by the Rivers State students of secondary school cadre in the very heart of Port Harcourt, when they decided last week to take their destiny in their own hands by taking to the streets to protest lack of teachers and classroom blocks in their schools, insisting that they be relocated to the model secondary schools built by the administration of Amaechi, which Wike has kept under lock and key, as they would no longer be able to continue to study in unfavourable environment.

    “Wike, who has abandoned education in Rivers State, on February 10, 2018 in Port Harcourt, donated a whopping sum of ?500 million to a university owned by a former Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili, thereby continuing to squander Rivers State’s money, through disbursement of public funds to his party chieftains and cohorts, while the future of our children remains bleak and mortgaged.

    “Rivers APC notes with great sadness that the rot in our educational system could get to this disgraceful level that secondary school students in Rivers State had to embark on public protest, while Wike continues to demonstrate his hatred for Amaechi by keeping the model secondary schools built by Amaechi under lock and key, thereby jeopardising the future of our dear children.

    “We have not forgotten how Wike wickedly stopped the overseas scholarship scheme instituted by Amaechi to assist indigent and bright children of Rivers State to have a better future, thereby forcing most of these students studying abroad into prostitution and other criminal acts in foreign countries. The protests and pleas by some of the students in the streets of London fell on deaf ears.”

    The main opposition party reiterated that Amaechi, within the first three years as governor, set the state on the path that made it a world-acknowledged state in education by declaring an emergency in the sector and completely took over the payment of salaries of primary school and junior secondary school teachers, from the councils.

    It noted that Amaechi’s government initiated and targeted 700 model primary schools and within four years, about 250  were completed and inaugurated.

    Rivers APC added that Amaechi’s government, within the first three years, also built 24 model secondary schools across 23 lcouncils, which were well structured and equipped with modern educational, recreation and boarding facilities, with standard accommodation for teachers, with one of them inaugurated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while 13,200 teachers were employed for primary and secondary schools.

  • Senate summons Adeosun, Amaechi over diversion of $600m Euro bond

    Senate summons Adeosun, Amaechi over diversion of $600m Euro bond

    The Senate on Thursday invited the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to appear before it to explain how the $600 million Euro bond sourced from the Chinese Government was used.

    The upper chamber said $600 million loan received to revive the power sector was allegedly diverted by the Federal Government to remodel four airports in the country.

    It noted that there was $600 million Euro bond from the Chinese Government for the rehabilitation of the power sector, out of which $100 million was allegedly diverted as counterpart funding for the remodeling of Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt Airports.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Mathew Urhghide, issued the summon at the meeting of the committee on Thursday.

    Urhoghide, (Edo South), said the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the Director- General of Debt Management Office (DMO), Mrs. Patience Oniha, would also appear before the committee on the matter.

    Urhoghide, who spoke when the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari, appeared before his committee, said those invited should appear before the committee next week to explain the rationale behind the movement of such loans from its original purpose to another.

    He said there was the need to establish the desirability of the loan.