The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Amaechi

  • Amaechi’s probe: IHRHL cautions Rivers Government

    Amaechi’s probe: IHRHL cautions Rivers Government

    The Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) yesterday asked the Rivers State Government to pay attention to issues raised on procedural fairness against the Judicial Probe Panel investigating the past administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

    It advised members of the panel to excuse themselves from the inquiry if it becomes compelling on them to bow to pressure from the powers that be.

    The IHRHL gave the advice in a statement by its Executive Director, Anyakwee Nsirimovu.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL),  has been drawn to the alarms being consistently raised on the subject: Procedural Fairness of the Rivers State government  Judicial Probe Panel to investigate the past administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi .

    “ It is in this regard that we issue the present Advisory to the State government, to the effect that due consideration be given to such critical alarms, as it has everything to do with the legitimacy of  the Panel process and delivery of  its eventual outcome.

    “IHRHL therefore, calls on the State Government and the Panel as constituted to take seriously the issues of procedural fairness and bias as raised, with a view to correcting same and make necessary amends in the interest of natural justice.

    “This is critical because of the gravity of the attachable punishment or consequences of the outcome of the panel decision on the accused.

    “It is pertinent that patience, not impatience and unnecessary speed is necessary to foster justice. In the quest for justice, two wrongs have never and will never culminate in a right.

    “IHRHL calls on the membership of the panel to insist on not failing principles, but if it becomes necessary, fail principalities and powers, who may be out to subvert justice, by excusing themselves from the panel.

    “They should do justice to the accused, the state and to history. They must show that the Rule of Law knows no fear, and when duly applied, heavens never fall.”

    The organization also advised the state government to appreciate that the nation is in a constitutional democracy.”

  • Wike/Amaechi rift: What manner of probe?

    Wike/Amaechi rift: What manner of probe?

    Controversy has continued to trail the activities of the Commission of Inquiry set up by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike to probe his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi. A section of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believes that the investigation is necessary to foster accountability. But, many indigenes have cried foul, saying that the governor set up the panel to humiliate his former boss because he collaborated with progressives in other geo-political zones to abort the second term ambition of former President Goodluck Jonathan. EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the politics of the probe and the crisis it has unleashed on the Southsouth state.

    The probe of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi is generating ripples. Governor Nyesom Wike, who set up the Commission of Inquiry to investigate his predecessor, has explained that Amaechi has a duty to shed light on the finances of the state when he was in charge. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has hailed the probe, said that it is a moment of accountability.

    But, many indigenes have objected to the probe, saying that the governor is full of vendetta.  The investigation, in their view, was meant to dent the image of the former governor. They argue that,  a credibility crisis is being orchestrated by the PDP to discourage President Muhammadu Buhari from nominating Amaechi for any position in the Federal Executive Council. Between now and the time the President will name his cabinet, the campaign of calumny will intensify in the media to pull down the former governor.

    According to the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike is afraid of the rising influence of Amaechi, who is perceived as one of the heroes of democracy. In a statement, the APC Chairman, Davies Ikanya, said: “These retrogressive forces, led by Governor Nyesom Wike, are so afraid of the shadow of Amaechi to the extent that they are willing to go to any length to ensure that he is not accommodated in President Buhari’s cabinet.” The party chairman said that it is ironical that Wike, who rode to power through a flawed electoral process, has raised a panel to probe his successor.

    Four years ago,  Wike and Amaechi, were political allies. Wike, a lawyer, was Amaechi’s Chief of Staff. During the second term battle, he was also the Coordinator of the Amaechi Campaign Organisation. Little did the two friends know that they will part ways, ahead of the last general elections. Their political difference has polarised the Southsouth state. While Amaechi defected to the All progressives Congress (APC), following protracted rift between him and former President Goodluck Jonathan, Wike became the arrowhead of the PDP in Rivers. Amaechi worked for President Buhari’s success at the poll. But, he was succeeded by Wike, although the battle has now shifted from the ballot box to the court.

    On the campaign podium, Wike had threatened to probe his former boss. When he was sworn in, he unfolded a plan to carry out a forensic audit of government accounts. He said the probe is consistent with the anti-corruption crusade of the APC-led Federal Government. Amaechi challenged him to carry out the threat.

    On June 19, the governor set up the panel. The commission is headed by Justice George Omereji. Other members are Dr. Edith Chukwu, Chief Monday Ekekenta, Ven. Alex Isifo and Elder Ignatius Piegbara. Reacting to the setting up of the panel, Amaechi said it was not set up in good faith, adding that it was a sham  and fraudulent witch-hunt to deceive the people. “All the noise Wike is making is to grab media headlines with his lies of monumental corruption against Amaechi. It is all drama made for the media. What is playing out is a script written and directed by Nyesom Wike. Wike should move to Nollywod where his devious skills would probably be useful. While it is no longer in doubt what would be the report of Wike’s sham probe commission, what may shock Nigerians is the extent Wike has gone and is ready to go to manufacture stories of corrupt practices and the kind of bogus tales of corruption against Amaechi that he would soon be feeding the nation,” he added.

    It is not the first time Amaechi will run into storm in his political career. When he vied for the governor, powerful forces nearly denied him the mandate. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said his ambition had k-leg. He survived. The second term battle was also fiercely fought in Rivers. At the end, he was victorious. His second term was turbulent. The former President, Jonathan, and his wife, Dame Patience, who hails from Rivers, moved against him. At a public function, the former first lady snatched the microphone from him. Later, the police, led by Joseph Mbu, became a thorn in his flesh. He was even denied entrance into his office. The battle shifted to the House of Assembly. Efforts to impeach Amaechi unlawfully were resisted. Despite the awesome presidential powers, he triumphed.

    The on-going probe is another phase of his political life. Efforts to stop the probe has failed. A court has affirmed the right of the governor to probe the previous administration. A High Court Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, said the panel was set up, not to investigate the former governor in person, but his defunct administration.

    However, many stakeholders have picked holes in the investigation. Former Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Worgu Boms described the probe as a comedy of errors. He accused Wike of bias, saying that he has demonstrated prejudice. He also alleged that some members of what he described as ill-conceived and ill-motivated panel, have their bias towards the former governor.

    His counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Mrs. Ibim Seminitari, described the probe as an unnecessary diversion from subsisting electoral issues. Besides, she said the probe cannot dent Amaechi’s image because he lived up to expectation as governor. The former commissioner said that the people will always applaud the achievements of the governor in the last eight years. “These achievements are visible in all sectors,” she added.

    Amaechi, who has never underestimated Wike’s capacity for politicking, reasoned that the governor set up the probe to create more crisis so that stakeholders can bring the two sides to reconciliation. He said, since Wike knew that he got to the State House through fraudulent election, he decided to witch-hunt him so that he can yield to pressure to withdraw the suit against his victory. Amaechi said that the APC and its candidate, Hon. Dakuku Peterside,  will now bow to pressure to abandon the case.

    Explaining why he has refused to appear before the panel, the former governor said the panel is illegal. “He has not complied with the law in setting up the panel. The rule of natural justice and fair hearing is not adhered to. You sit down and you tell a man, ‘go and find him guilty openly. He is guilty; go and investigate him,” Amaechi stressed.

    The former governor denied the allegations of corruption. He said Wike should reflect and examine himself before throwing stones. He challenged anyone to name any account in his name, except his official salary account and the FCMB account. When the time is ripe, he promised to open upon Wike.

    Amaechi said: “The funny thing about the young man is that he knows that I know him. I know Nyesom Wike up to his companies.; Zico, Easy E. I was his governor and I have documents to show that he is a contractor. I have Wike’s account details. But, you don’t reply him by saying, you see, you are a thief, see what you stole. It will appear like I am a thief, but you are also a thief. So, what you do is to say no, I am not a thief and I don’t know what this man is talking about.

    “Rivers people forget so easily, and I annoys me. During the campaign,  I named the roads that nyesom Wike did and abandoned. He is reconstructing some of them after we have paid him and no Rivers man is talking or asking, except the young boys who are replying him on the social media.”

  • ‘Wike’s probe of Amaechi, a distraction’

    ‘Wike’s probe of Amaechi, a distraction’

    Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s Media Office, in this piece, argues that Governor Nyesom Wike is chasing shadow by probing his predecessor.

    Again, our attention has been drawn to comments by the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, where he attempts to justify his fraudulent, sham probe of the immediate past governor of Rivers State Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and distort our statement on the amount of money Amaechi left in the State treasury.

    No matter how hard Wike tries, the public can clearly see through his fraudulent deception and the sham he calls Commission of Inquiry to probe Amaechi. That panel was set up to indict Amaechi of corruption. Everything about the probe commission is at variance with the ethics and laws of a fair, just and unbiased probe commission.

    Indeed, the hack panel has not disappointed its paymaster since it started its shambolic public hearings. As we earlier warned, it is a comedy to grab media headlines with bogus, phantom and fabricated claims of corrupt practices against former governor Amaechi. The public hearings have become a comedy of errors for the media. We maintain that Wike’s probe commission shall not achieve anything beyond political excitements, entertainment and theatrics.

    However, what the public may not know is that Wike’s deceptive probe of Amaechi is a distraction to entertain and keep the public focus on his circus show, while he siphons and salt away billions of naira from the State treasury. From the moment he stepped into Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike has run a government of lies, deception and fraud.

    He first made a show and gave a performance of his false accusations that Amaechi stripped the Governor’s Lodge bare, saying that the former governor stole spoons, plates, knives, cups, mattresses, forks and even curtains from the Governor’s Lodge! However, in the images Wike showed to back his lies, the curtains in the lodge were clearly there, seen and intact.

    Wike then claimed he met a completely empty treasury. That again is another big lie and grand deception to steal state funds. We have said that former governor Amaechi left billions of naira and we even went ahead to mention the banks and give the names of the accounts the money were, as at May 29, 2015.

    We repeat that N7.5billion cash were left behind as balances in the State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account with Skye Bank, FAAC account with Zenith Bank, balances with Access Bank and funds in the State reserve fund account in First Bank. This is besides other balances in the state Government House account with Zenith Bank and other government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) accounts, like the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP). Amaechi left N939 million naira in the Commercial Agric Credit Scheme Account in Zenith Bank. By the time you pull all these balances together, we are looking at readily available cash in the region of eight to ten billion naira left for the Wike administration. We have mentioned banks, account names and funds left in the accounts. These are facts that cannot be distorted by Wike.

    If Wike says he’s not lying that he met an empty treasury, we challenge him to publish the statements of these government accounts that we have mentioned and other Rivers State government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) accounts as at May 29; to prove his claim and show the public that Amaechi left an empty treasury for him. But, we dare say, he will not because he runs a government of lies, deception and fraud, always wanting to hoodwink the public as he siphons billions of naira of State funds.

    Rather than this comedic, puerile and silly distraction he calls probe commission, Wike should explain to Rivers people what happened to the funds Amaechi left, the N30 billion naira loans he took under 30 days and other funds that has accrued to Rivers State since he became governor. Amaechi left a legacy of accountability; Rivers people expect nothing less from Wike.

  • ‘Amaechi remains hero of democracy’

    The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has said former Governor Rotimi Amaechi remains a hero of democracy.

    The party noted that there is a gang-up against the former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) by some desperate people who are bent at ensuring that the former governor does not get into the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    But it assured that the gang-up would fail.

    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its Chairman Davies Ikanya, through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, APC noted that Amaechi played major roles in bringing about the current change in Nigeria.

    The party said: “These retrogressive forces, led by Governor Nyesom Wike, are so afraid of the shadow of Amaechi to the extent that they are willing to go to any length to ensure that he is not accommodated in President Buhari’s cabinet.

    “They have, for months, mounted a relentless campaign of calumny against Amaechi, thus biting the finger that once fed them. This is not only shameful but also a clear sabotaging of the greater interests of Rivers State.”

    APC said the former NGF chairman performed well in office and ensured real transformation of Rivers, without looting the treasury, as being insinuated in some quarters.

    The party urged Wike to focus on the development of the state, instead of chasing real or imaginary enemies, pending when he would be sacked by the election petitions tribunal sitting in Abuja, as a fallout of what it called the sham April 11 poll in the state.

    It said: “We learnt with shock how Wike reportedly (planned) …to celebrate the non-appointment of Amaechi as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) by President Buhari and that he has set up a committee to bribe and influence the Senate to reject Amaechi, in case President Buhari nominates him as a minister.

    “We wish to advise Wike …to desist and stop trying to play God. We are confident that he can never constitute a stumbling block to Amaechi, if President Buhari wishes to nominate him to serve his fatherland in any capacity.”

    The party berated those claiming that the former governor was so shocked by his non-appointment as SGF that he went to London to recover, while Amaechi was in Port Harcourt.

    It described the efforts to rubbish and diminish the ex-NGF’s chairman as an exercise in futility.

    APC said nobody could deny the role Amaechi played in sacking the corrupt administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and installing the current Buhari’s government.

    The party urged Amaechi to be steadfast in his support for the Buhari’s administration, which it said he put his life at risk to make possible.

    APC urged the supporters and admirers of the former governor to be patient and allow the President to conclude his appointments, before passing any valid judgment.

     

  • Wike, Amaechi disagree on corruption, witch-hunt

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have disagreed on the governor’s anti-corruption crusade and the alleged witch-hunt of his predecessor.

    Amaechi said Wike, who was his former Chief of Staff and director-general of his campaign organisation in 2011, had been releasing government’s documents to show that his predecessor was corrupt.

    But the former governor insisted that he did not like stealing.

    Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, alleged that Amaechi was corrupt.

    Amaechi, a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said he would not appear before the judicial commission of enquiry Wike inaugurated to investigate his administration in the last 18 months.

    The former governor described the panel as illegal.

    But Inko-Tariah said: “It is laughable that Amaechi will call illegal a panel that has already been declared lawful by a court of law. This means, as at when he questioned its proprietary in court, he thought the court would declare it illegal but was shamed. This is no media trial and the government will not be embroiled in any war of attrition (with Amaechi).

    “He (ex-governor) should defend himself, just as Dr. Peter Odili (ex-Rivers governor) did during the Justice Kayode Esho’s panel. Media trial will not vindicate him (Amaechi), as the sentiment he is trying to whip up has failed.

  • Wike, Amaechi disagree on corruption

    Wike, Amaechi disagree on corruption

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, have disagreed on corruption and witch-hunt.

    Amaechi, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, declared that Wike could make as much noise and release as many documents as he liked, saying he did not like money and stealing.

    Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, on Sunday in Port Harcourt, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, insisted that Amaechi was corrupt.

    The ex-governor, however, stated that he would never appear before the members of the judicial commission of inquiry put in place by Wike to investigate his administration in the last 18 months, describing the panel as illegal.

    Inko-Tariah said: “It is laughable that Amaechi will call a panel that has already been declared lawful by a court of law illegal. This means as at when he questioned its proprietary in court, he thought the court would declare it illegal, but was shamed. This is no media trial and the government will not be embroiled in any war of attrition.

    “He (Amaechi) should go and defend himself, just like Dr. Peter Odili (ex-Rivers governor) did during the Justice Kayode Esho’s panel. Media trial will not vindicate him (Amaechi), as the sentiment he is trying to whip up has failed.

    “On the issue of corruption, the allegations preferred against Governor Wike are puerile, sweeping and risible. He (Amaechi) has cases of corruption to answer and he should not think this will distract the public. Wike has no skeleton in his cupboard to earth.

    “Wike is concerned with the development of the state and getting Rivers people to enjoy the dividends of democracy, which he promised them and for which they freely and gleefully gave him their mandate. We will not join issues with a contradiction of paradox like Amaechi, who claims he left N7.5 billion in one forum and in another N10 billion.”

    Amaechi, as a special guest of honour at the mass for the dedication of magnificent St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church at Elechi Beach, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, on Saturday, stressed that Wike should not be taken seriously.

    The ex-Rivers governor revealed that former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience, an indigene of Okrika in Rivers State, and Wike wanted him out as governor at all costs and they had everything, except God.

    The inauguration, which had in attendance the Rivers governorship candidate of the APC during the April 11 election, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, and many leaders of the party, was presided over by the Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Camillus Etokudoh.

    Amaechi said: “If not for your prayers, I probably would have been an ex-governor a long time ago. The ex-President (Dr. Jonathan) wanted me out at all costs. The present Rivers State Governor (Wike) and the former President’s wife (Dame Patience) wanted me out at all costs and they did everything they did, they had everything, except God.”

  • Buhari replacing PDP’s impunity with rule of law, says Amaechi

    •Wike free to make noise, release as many govt documents as he likes
    •Jonathan, wife, wanted me out as governor at all costs

    The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday took a dig at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying President Muhammadu Buhari is busy replacing the impunity by the party with the rule of law and good governance.

    “You do not solve impunity with impunity. If they (PDP government officials) had impunity before, we shall have the rule of law now,” Amaechi declared at the dedication of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church at Elechi Beach, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

    Using his personal experience as an example of what he called the new dawn in the country, he said: “when I landed today (yesterday morning) at the Port Harcourt International Airport and I saw soldiers, I said ‘no, I do not want soldiers anymore. Let federal institutions remain federal. Nobody should use them carelessly.’ But when they (leaders of the PDP) were in power, they were using them everywhere and chasing us about.

    “I assure you in this government, it will not happen again. I can tell you what the President (Buhari) says: that you do not solve impunity with impunity. If they (PDP government officials) had impunity before, we shall have the rule of law now.”

    He said that if ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife –Patience- and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers had had their way, he (Amaechi) would have ceased to be governor long before the expiration of his tenure last May.”

    He said, “If not for your prayers, I probably would have been an ex-governor a long time ago. The ex-President (Dr. Jonathan) wanted me out at all costs. The present Rivers State governor (Wike) and the former President’s wife (Dame Patience) wanted me out at all costs and they did everything they did, they had everything, except God.

    “Nyesom Wike can make as much noise as he likes. He can release as many documents of government as he likes, tell him I do not like money and I do not like stealing.”

    He denied that the state government contributed money to the building of the church to which the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Steve Dedua nodded in support.

    He told the congregation that he now sleeps very well since leaving office.

    “If you know me very well, you will know that nothing bothers me. I told my Chaplain to tell the Bishop (Most Rev. Etokudoh) not to worry, because the God I worship will always take care of me.”

    Amaechi said he has been avoiding the public for some time ‘except it is extremely necessary.’ “This is the second time I am speaking after I left office (on May 29, 2015).

    “The first time, it was at the International Conference Centre (in Abuja) , when the party (APC) chose to host me to a reception and I was on my way out of the country, when they reminded me that the President (Buhari) had approved a reception for me and that I must return. So, I left Lagos and came back to Abuja.

    “My Lord (Bishop), you were not here (in Rivers State) in 2007/2008. I nearly changed my church, not my faith, because the church was involved in politics and I said I was going to go to one of these Pentecostal churches and worship.

    “Today, I am very proud to be a Catholic. Maybe the church listened to my criticisms then or the leadership of the Bishop and the church is now avoiding politics.”

    Etokudoh, in his sermon, said ex-President Jonathan tried his best through his transformation agenda, and that President Buhari is proceeding to change Nigeria for the better.

    The bishop described the building of the church as a miracle.

    “When there is life, there is hope. There is no competition in destiny. What God has destined for you will come to pass,” he said.

  • Which roads did Amaechi build?

    SIR: From the inception of his tenure as the Governor of Rivers State in October 2007, Amaechi directed efforts and deployed significant resources of the state towards the development of infrastructure.

    Against the backdrop of this commitment, the administration articulated its vision with respect to the road sector as “A Rivers State where all communities are accessible by quality roads…” This vision by emphasizing quality roads implicitly acknowledged the finding of a study that there is a strong positive correlation between the economic development and the quality of the road network of an area.

    Between 2007 and 2014, over 300 contracts relating to roads and bridges, land reclamation and shore protection projects were awarded. As at August 2014, 165 of these contracts had been successfully completed with the remainder at various stages of completion, with the exception of two in which the contractors were not mobilized before the end of the tenure.

    The administration also completed 23 major bridges in different parts of the State with six other bridges at various stages of completion. The completed bridges include nine bridges on the Unity Road (Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo) Road; two Steel bridges at Eagle Island; Ndoni Steel Bridge; three bridges on the Okrika Ring Road; bridge at the Abuloma-Woji Road; Mbiama-Akinima Bridge; Bolo Creek bridge. The on-going bridges include Woji-Akpajobridge (70% completion); Luwa-Bere bridge (50% completion); Orashi Steel bridge (60% completion); Tema Steel bridge (40% completion) and two bridges on the Unity Road.

    The administration completed two major flyovers: Agip Roundabout on Ikwerre Road and Eliozu on the East-West Road. It reconstructed the collapsed flyover on Aba Road near the Nigeria Air force Base. Another flyover at Woji has reached 85% completion level. Two interchanges were also completed at Rumuokwurusi (at the intersection between the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway and the East-West Road) the area erroneously called “Eleme Junction”; and at Obiri Ikwerre (at the intersection between Prof. Tam David-West Boulevard and East-West Road).

    To evidence, Amaechi’s concern for all the residents of the State, 70 percent of the roads are located in the rural areas with the remainder 30% are within the Greater Port Harcourt Metropolis. From the rural areas to the urban centres, no part of the State was left out in the development of good road network. The Amaechi Administration expanded and completed the Okrika Ring Road. It expanded the Mbiama-Akinima Road. It constructed the Kpopie-Bodo Road. It substantially completed the Unity Road, which traverses three local government councils – Khana, Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro.

    Before he left office, Governor Amaechi ensured that the people of the Ancient Opobo Kingdom could get to Opobo by road. Anxious to ensure that all parts of Rivers State were accessible by road, the Amaechi administration entered into advanced discussions with the Nigeria LNG Ltd with respect to the completion of the Bodo-Bonny Road, which had been abandoned by the Federal Government. The administration also completed the Rivers State end of the Port Harcourt Owerri Road, in order to create relief for Rivers people, in the same way it attempted to reconstruct the Rivers State end of the East West road, but was refused to do so by the then Federal Government. To improve movement of farm goods and encourage trade and commerce, the Amaechi administration constructed a major spine road between Isiokpo and Omerelu.

    The Isiokpo/Omerelu road reaffirmed the high premium the Amaechi administration placed on transportation. The criticality of some roads made them a compelling proposition for the Amaechi Administration. These included the Ada George Road (Mile III Diobu to Mgbuoba) and the Port Harcourt – Owerri Road. The Amaechi Administration constructed a dual carriage Highway from the Port International Airport Junction to the boundary between Rivers State and Imo State; the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt – Aba Expressway (from the Rumuokwurusi Interchange to the boundary with Abia State). The Administration also awarded the contract for the Trans-Kalabari Highway which construction had commenced before the end of tenure.

    Within the capital city, the need to decongest the Aba Road led to the conception and construction of a Relief Road before the ever-busy Rumuola Junction to link Aba Road to Rumuomasi/Elekahia/Trans-Amadi. This Relief Road opened the area for residential development. The Old Stadium Road (renamed Ken Saro-Wiwa Road) was dualized. Similarly, the Old Aba Road up to Rumuogba (Artillery) was also dualized. Okporo Road was dualized to take traffic from Aba Road to the East-West Road.

    To address access to the Industrial Area: Trans-Amadi, the Amaechi Administration dualized the Elekahia-Rumuomasi Road linking Aba Expressway. It also dualized the Oginigba – Rumuobiokani Road. It dualized Nkpogu Road, which takes traffic to and from Eastern By-Pass. Save for a disagreement between the Contractor and the Ministry of Works, the bridge that opens up the second lane of the road would have been completed before the end of term.

    The Administration conceived, awarded the contract and commenced the construction of another major spine road linking Garrison to East-West Road (Garrison-Trans-Amadi-Oginigba-Woji-Elelenwo) with an interchange at Garrison, three bridges at Waja River, Oginigba River, Woji River and underpass at Oginigba (near the Zoological Garden. The execution of the road project is phased.

    The Woji section had attained a level of completion since 2014 that allows for reasonably unimpeded use by commuters. Work continued at the Trans-Amadi section before the end of the term.  Within the same Trans-Amadi axis, the Amaechi Administration conceived, awarded the contracts and substantially constructed the Abuloma-Woji Road and the Woji-Akpajo Road. The objective of this road is to take traffic to or from Eleme axis (Akwa Ibom) away from Aba Road.

    The Administration also conceived, awarded the contract and commenced the reconstruction of the Rumuepirikom – Rumuolumeni Road; the Elioparanwo Road; the Iguruta-Eneka-Rumuokwurusi Road as dualized roads. The Administration reconstructed the Ikwerre Road from Education Bus Stop to Agip Roundabout. To provide relief to Ikwerre Road for commuters from Rukpokwu, Iguruta, International Airport, and the Administration reconstructed the G.U. Ake Road linking Aba Road to Ikwerre Road close to Rukpokwu. The Amaechi Administration also conceived and awarded the contracts for the dualization and reconstruction of the Old Aba Road (Rumuogba) – Woji Road and Oil-Mill –Elelenwo-Akpajo Road (the Old Refinery Road.)

    In summary, Amaechi gave significant attention to the development of good roads in Rivers State on the understanding of its many benefits to the socio-economic wellbeing of the State. The Amaechi administration left a number of nearly completed roads that now serve as low hanging fruits for the new administration. What is required is for the present government to build on the excellent foundation laid. Those who are resorting to cheap muck-raking rather than face their work are only wasting their time and that of the good people of Rivers State.

    • Victor Tambari Giadom is the immediate past Commissioner of Works in Rivers State.
  • Why I’m fighting to stop Wike’s probe, by Amaechi

    Why I’m fighting to stop Wike’s probe, by Amaechi

    Former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has explained why he opposed the Judicial Commission of Enquiry set up by his successor, Nyesom Wike, to probe selected government transactions under the former administration.

    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by his Media Office, Amaechi said he was not afraid of a fair and decent probe or investigation or enquiry of his administration.

    The former governor promised to cooperate with the probe, if it is done “within the ambits of our laws”.

    The statement reads: “However, what Wike has set out to do is anything but a fair probe. The commission will not be fair to Amaechi because it was set up to indict him. Wike had repeatedly held that Amaechi, the person to be investigated, acted illegally in the disbursement of public funds and that he ran a corrupt government.

    “Clearly, Wike has prejudged the matter and showed his bias that Amaechi is guilty, even before investigations. This means Wike, with his prejudiced, made-up mind, has taken a position of a guilty verdict, even before the outcome is known or established.

    “The same Wike, who had adjudged the yet-to-be-investigated conduct of Amaechi as illegal and Amaechi as corrupt, is the same person that has set up a commission of enquiry and will have the final say on the findings of the commission. What a sham!

    “This bias and a predetermined agenda to indict Amaechi is obvious, even in the terms of reference of the commission. In one of the defective terms of reference, Wike said the commission should investigate the circumstances that led to the ‘sale of the state Hotel Olympia’. With a fair and decent probe, the enquiry should have been ‘to examine (or investigate) the transaction concerning Hotel Olympia’. The difference is so clear: in the former, jaundiced Wike’s term of reference, it has been prejudiced and concluded that the hotel was sold; in the latter, the enquiry is open and fair, and may lead to a finding of a sale or a lease or a gift or even a pledge.

    “Now, having so concluded that Hotel Olympia was sold, would Wike be decent and humble enough to reverse himself, if documents showed it was never sold but concessioned or leased? This is one of the dangers of Wike’s commission that harbours a predetermined outcome in the name of

    an enquiry. Amaechi will not subject himself to Wike’s deceit and phony shenanigans. Hotel Olympia was never sold. It was only concessioned (or leased) on the approval of the State Executive Council (Exco) and not sold.

    “Even while inaugurating his yeoman commission of enquiry, Wike could not conceal his vendetta agenda. He was clear to the panel members that their job is to indict Amaechi. To do the job, he got Justice G. O. Omereji (the commission’s chairman), a man who is well known to harbour a long held, extreme anger, hatred and animosity against Amaechi.

    “Justice Omereji has never disguised his stance and disposition towards Amaechi. As a matter of fact, Justice Omereji even advised a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chairman in Rivers State on measures (to take) against the then Governor Amaechi. He expressed his hatred for Amaechi several times to the NBA chairman, who was also an Attorney-General of Rivers State. How can we now expect Justice Omereji to be fair to Amaechi, the person he passionately loathes with extreme malice and venom?

    “Anyone who has been following events in Rivers State knows this Wike’s probe is just a sham, a deceptive mission to indict Amaechi. Wike’s one-point agenda is to go after his predecessor. Immediately Wike took over, he made a show and gave a performance of his false accusations that Amaechi stripped the Governor’s Lodge bare, saying that the former governor stole spoons, plates, knives, cups, mattresses, forks and even curtains from the Governor’s Lodge!

    “However, in the images Wike portrayed to back his lies, the curtains in the lodge were clearly there, seen and intact.

    “Again, Wike claimed he met an empty treasury. That again is another big lie and grand deception. We have said that Amaechi left billions of naira and we even mentioned the banks and give the names of the accounts the money was lodged in, as at May 29, 2015. We challenge Wike to publish the statements of these accounts and other Rivers State Government Ministries’, Departments’ and Agencies’ (MDAs’) accounts as at May 29, to prove his claim and show the public that Amaechi left an empty treasury for him.

    “This Wike’s probe is dead on arrival. It’s ill-conceived and ill-motivated. Wike’s probe is designed to twist and distort, or even completely alter selected legitimate government transactions in his desperation to cook up and fabricate sham cases of corruption against Amaechi. Wike’s probe commission shall not achieve anything beyond political excitements, entertainment and theatrics.

    “Finally, Amaechi will continue to use every constitutional and legal means available to protect his name and image from this massive smear campaign, state-sponsored onslaught against him by the Wike-led government, whose sole agenda is a desperate search for Amaechi’s political downfall.”

  • Court okays probe of Amaechi’s govt

    A Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday dismissed the suit filed by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi challenging the setting up of a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to probe his administration.

    Governor Nyesom Wike constituted the Justice George Omereji-led commission to probe the alleged sale of the state’s assets by the Amaechi administration.

    Justice Simeon Amadi, who delivered the verdict yesterday, said the commission of enquiry was not meant to probe Amaechi’s personal activities but to examine the actions of the former administration as they affected the residents.

    Wike, according to the judge, was empowered to establish the judicial commission of enquiry to probe the actions of the former government.

    Justice Amadi said no law prevented a state government from finding out how its resources were utilised.

    On Amaechi’s position that the 30 days for the sitting of the commission would deny him fair hearing, Justice Amadi said the period for the commission’s sitting did not breach Amaechi’s right to fair hearing.

    The judge noted that since the former governor had not filed a memorandum before the commission and had not appeared before it, he could not complain of not getting a fair hearing.

    He said the 30 days for the commission of enquiry was not sacrosanct, adding that the period could be extended.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma, noted that with the court ruling, the commission of enquiry could begin its sitting.

    He promised that it would be fair to all the parties.

    Amaechi said last night he would appeal the court’s verdict.

    Through his lawyer, Winifred Enyinnaya, the former governor said he would appeal the planned probe.