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Tag: Amaechi

  • Governors: Amaechi can seek second term

    Governors: Amaechi can seek second term

    Despite moves by the Presidency, most Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and those in opposition are backing the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, for a second term.

    Some of the governors yesterday released a copy of the constitution of the Governors’ Forum to justify Amaechi’s bid for re-election next month.

    They also said the NGF constitution does not make it compulsory for the ruling party (PDP) to produce the forum’s chairman.

    Also yesterday, there were indications that the Presidency is in dilemma over the search for Amaechi’s replacement as the preferred candidate, Governor Ibrahim Shema, is said to be unwilling to contest for the office.

    Shema is trying to avoid being used as a “cannon fodder”, a source said.

    President Goodluck Jonathan had a “curious dinner” with some PDP , All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party (LP) governors Sunday night, a source said. How to stop Amaechi’s re-election was discussed, but members of the NGF were convinced that Amaechi should go.

    It was gathered that some of those who attended the dinner queried why the President should dictate to them on who to vote for.

    According to sources, some of the NGF members, who met in Abuja, have mapped out two strategies to stop Jonathan from “hijacking” the Forum.

    One of the governors, who spoke in confidence, said: “The strategies are: canvassing strongly for secret ballot and stopping the PDP Governors Forum from coming up with a consensus candidate against Amaechi.”

    He went on: “We are determined to stop being led by the nose by President Goodluck Jonathan on who should lead the NGF. We knew what the strange dinner on Sunday at the Presidential Villa was all about but we have launched a counter-strategy.

    “The truth is that most members of the NGF are still backing Amaechi because his sins border on the protection of the statutory functions of the Forum.

    “I can tell you that those against Amaechi cannot have the number. What is at stake is protecting the corporate existence of NGF; it transcends Amaechi as a person.”

    Another governor, who also pleaded not to be named, said: “The Presidency knew that it has committed an error with the Sunday dinner. That is why Jonathan wants to meet with PDP Governors again on Thursday.

    “The so-called PDP Governors Forum will also meet on Wednesday. We are set to resist any attempt to choose a consensus candidate at the Forum for NGF chair because the constitution does not say that the ruling party must produce our chairman.

    “Instead, the constitution favours merit and fairness in whatever we are doing. This is why we favour Amaechi’s return as guaranteed by NGF’s Constitution.

    “If you also look at past chairmen, some of them spent more than four years in office. So, what is the fuss about Amaechi’s second term of just two years?

    “The past and present chairmen of the NGF are ex-Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (1999 – 2004); Ex-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah (2004 – 2006); former Governor of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion (2006 – 2007); ex-Governor of Kwara State Senator. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (2007 – 2011); and Amaechi( 2011- till date).

    “The source released a copy of the NGF’s constitution as verified and approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission on February 2009.The source cited Article 6.7 to prove that Amaechi can seek re-election.

    Article 6.7-6.11 of the Certified True Copy of the NGF Constitution reads in part: “Members of the Governing Board shall elect from among themselves a person to be known and addressed as Chairman who shall preside over the affairs of the Board and chair all its meetings and another to be known and addressed as Vice-Chairman, who shall assist the Chairman in directing the affairs of the Board and chair its meeting in the absence of the chairman.

    “In electing the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, members shall give due regard to;

    “The principle of federal character; and the need to reflect political party representation in the Board, so as to ensure that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are not persons elected as Governors of their states on the platform of the same political party but on the platforms of the two political parties with the highest representation in the Board.

    “The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman shall hold office for a term of two years but shall be available for re-election for another but final term of two years.

    “The Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman, shall present to the Board, at its General Meeting, a report to be known as the Chairman’s Report, which shall be a comprehensive report of the policies, activities, achievements and accounts of the Forum in the preceding year, and a brief on the policy direction, action plans and agenda for action in the following year.

    “Where the offices of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, or one of them becomes vacant, either due to resignation by the incumbents or incumbent or because the incumbent or incumbents cease for whatever reason to be Members of the Board, the member shall hold election to elect a new chairman and a vice-chairman, or either of the two as the case may be, who shall hold office only for the rest of the tenure of the persons or person vacating the offices or office.”

    Responding to a question, the source added that anti-Amaechi forces have been harping on a resolution taken at a meeting of the NGF, when ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel wanted to be the chairman of the Forum, to stop the governor of Rivers State.

    The source said: “A resolution cannot override the provision of the Constitution. Article 17 of the NGF Constitution is very clear on the amendment process.

    “Article 17.3 says: “Any addition, alteration or amendments made to or in the constitution must first be filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission. We have not effected any amendment, nothing has been filed in CAC.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Jonathan vs. Amaechi: Again, judiciary on the spot

    Jonathan vs. Amaechi: Again, judiciary on the spot

    Nigeria’s judiciary suffered a major setback in its determination at ensuring fair dispensation of justice on Monday April 15 in Abuja High Court. Justice Ishaq Bello sacked the Rivers State executive of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and approved the election of a parallel executive and a faction of the party.

    The issues in Rivers State politics especially with regard to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the PDP are well known. What is however strange and disturbing in the barefaced verdict is the consequences of this action on our judicial system and the consolidation of democracy. The sacked executive, led by Chief Godspower Ake enjoyed the support of Governor Amaechi while the parallel faction recently imposed on the people of Rivers State is loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of State for Education who is alleged to have been drafted by the Presidency to spearhead this onslaught against the people of Rivers State and their outspoken governor.

    Unknown to many Nigerians, what has turned out to be a judgement usurping the powers of a democratically elected executive is fraught with irregularities and absurdities. For instance, to all intents and purposes, the perceived crisis in Rivers State occasioned by the presidency’s undue interference is serving nobody’s interest. Aside that, this issue that resurfaced in an Abuja High Court is strictly an intra party matter which presupposes that it would not have been taken to court for adjudication in the first place. More so, the party congress that happened took place in Port Harcourt, not in Abuja. It is therefore inconceivable for a supposedly “local” case to be heard in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and not even the Federal High Court. Lawyers will tell you this is absurdity of the first order.

    Baffling too is the fact that the state congress that produced the Chief Ake led executive took place in March 2012 and it took almost a whole year for the petitioners to file their case. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC was joined in the matter of Obuah and one other versus Chief Ake and others before an FCT high court. By my elementary knowledge of law, this case was clearly filed out of time coming almost a year after the completion of the congress, thus statute barred. The judge also ignored this well known principle of law.

    There is also the outstanding issue of gross criminal allegations and the manner the judge treated it leaves much to be desired. Whereas there was an allegation of fraud and forgery, yet no witness was called throughout this trial. The trial judge relied on affidavit evidence sworn to by one of the officials who conducted the congress. This is against the spirit and practice of the law.

    The trial judge also deliberately ignored a report from INEC which monitored the state congress as enshrined in the Electoral Act. It is quite ironic that these characters who now brandish a spurious court victory did not even purchase nomination forms nor where they found anywhere near the venue of the PDP congress.

    These developments are disquieting and posse a great danger to our democracy. There is no doubt that the judiciary and the work they do is a pillar in the consolidation of democracy. Daily, we drift steadily towards full blown dictatorship yet we all seem helpless. What is happening today in Nigeria is distressing and calls for urgent intervention from all men of goodwill.

    Sadly, those entrusted with the onerous task of keeping Nigeria running are the same people undermining and desecrating our institutions. Even a blind man can see the unseen hands of the perpetrators of the crisis in the PDP across the country and this is traceable to the Presidency. There is nothing accidental about this latest onslaught in Rivers State PDP considering the running battle between the Presidency and Governor Amaechi. As a people, I think it is time we took the affairs of our country more seriously.

    Fortunately, some Nigerians are already speaking out against this unjustified abuse that our country is subjected to almost on a daily basis. They are alarmed at the despoliation of the political space and the impending doom.

    For a judicial system that only recently embarked on measures to rid its rank and file of corrupt officials, this is a test case. The National Judicial Council, NJC must quickly act to restore confidence in the judiciary if the revered institution hopes to remain as generally perceived as the last hope of the common man. There is no doubt that the action of Justice Bello will impact negatively on the credibility of our courts. This is absolutely needless.

    As election year approaches, it has become very imperative for Nigerians to be more vigilant and participatory in this arduous task of building a country we can proudly bequeath to the next generation. We must also show interest in the affairs of our nation; that is the only way to build a great country. To assume that we are still learning because our democracy is still relatively young and evolving presupposes that we may learn forever and this will do us more harm. Therefore when patriots like Amaechi challenge any contradictory reality that is inconsistent with our federal structure, we must not stand aloof and watch.

    I believe that every serious Nigerian must be gravely worried at the turn of events in our country today particularly with our parties and their promoters. Less than twenty-four hours after obtaining the controversial judgement, a kangaroo swearing-in ceremony was arranged by some members of the PDP National Working Committee in Abuja. As a people, we must begin to take ourselves more seriously and the time to avoid taking actions that would haunt us in the future now.

     

    • Salami, Executive Director, Judiciary Watch Initiative writes from Lagos.

     

  • Amaechi, Minister at war over Rivers PDP

    Amaechi, Minister at war over Rivers PDP

    • Temple of justice desecrated, says embattled governor

    • Wike: I want to be governor in 2015

     

    Embattled Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and his erstwhile associate and confidant, Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of State for Education, yesterday openly drew the battle line in the struggle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    Amaechi, whose camp recently lost the control of the party through a court verdict to a rival group led by Wike, called the judgement a desecration of the temple of justice.

    He asked Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Maryam Mukhtar to step in with a view to saving the integrity of the judicial arm from further assault.

    But Wike, a lawyer and ex-Chief of Staff to Amaechi differed. He said by virtue of his profession, he would not cast aspersion on the judiciary.

    He spoke of how he put his life on the line for Amaechi during the intrigues that attended the choice of the party’s governorship candidate for the 2007 election in the state.

    Wike said that struggle led to the death of his driver while he himself was almost consumed.

    Port Harcourt, the state capital, was all tension for much of yesterday after thousands of Amaechi’s supporters from the 23 local government areas of the state converged on the Government House, demanding a response to Friday’s tumultuous arrival in the city by Mr. Felix Obuah, who was declared the new chairman of the PDP in the state by a Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Amaechi, who is already locked in a battle of wits with the Presidency and the national leadership of the party over his perceived interest in the 2015 presidential race, obliged his supporters with a rally at the Government House.

    But it was his deputy, Tele Ikuru, an engineer who addressed the crowd on his behalf.

    He said: “As a nation, one area we should not allow mud to go into is the judiciary. As a nation, that is one area we should not allow to become a thing of play in the judiciary.

    “The temple of justice has been desecrated. Nigeria arise. If we do not rise, we will lose our country. As a nation, any day we allow the temple of justice to be desecrated, we will lose our country.

    “Any day a poor man cannot go to the court and state his case and get justice, that country is lost. I therefore call on the judges, particularly the CJN, to very quickly, with alarm, move into this matter. This is another case for her to prove that she sits at the helm of justice in this country. She will ensure that justice is given to all.

    “I was privileged to be part of the Rivers State congress of PDP (on March 17 last year at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt). I was privileged to see the votes counted. I was privileged to see the results announced and then suddenly, in broad daylight, somebody said that, that election produced another person.

    “When certain people die, their eyes will not close, because they tell broad daylight lies. Those who open their eyes, know what is right, see what is right and say something different. The day they will die, their eyes will never close.”

    Another supporter of the Governor, Senator Magnus Abe, also addressed the rally, saying, Rivers’ people would not be slaves in their own country.

    Abe, who had served at different times as Information Commissioner, Secretary to the State Government and member of the House of Assembly, said the crisis in the state was the handiwork of those he said were trying to play God.

    Such politicians, according to him, were desperate for power and money.

    He told Amaechi’s supporters not to be afraid.

    He wondered why the Godspower Ake-led executive committee of the PDP in the state was dissolved by the court when the March 17, 2012 congress leading to the emergence of the exco, in the first instance, was held in the presence of the three senators from the state.

    He said even before now, a Rivers State High Court, sitting at Okehi in Etche LGA of Rivers State had, in a judgment, confirmed Ake as the duly-elected chairman of PDP in the state.

    His words: “Somebody (Chief Felix Obuah, aka Go Round, being backed by Wike and was inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday, also a former chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State, where the ex-Governor, Dr. Peter Odili hails from) who neither picked form nor contested election, is now the chairman of PDP in the state.

    “Rivers people, hold your peace. Do not go for war. Judiciary has done it before and will do it again. The will of Rivers people and the will of God will be done.”

    The leader of the Rivers House of Assembly, Chid Lloyd told the rally that Amaechi’s loyalists stood by the decision of the Okehi court.

    “Truth will prevail. Do not be pushed into doing things that will make you to fight or quarrel. The PDP is united under the leadership of Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,” he said, adding:”Wike and Obuah want to truncate democracy in Rivers State. We will not allow them to declare emergency rule in the state.”

    Wike responded while fielding questions during a radio phone-in programme in the city yesterday, the minister said: “Rivers government is playing politics with federal presence in the state. People should not play politics with every issue. Federal Government should be appreciated.

    “I was the director-general of Amaechi campaign organisation in 2011. I was offered a lot of things in 2007, but I stood by Amaechi. My relationship with Amaechi is very cordial, but he is not appreciating the efforts of the Federal Government in Rivers State. You do not intervene in what you have not been invited to.

    “I supported Amaechi in 2011. My LGA (Obio/Akpor) gave Amaechi the highest votes during the 2011 governorship election. I do not have personal problems with Amaechi. We may disagree on certain issues.

    “My choice is Felix Obuah (newly-inaugurated PDP chairaman). He purchased form. I have no regret for supporting Obuah. I am not standing against somebody (Amaechi) I fought for him in 2007. I supported Amaechi in 2007 and we fought till the end. I was the Commander-in-Chief of that era. I also supported Amaechi in 2011. Obuah should not be denied his rightful position. I never sponsored Ake’s election.

    “There is no confusion. If you feel that you are being denied of your position, you can go to court, without carrying arms and ammunition. Obuah got judgment on April 15.

    “I have the right to have ambition (to be Rivers Governor in 2015). Only God will decide who will be Governor or not. I did not fight dirty for Amaechi. I have the right to report to the police, anybody that is doing anything inimical to peace. Police will do their jobs.

    “Some people got ex-parte order in Port Harcourt. Nobody said the judge was corrupt. If there is an order from another court, they will say Oga and Madam (President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience) have influenced it. Obuah had inaugurated the LG and ward executives of the party in the state, before they got their court order.

    “The Rivers ALGON members who are supporting Amaechi want to come for second tenure. They believe that if Obuah is the chairman, they will not get the tickets. They are frustrated.

    “I am not a member of Ogboni and I have never belonged to any secret cult/society. My father is a Reverend. When I was fighting for Amaechi, nobody called me an Ogboni member. We know the hardened cultists.”

    The Minister of State for education asked the people of the state to continue to give peace a chance, and PDP members to keep supporting Obuah and members of his executive.

    Wike, like Amaechi, is Ikwerre.

    The Governor said last year that it would be unfair after serving for eight years as Governor, he was succeeded by another person from Ikwerre.

    Yesterday’s pro-Amaechi carnival-like rally had his supporters drumming, singing and dancing, leading to traffic congestion on Azikiwe Road and adjoining roads and streets.

    Obuah had his own rally on arriving Port Harcourt from Abuja on Friday.

    He was accompanied into the city by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara; ex-governorship candidate, Sergeant Awuse, aka Bulldozer; and Senator Lee Maeba, among other eminent personalities.

    Obuah and members of his executive were received by loud drumming, singing and dancing.

    While briefly speaking at the airport, Obuah said: “I will unite the party. I will bring back all the aggrieved members, who left the PDP. The teeming supporters at the airport to receive me indicate that I have the support of party members in the state.”

    Ake who was sacked by the Abuja Federal High Court has alleged that Wike is “not alone in the fight against Amaechi. There are others at the top, conspiring to destroy Amaechi’s structure. The party is actually not the target, but the Rivers State Government.”

    He spoke while receiving a delegation of council chairmen in the state during a solidarity visit.

    He has secured a court injunction in Port Harcourt restraining Obuah and his team from parading themselves as officers of the party pending the determination of the substantive case challenging Obuah and his group.

    Meanwhile, the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar has described Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as a pillar of democracy in the current dispensation.

    Omar spoke when he led a delegation of top NLC officials on a courtesy call on the Governor in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

    The NLC President and other members were in the Rivers State capital for a conference to elect new executive of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services (AUCPTRC).

    Omar said: “Nigerians are watching. Nigerians are very, very intelligent people. They are watching, they know things, they know what is happening(to Amaechi) and they are also passing their own judgment.

    “You have been one of the major pillars of democracy in this dispensation and we always like to in our only small way, associate with good things, especially when I recall that when I was here last, you decided to show me some of the projects, that at that time, a lot of them were not even completed but by the time we arrived this time and we passed through some of them, especially primary schools. 3 are completed.

    “I have not seen any where the children in public primary schools are learning under such very conducive atmosphere. This is what is required of democracy, for leadership to provide the dividends of democracy to the people practically, not theoretically, and I think that is very abundant in Rivers State. We believe in what you are doing because we have seen it and we only want to urge you to continue in that direction”.

    Governor Amaechi urged the Nigerian Labour Congress to continue to represent the poor and give voice to the voiceless for a better Nigeria.

    “I think that basically the greatest voice that the poor can have will not be any other voice than the voice of the workers. “

  • Amaechi’s warning

    Amaechi’s warning

    •The Rivers governor’s statement that Nigerians were too docile to be revolutionary is a battle cry for positive change

    Should a governor openly say Nigerians are too docile for a revolution to take place in this country? To the extent that it could easily be misconstrued as people-baiting, it is clearly impolitic. But that is about the only negative thing about the statement Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi made in Ado Ekiti, at the second Nigeria Symposium for Young and Emerging Leaders.

    The governor, in his presentation at the symposium, had decried the seeming endless elasticity of Nigerians and their penchant to resign themselves to suffering, instead of girding their loins to challenge bad governance and its myriad of injustices.

    He said Nigerians would rather pray, and expect God to come down and perform a miracle over what God had given the people the power and the intellect to change. It was in this context that he said revolutions could not happen in Nigeria, given that less serious cases had caused great catastrophes elsewhere.

    Two things are clear from Governor Amaechi’s submission: that Nigerians could be better governed by their leaders; and that Nigerians could more vigorously call their leaders to question and account, given their penchant for peaceful change.

    That Nigerians appear timid and docile is no lie. But that does not mean their temper is eternally elastic. No people’s temper is. But then, why should any government, democratic or monarchy, rise to the occasion of exemplary governance and development if the people make a fetish of docility? If that happens, the people themselves would have thrown into the Atlantic Ocean their God-given and constitutionally sanctioned power to challenge their leaders to do better – and by so doing, get the people’s lives better transformed.

    Therefore, given that the governor was speaking to young Nigerians and emerging leaders, it was as good a place as any to call for the people’s change of strategy; and for Nigerians to deliberately and consistently challenge for better governance. The youth must champion this crusade. And Nigeria, near-dysfunctional as it is, can certainly use such attitudinal change.

    On the government’s side, Amaechi’s call should sound as a timely alarm that our governments must put their acts together. Mr. Amaechi is a sitting governor. If despite his assured comfort zone, his political antenna is still socially acute enough to pick out the great suffering in the land, while the government does little or nothing, then he ought to be praised for telling his co-rulers to brace up to the business of improving the people’s lives, rather than being nailed – as quite many of his colleagues would blissfully hold – of goading the people to rebellion.

    Indeed, Mr. Amaechi has shown great courage to have consistently held that Nigerian leaders should not just sit back and do near-nothing, just because they have the impression that the Nigerian people are no agitators. Such a glum attitude, erected on what could prove an attitudinal mirage, may well be cause of future but needless agony.

    So, let everyone, leaders and people alike, use the Ameachi comment as a wake-up call. That Nigerians do not exactly love agitation does not mean the government should abandon its very essence: adding value to the life of the citizen. That would be courting needless danger.

    On the other hand, the people must cultivate the culture of constant challenge and healthy demands to push the government to do its duties and perform its obligations towards citizens.

    Both parties doing their own bits would create the healthy tension that ensures democracy is deepened; with its resultant development and prosperity. With that assured, any talk of revolution would sound patently asinine.

     

  • Nigeria sliding back to era of dictatorship, says Amaechi

    Nigeria sliding back to era of dictatorship, says Amaechi

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday said Nigeria is gradually sliding back to the era of dictatorship and praised the country’s media for remaining “the ray of hope in a dark era.”

    In the preliminary comments he made before reading his speech at the grand event at the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel in Lagos, where he was given the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, who has of late been involved in a war of words with President Goodluck Jonathan’s men, explained that unlike his usual style of speaking extemporally, he decided to read a prepared speech, because “I am becoming more careful, given that we are gradually going back to the era of dictatorship in this country.”

    While Amaechi was formally presented as Vanguard’s Personality of the Year, 2012, at the event, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Managing Director of Access Bank, was also honoured as the runner up.

    According to an earlier report by Vanguard, the event was designed to highlight Amaechi’s achievements in the last one year, stating that his “feat in Rivers State has been lauded by eminent personalities.”

    The report also said “he is being honoured for his widely acknowledged developmental strides which have seen noteworthy improvements in infrastructure and the impartation of governance on all sectors of the society in Rivers State.”

    But responding to praises of his achievements, Amaechi, who dedicated the award to the people of Rivers State said, “I am just an errand boy. Our understanding of political power is that power belongs to the voters.”

    In his speech, the Chairman of the event, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, recalled, with passion his friendly relationship with the publisher of Vanguard, Sam Amuka, pointing out that even during the military era, when one of the military governors in his regime shut down Vanguard, their relationship was not destroyed.

    The event was a grand party. Nigeria’s pop diva, Omawumi Megbele, Timi Dakolo, Temi Sax and ace-comedian, Gordons led other top artistes to entertain the audience made-up of Nigeria’s creme de la creme, including top political leaders like the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, many state governors and business leaders like Alhaji Aliyu Dangote.

  • Public debate: ACN welcomes Amaechi’s challenge

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers State chapter, has described as a welcome development, the public debate challenge by Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The ACN in Rivers, through its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, stated that the debate should be anchored by either the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) or the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Rivers, main opposition party said: “We feel delighted that the Rivers State governor has at last accepted to be joined in a public debate, a forum we have over the years advocated.

    “We commend the governor for taking, even though that long, the bold step in offering himself for the public debate, but we wonder why officials of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shy away from engaging in such forum, giving the impression that there are skeletons in their cupboards.

    “The beauty of democracy is about the availability of the leaders to the people and the people always having access to their leaders and resources in terms of knowledge and making decision on the utilisation of the resources.

    “The leaders function as custodians and managers of the peoples’ resources and are bound to at all times report and give explanations of their activities to the people.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Amaechi: I remain loyal to PDP

    Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Rotimi Amaechi has assured the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he and his administration remain loyal and committed to the party.

    He said he would continue to deliver accountable, transparent, developmental and people-oriented leadership to the people.

    Amaechi spoke at the weekend when he hosted the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who led the committee members on a visit to the governor in Port Harcourt.

    Amaechi urged the committee to work out modalities to rebuild and reconcile lingering differences in the party.

    “We will remain in PDP… We support the issue of reconciliation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the party.

    “We are in PDP, I have told my executives that if we want to win election, we must work in such a way that the people are happy with us.

    “Currently, we are popular in Rivers state, we have to maintain our popularity while in office and thereafter, and the only way to maintain that popularity is to continue to do what we are doing now, putting the people first.”

    While taking stock of the achievements of his administration, Amaechi said his administration would deliver steady power supply by June.

    “If you watch my town hall meetings, nobody tells me you have done nothing, what they say is please do more.

    “But we are saying that by the time we leave office, we will be proud to say we have done this and that.

    “Currently, if you access governors by the number of bridges and flyovers they have built, we have built five and by 2015, we must have built 15 bridges,” he added.

    Tukur expressed satisfaction with the level of people oriented projects put in place by the Amaechi administration in the state.

    “You are executing socially, responsible programmesand this has made me to be very happy and proud that our party is working.

    “So what we can see today is a testimony of a responsible programme to the people.

     

  • Amaechi relives days of violence

    Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, has described the prevailing peace in the state as what sustains the Rivers economy.

    Governor Amaechi recalled that when he became governor, the state economy was at its lowest ebb, as companies and expatriates relocated to other parts of the country on account of insecurity in the state.

    He said with steady efforts to tackle insecurity, his administration was able to restore peace to the state as the economy also bounced back. He assured that he will continue to maintain the peace in the state.

    Governor Amaechi spoke during a town hall meeting with the people of Okrika at the Okrika Local Government Council headquarters on Thursday.

    The governor said: “I will discuss security in line with what I consider my contribution to the growth of the state. When I became governor of Rivers State, you all know how Rivers State was. You know that it was bad. I hardly had time to sleep because if one group was not attacking here, another group was attacking there. They were all everywhere and it was like a war zone. And it occurred to me that as a young man, if I didn’t confront these young boys or young men, we would not have a state called Rivers State. Our economy was crashing, people had left the city, companies had folded up, whitemen had gone, we had no business again. When I took over, they used to pay them to come and bury somebody in either Okrika or Buguma or Abonnema. You must pay money. They will give you one or two hours to come and bury and go. So, the micro-economy was going, that economy had crashed in the riverine areas. We sat back, we discussed with the military, we discussed with the police, we argued and argued and at the end of the day, we took one decision – we would not pay anybody anymore. From today henceforth no more payment.

    “I am a Christian, so I sat back and I prayed to God that this war is not mine, it is yours and you must fight to redeem your people and the people are Rivers people and that includes Okrika people and the first place we attacked was Okochiri(in Okrika). We needed to do that to be able to let everybody know that there was a government. So I felt that there was the need to come out and address the issue if the economy of Rivers State must kick-start again. So we started the battle to make everybody accountable for their actions. People were being killed every day. Young boys at 15, 18 were parading the streets with guns, people were scared. We were told that some people were buried alive here in Okochiri. We moved in. Today, what do we have? We have peace. We must thank God that we have peace. Now our parents can go about their business. Our mothers can go about their business. Our young girls who had run away before, they are now coming back home, nobody is being molested anymore. We will not allow this peace we are enjoying now to escape from us again, never again. We must hold it tenaciously,” he said.

    Amaechi said his administration has constructed ten model primary schools in Okrika Local Government Area with six others to be completed soon. He named the completed ones to include State School, Ibuluya, Government State School, Okrika, Town School, Ogoloma, Town School, Isiaka, Government State School, Abam-Ama, State School, Kalio-Ama. Others include State School, Ndubuisi-Ama, B.S.S. Okrika, State School, Oba-Ama, State Primary School, Azubie and Ibaka Town School, Ibaka.

    For the model primary healthcare centres, Amaechi named the completed ones already in use to include ATC Ibaka, Anyungu Biri, Okochiri, Ogoloma and Ogan-Ama, disclosing that his administration has also constructed the Okrika ring road named after a former governor in the state, Rufus Ada-George. The governor disclosed that there is also an ongoing land reclamation project at Oba-Ama community.

    Amaechi promised to establish a fish farm in Okuma-Ama, Okrika which will also create employment for the people. The State government, according to him, will put in place a temporary water scheme in Okrika to provide potable water for the people, while still awaiting the Federal Government which has promised to do a comprehensive scheme in Okrika. He also said his administration has offered scholarships to students from Okrika to study in the universities abroad.

    The governor equally said the state has disbursed N2 billion to the Rivers State Micro-finance Agency (RIMA) to boost micro-economic activities in the state by giving Rivers people business loans.

    Earlier, the Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area, Barr Tamuno Williams, in his address, commended Governor Amaechi for keeping his promises to Rivers people.

    “Your visit is auspicious. Your visit is an impeccable demonstration of a government that is alive to its duties and responsibilities. You are a faithful leader, a leader who keeps his promises, who is steadfast, who tenaciously holds unto ideals,” the Okrika chairman said.

  • Amaechi: I didn’t shun PDP governors’ meeting

    Amaechi: I didn’t shun PDP governors’ meeting

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said he did not shun the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ meeting.

    “I only just returned to Nigeria from the Commonwealth Observance Day, which took place at the Westminster Abbey in London.”

    Amaechi, who spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said contrary to rumours and speculations in some quarters, he holds the PDP Governors’ Forum in high esteem and would not have ignored the members.

    The governor was one of the three high-profile speakers at the event, with the theme: “Opportunity through Enterprise.”

    In a statement, the commissioner said: “One wonders why mischief makers will insinuate that the governor shunned the PDP Governors’ Forum, when in actual fact he was flying the nation’s flag at the historic global event.”

    The commissioner also described the governor as a loyal party man, who always participates in PDP activities,.

    Mrs Semenitari added: “The time has come for detractors to acknowledge the fact that mudslinging cannot overshadow the global recognition given to a people-oriented governor.

    “Governor Amaechi remains committed to the building of our nation, Nigeria and the democratic ideals of his party, the PDP, and no amount of blackmail can change this incontrovertible fact.”

     

  • Rivers Assembly passes vote-of-confidence in Amaechi

    The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday passed a vote-of-confidence in Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The motion was signed by 26 of the 36 members, who were at plenary.

    It was presented by House Leader, Chidi Lloyd, who held that the lawmakers’ stance became imperative, following the perceived recent antagonism targeted at the governor.

    The House voted in favour of a special session to be held with Amaechi to enable lawmakers express the confidence vote.

    Several lawmakers, who signed the motion, affirmed that the governor has done well in the governance and development of the state.

    Amaechi has also been praised by the leadership of a group, Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, for his sterling leadership and enormous achievements in the state.

    Its President-General, Prof. Augustine Onyeozu, spoke when the group visited the governor in Port Harcourt.

    He said: “The fact is that your performance and achievements are superlative and excellent.

    “You have brought pride and honour to us. We are indeed very proud of you.

    “We will further urge you to ensure that in all your conduct and activities in government you give every ethnic group a sense of belonging.”

    The group urged the governor to disregard negative comments from people who misinterpret his policies.

    It urged him to remain focused, courageous and objective to deliver on his mandate.

    “Your Excellency, in recent times, we have observed the misinterpretations being given to some of your actions.

    “As your parents, we know you keep your words and that you mean what you say.

    “In our clime unfortunately, not many appreciate being told the truth and very many prefer those who deceive them.

    “Remain focused, courageous and objective in all your undertakings.

    “We want to assure you that Ikwerre people will stand by you in any and all actions you may take to uphold the spirit and letters of the oath of office you swore to.”