Opinion

Governor Amaechi’s Two Years In Office

Published

16 years ago

October 26, 2009

On the 25th of October, 2007, the incumbent Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, was declared as duly elected governor by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in a landmark judgement.

Expectedly, however, the news of that historic judgement received wide jubilations across the state and beyond. Indeed, the orgy of celebration momentarily serrated the thick political gloom and tension which gripped the entire citizenry and the political landscape in Rivers State that period.

Shortly after his brief, but colourful swearing-in ceremony on the 26th of October, 2007, Governor Amaechi left no one in doubt of his intellectual capability and preparedness for the exalted office of a governor, when he made his now famous mission statement to the people of Rivers State.

I quote, “To serve our people with humility and render transparent and accountable stewardship anchored on integrity and good governance. We shall use our God-given resources to improve the quality of life of our present and future generations and empower our people in a peaceful, just and harmonious society under God.” It is not in doubt that within two years in office, Governor Amaechi has patriotically, guarded by God, repositioned and refixed the battered image and indeed the pride of Rivers people by providing creditable, philosophical and realistic leadership to the people of Rivers State. He has demonstrated beyond peoples’ imagination his unwavering commitment, zeal to restore the lost glory of an oil rich Rivers State by providing world-class social infrastructure to the people of the state. For instance, the vision of Governor Amaechi’s administration on roads is a state where all communities are accessible by quality roads and infrastructure all year round. Governor Amaechi’s administration has between October, 2007 and April 2009, awarded a total of 160 road contracts totaling 506km in the state. Over 60 per cent of these roads have been completed.

The state government is constructing 10 major bridges, 20 minor bridges, four flyovers/interchange, five major land reclamation/shore/protection in various parts of riverine communities in the state, 2 markets, shopping malls and 450km length of paved roads in greater Port Harcourt.

A minimum of N100 billion has been invested yearly by Governor Amaechi’s administration on construction of roads, bridges and other infrastructure. In addition, the state has so far spent the sum of N50 billion on federal roads in the state since its inception on October, 2007.

The Governor Amaechi led administration is building a new mega city called Greater Port Harcourt. And to ensure its early take off, the sum of N50 billion has been released to committee in-charge of the development of the new city for the construction of modern infrastructure. On Education, Governor Amaechi has towered above his peers. His administration is building a total of 250 modern primary schools across the state and 24 super model secondary schools in the 23 local government councils of the state. These model schools will have ICT and other state-of-the-art facilities in them to enhance teaching and learning. Rivers State government has also bought textbooks for primary and secondary schools pupils and students for distribution to facilitate its free and compulsory education.

Also worthy of mention is the State Government Scholarship Programme. From 2007 to this year, Rivers State Government has awarded thousands of both local and foreign scholarships to indigenes to study different courses in tertiary institutions. The state government is relocating the State University of Science and Technology (UST) to a new site away from the high density area of Diobu to Omagwa, near the Port Harcourt International Airport. The sum of N10 billion has been released to the Board of the University for infrastructural development. The Health sector under Governor Amaechi’s administration is receiving serious attention. Within this period under review, the state government has built 150 model health centres including modern Dental Hospital, Niger Hospital, Justice Karibi-Whyte Memorial Hospital and health care facilities at UST. To further ensure quality health care system in Rivers State, 200 medical doctors have been employed by the state government.

Recently, Rivers State government signed a mono-rail project contract worth N160 million dollars with T.S.I as Technical Partners, the government has paid the sum of N10 billion as its initial counterpart funding. It is envisaged that on completion of this laudable project, commuters in Port Harcourt will heave a sigh of relief. The administration has also purchased water taxis for transportation in the riverine areas of Rivers State. In its desire to return Port Harcourt to its Garden city status, Ministries of Urban Development and Environment and Environmental Sanitation Authority are carrying out joint operations to keep Port Harcourt and its environs very clean. Undoubtedly, however, all the government agencies under the Governor Amaechi’s administration are performing because of the governor’s daily routine of personally supervising projects sites.

It would be recalled that during the governor’s one year accountability/stewardship anniversary at the main bowl of King Alfred Diette Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion said that, “our leaders should borrow a leaf from the shining example of Governor Amaechi because of his spirit of transparency and accountability. Governor Amaechi meets with Rivers State stakeholders on quarterly basis to give account of his stewardship. He has also directed all local government councils chairmen in the state to replicate same in their localities.

He has always stated emphatically that Rivers money is for Rivers people to be used to develop Rivers State. On the issue of amnesty to the ex-militants in the Niger Delta and his position on the matter, Govenror Amaechi is the first state chief executive in the whole region to establish a Rehabilitation Centre at Okehi, headquarters of Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State, for repentant ex-militants. The Rivers State Social Rehabilitation Committee is headed by a highly respected ex-spy chief, Chief Albert Horsfall and the centre has graduated 300 repentant militants.

Against this backdrop, therefore, it is pertinent at this juncture to advise those still in the opposition to sheath their sword by supporting Governor Amaechi’s administration, which runs an inclusive and people-oriented government.

Like the legendary civil right activists, late Martin Luther King (Jnr), Governor Amaechi had dreamt sweet dreams for a better and prosperous Rivers State of our heart. Indeed, Governor Amaechi is today a leading light in national politics with high rising political profile. Therefore, those still challenging his leadership style are insulting the collective sensibility of majority of Rivers people. Our people’s governor, as you celebrate your second year in office, we sincerely and warmly wish you more God’s abundant blessings. In God we believe.

Hon. Anucha is executive chairman, Omuma Local Government Area, Rivers State.

John Nnamdi Anucha

Opinion

Kudos Gov Fubara

Published

19 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Please permit me to use this medium to appreciate our able governor, Siminalayi Fubara for the inauguration of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road in Ahoada-East Local Government Area. This inauguration marks a significant milestone in the history of our communities and deserves commendation. We, the people of Ozochi, are particularly happy because this project has brought long-awaited relief after years of isolation and hardship.

The expression of our traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Prince Ike Ehie, JP, during the inauguration captured the joy of our people. He said, “our isolation is over.” That reflects the profound impact of this road on daily life, economic activities, and social integration of the people of Ozochi and other neighbouring communities. The road will no doubt ease transportation, improve access to markets and healthcare, and strengthen links between Ahoada, Omoku, and other parts of Rivers State.

The people of Ahoada, Omoku, and indeed Rivers State as a whole are grateful to our dear governor for this laudable achievement and wish him many more successful years in office. We pray that God endows him with more wisdom and strength to continue to pilot the affairs of the state for the benefit of all. As citizens, we should rally behind the governor and support his development agenda. Our politicians and stakeholders should embrace peace and cooperation, as no meaningful progress can be achieved in an atmosphere of conflict. Sustainable development in the state can only thrive where peace prevails.

Samuel Ebiye

Opinion

… And It Came To Pass

Published

19 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“Leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation.”

Tell it in Rivers State, publish it in the streets of Port Harcourt, so the daughters of the State could rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph and know that Fubara is not vindictive”. And it came to pass that Rivers State emerged from one of the most delicate chapters in its political journey, the period of emergency rule that spanned from March 18 to September 18, 2025. It was a season that tested institutions, strained loyalties, and exposed the fragile balance between power and principle. During that time, the suspended Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara DSSRS, was widely believed to have suffered not only political setbacks but personal betrayal, allegedly from some top civil servants within the state apparatus. These were individuals expected to uphold neutrality and professionalism, yet were accused in public opinion of taking sides against the very government they served.

As the emergency rule ended and Governor Fubara resumed office, expectations were shaped less by policy and more by emotion. Many assumed that revenge would quietly find expression through governance. The loudest suspicion centered on the 2025 Christmas bonus of ?100,000 traditionally paid to each worker. The thinking was simple and cynical: a wounded governor would surely withhold goodwill. Some voices even mocked workers openly hoping that the governor would refuse to pay the bonus. To them, denial of the bonus would serve as proof of political strength and justified retaliation. In reality, such thinking revealed a troubling desire to see governance reduced to personal vendetta. Yet, it came to pass, the governor chose a path that confounded suspicion. Against all expectations, the 2025 Christmas bonus was paid.

That single decision quietly but firmly reframed the narrative. It showed a leader focused on governance rather than grudges, on institutional continuity rather than emotional satisfaction. The payment was not a favor, nor was it a concession; it was a statement that public administration must rise above personal injury. By honoring the bonus, Governor Fubara demonstrated that leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation. He made it clear that workers’ welfare would not become collateral damage in political disagreements. This action also served as a moral rebuke to those who celebrated division and hoped for punishment. Governance is not validated by the suffering of workers, nor is leadership strengthened by withholding entitlements. At the same time, the issue of alleged sycophancy and betrayal within the civil service cannot be brushed aside. If proven, such conduct deserves firm, lawful, and institutional correction. Civil servants are bound by duty to the state, not to political conspiracies or shifting loyalties.

However, justice must never be confused with revenge. The strength of governance lies in correcting wrongs without destroying the system itself. Governor Fubara’s restraint suggested an understanding that the future of Rivers State mattered more than settling scores. For workers, this moment carried an important lesson. Celebration should be rooted in good governance, not in the expectation of another’s downfall. Rejoicing in rumors of denial or punishment undermines the very stability that protects workers’ welfare. Public service thrives where professionalism, mutual respect, and accountability are upheld. Pettiness, gossip, and political scheming only weaken institutions and erode trust. History often remembers leaders not for the crises they inherit, but for the character they display in response. In paying the 2025 Christmas bonus, Governor Fubara chose legacy over impulse, maturity over malice.

And so, it came to pass that focus defeated revenge, governance triumphed over bitterness, and Rivers State was reminded that true leadership is proven when restraint is expected least but delivered most. Beyond the symbolism of the Christmas bonus lies a deeper question about the kind of political culture Rivers State intends to cultivate in the years ahead. Periods of emergency rule, anywhere in the world, often leave behind residues of suspicion, fear, and silent realignments. Institutions do not emerge untouched; individuals recalibrate loyalties, some out of conviction, others out of self-preservation. What distinguishes stable democracies from fragile ones is not the absence of such moments, but the discipline with which leadership manages their aftermath. River.

King Onunwor

Opinion

That Withdrawal of Police Orderlies From VIPs

Published

19 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”Balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk in a country where the majority of citizens are still under-protected.”

The Presidential announcement on the removal of police orderlies from persons in authority and their relations ( Very Important Persons ) last month came as a relief to many Nigerians who felt deprived of one major role of government ; security of lives and property.The higher population of Nigerians missed needed security because the VIPs and the VVIPs kept retinue of Police Officers totalling over 100 ,000 to themselves and their family members as if they are all that matter while some communities under attack of terrorists have no single unit of police station located there in. While many hailed the announcement , some said perhaps the government has just woken up to her major responsibility of securing the lives and property of all citizens while many expressed indifference on the note that it may be one of those pronouncements which come only in words but no action .Many keep their fingers crossed watching how it will play out , how Mr President will go about the implementation of the seemingly dicey policy .

Benjamin Franklin said “well said is better than well done ” It is sufficient today to say that many Nigerians including me are still waiting and watching to see how well and how long this return of the Police service to the ordinary people will go . Wishing hopes will not be crashed , It is note worthy, that the recent complaints by the VIPs of being exposed to attacks may in a way affect the action on implementation. Recently, at Senate plenary , another worrisome angle came up as Senator Abdul Ningi coming through a motion disclosed that he had only one police officer attached to him ( his office ) and that the officer was recalled the week before following Mr President’s directive . Senator Ningi said the withdrawal exposed him to high risks but underscored the angle that while his orderly was recalled , many other politicians , men and women in authority, business concerns foreigners and even children of some VIPs are still enjoying retinue of police protection ( officially attached to them ).

It’s note worthy also that the Deputy Senate President , Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session revealed that the leadership of both chambers are already in discussion with President Tinubu on the need to exempt the law makers from the new policy . Senator Ningi may not be wrong . After all he emphasized he is okay provided that the removal of the Police Orderlies be done across board . Senator Barau noted that talks are on over the issue of law makers’ in line with international practice . Further details from the Presidency noted that Presiding officers will retain their police officers , others would have Civil Defense officers ( NSCDC) as orderlies while any other VIP who feels he or she deserves personal police protection should get clearance from his office . In the midst of all issues weighing in on the proper implementation , it becomes necessary to bear in mind that the decision hinges on the realization that Nigeria has peculiar security issues (of kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism.) and that majority of Nigerians are under protected.

More so, that if well implemented, Police officers will focus on core duties; even as 30,000 new police officers are to recruited to enhance security .That implementation must be made in a way that leaves no room.for selective treatment loss of confidence and controversies. Looking at previous attempts of implementation of this policy gives faint hope as several attempts consistently failed . Former IGPs like Tafa Balogun (2003), Ogbonnaya Onovo (2009), and Ibrahim Idris (2018) tried the policy but all failed due to political resistance from various angles. All the failed attempts were tied to lack of political will mostly due to the fact that the directives came from police chiefs, not the president. Selective Enforcement was another killer to the policy as partial implementation met resistance and later reversal . Egbetokun (2023) and Adamu (2020) saw minimal impact.

Further more entrenched corruption in the system saw Politicians and VIPs quietly regain police escorts due to ‘transactional economics”and pressure. Worse still the mindset of the police officers withdrawn didn’t help the policy Underpaid police prioritize VIP duties for extra benefits. Many wish President Tinubu’s move can break this cycle. As at today, he still insists the move is non-negotiable while stressing collaboration with states to upgrade training facilities. As citizens look forward to success of the policy without undue exposure of both sides, balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk. Talk fades ; action echoes. How the Presidency implements this policy. has much to tell on the governments stand on national / community security , choice of priority and the ability to stand uncomprised . The known goal is clear: The outcome is not yet certain. Fingers crossed , we await . Definitely , time will tell.

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi.

s State stood at such a crossroads in September 2025. The temptation to rule with a long memory and a heavy hand was real. Yet, the choice made signaled a preference for healing over hardening. Leadership after crisis demands more than administrative competence; it requires moral clarity.

Governor Fubara’s decision reminded the state that authority is not best exercised through silent punishment or selective generosity. Rather, it is strengthened when rules remain rules, irrespective of personal injury. By keeping faith with workers, the government preserved an essential firewall between politics and public service. That firewall, once breached, turns governance into a battlefield where livelihoods become weapons. Rivers State narrowly avoided that descent. In doing so, it affirmed that institutions must outlive tempers, and governance must not mirror the bitterness of political seasons. This moment also invites sober introspection within the civil service itself. Allegations of partisanship, if left unresolved, corrode professionalism and weaken public confidence. A civil service that drifts into political camps loses its moral authority and operational effectiveness.

Therefore, reform, where necessary, should be guided by due process, transparency, and institutional review—not whispers, witch-hunts, or mob verdicts. Accountability strengthens systems when it is fair; it destroys them when it is arbitrary. The restraint shown by the executive places a corresponding burden on administrative leadership to restore discipline, neutrality, and pride in public service. For the wider political class and the commentariat, the episode serves as a caution against normalizing cruelty as strategy. The eagerness with which some anticipated workers’ suffering revealed a dangerous appetite for scorched-earth politics. When governance becomes a spectator sport where pain is cheered and deprivation is weaponized, society inches toward moral exhaustion. Rivers State has seen enough turbulence to know that stability is not sustained by triumphalism, but by restraint.

The lesson is simple yet profound: power is fleeting, but institutions endure; leaders pass, but precedents remain. In the end, the payment of the 2025 Christmas bonus was more than a fiscal act—it was a civic statement. It told workers they were not expendable. It told political actors that revenge would not be policy. And it told the state that maturity in leadership is not weakness, but strength under control. In a climate where many expected fire, restraint prevailed; where bitterness was predicted, balance emerged. Thus, Rivers State was offered a rare reminder that governance, at its best, is an act of discipline, and leadership, at its highest, is the courage to rise above provocation.