Opinion

Amaechi And Good Governance In Rivers State

Published

15 years ago

October 10, 2010

As the noble bard of yesterday, James Russel Lowell, eloquently stated, “ once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide, in the strife of truth and falsehood, for the good or evil side, some great cause, God’s new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight, and the choice goes by forever. Twixt that darkness and that light, though the cause of evil prosper, yet this truth alone is strong.”

Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State is the man that many Nigerians, especially the Rivers people, will always believe in anytime, any day and everywhere in the society.

Suffice to say, however that, this same distinctive and clever leader who held the position of Rivers State House of Assembly speaker for unbreakable eight years under the leadership of the former Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, was once removed, denied, stripped of his inalienable right as the flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007 governorship election in Rivers State on the ground that was not make clear to the public.

But as fate may have it, Governor Amaechi did not relent effort in challenging the removal and subsequent substitution of his name with that of Sir Celestine Omehia, who was removed from the Government House by the Supreme Court to pave way for Amaechi as the duly eleced and authentic winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries and the 2007 governorship election in Rivers State.

Moreover, 27 months after, the excitement and euphoria that accompanied that Supreme Court judgement of the October 25th, 2007 which the apex court legitimately declared Ameachi the winner of the April governorship election in Rivers State, makes the people of Nigeria to believe that the rule of law has come to stay.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government under the good governance of Amaechi has maintained its current strides towards capacity building, infrastructural and facility improvement, urban and rural road rehabilitation in the past years of his administration.

Understandingly, good governance is the process whereby public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources and guarantee realization of human rights. Good governance accomplishes this in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption, and with due regards to the rule of law.

The true test of “good governance” is the degree to which it delivers on the promise of human rights; civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.

Therefore, meaningful development requires equitable distribution of resources in a transparent and accountable manner with political resolve and commitment. The governor, since assumption of office following the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court has ensured adequate transparency, accountability, equality and efficiency in the socio-political agenda so as to meet the target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of Vision 20, 20 20 in Rivers State.

His achievement has gone far in proving that “actions speak louder than words” and “action precipitates reaction”.

After the swearing-in, Amaechi in his mission statement declared fervently that; “I promise to serve the people on the ground of humility, transparency, accountability, integrity and good governance,” to improve the human resource and quality of life of the people of Rivers State. His laudable victory will remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria’s history, democracy, and of course, the rule of law.

It’s obvious that; outstanding people have one thing in common; an absolute sense of mission, according to Zig-Ziglar. Governor Amaechi has been steering the ship of “good governance” in Rivers State in order to actualize his dream and vision of transforming the state and restoring it to its former “Garden City” status in due course.

Following this transformation, the governor has done a lot in terms of infrastructural development, fiscal policy and massive road construction across the state. We take cognizance of the fact that, about 570km of roads have been constructed with 80 per cent of them in the rural areas, including over-head bridges in the outskirts of the city to decongest traffic.

Also on good governance of his administration, is the construction of brand new 350 model primary schools with internet facilities, construction of 160 new primary health-care centres across the 23 local government areas of the state to enhance free health-care delivery services to the aged, children and pregnant women.

To put an end to frequent power interruption in the state, the chief executive has develops and injected a 100MW of power into the national grid to boost the economic man-power resources in the state. To further strengthen his current effort on power generation, over 300 rural electrification projects have been executed with more than 800 transformers donated to various communities in the state.

So far, the dynamic and achieving governor has done a lot in improving the standard of education in Rivers State. This follows the pronouncement of “free and compulsory education” to students in primary and post primary schools, scholarship awards and sponsorship of, at least, 300 indigenes annually to acquire a better training in various institutions across the world.

Most importantly, on good governance is the restoration of lasting peace and security of lives and property to indigenes, non-indigenes as well as the foreign investors doing business in the state.

Therefore, in no distance time, most of the ongoing road construction and rehabilitation in the rural areas and the outskirts of the town would be completed, and the environment so civil that people would soon forget how bad the roads looked like before. In summary, following the landmark projects of the present administration in Rivers State, many scholars have been pouring encomiums on Amaechi’s overall achievements and his commitment towards development and enforcement of law and order in the state. The development strides of his government have prompted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to commend the governor’s achievements and rated him among the best performing governors in the country for achieving much in the past three years of his administration.

Since the anointing of leadership on Amaechi, as it was in the days of the biblical Moses to lead the covenant children of God to the Promise Land, the Rivers State people must join hands together both great and small to support Governor Amaechi’s second-term bid beyond 2011, because the responsibility of Rivers State Government does not rest with him alone but with every Rivers indigene. Support Governor Amaechi and good governance for a better Rivers State tomorrow.

Eyo, a public affairs analyst, resides in Port Harcourt.

Clement Eyo

Opinion

Kudos Gov Fubara

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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.