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Avoid Partisan Politics, Amaechi Tells Military
Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has appealed to the country’s military not to be involved in partisan politics.
He enjoined them to remain neutral and not take sides in the current struggle by politicians for 2015, stressing that any such involvement would have serious consequences for the country.
Amaechi, however, thanked the military for remaining neutral, asking God to bless them for their decision not to take sides in the country’s current politics.
He also called on the Nigerian police to remain neutral in the current political situation in the country.
Governor Amaechi spoke while addressing legionnaires and representatives of service chiefs in the state for the 2014 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day celebration which emblem appeal launching took place on Tuesday at the Alfred Diette Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.
Amaechi said, “The greatest source of unity in a country is the military and you have suffered enough to fight for the unity of this country. I will say to you the Nigerian Military, don’t be involved in Nigerian politics. Nigeria is too complicated for the military to be involved in politics.
“Nigeria, as we are here, we have so many tribes. I tell people, I’m not Ijaw, I’m Ikwerre. There are people who are from Ijaw, there are Hausas, there are Yorubas, there are Isokos, there are Fulanis. We are too many that if the military gets involved in Nigerian politics, the consequences will be too much. Currently, we thank all of you for remaining neutral and God will bless you for remaining neutral.
“In the same manner, we will enjoin Nigerian police to remain neutral because the consequences of taking sides will be too much. 2015 is a watershed for the country. All of us seated here must contribute to peace in Nigeria”.
He acknowledged the military’s contributions to unity and nation building, and urged them not to allow such contributions collapse in the current political debate.
“I will say to you today that all of you, both serving and retired, in one way or the other contributed to the unity of Nigeria, and you cannot afford to allow that unity to go. I have a very faint idea of what the civil war looked like because I was born in 1965. My children do not have any idea whatsoever of what the civil war looked like, and I don’t want them to have any idea at all God will not allow us to get involved in such situation where they will have ideas”, Amaechi said.
He noted that the country is too big and too blessed to fail in leadership and not sufficiently meet the people’s needs.
He also disproved claims that he is in politics to aspire to become president in the next elections, explaining that his singular aim was to work with other Nigerians to take the country where it should be.
“For me, I will join you to preach peace. You will see us fighting politically. The reason why we are fighting politically is because Nigeria is too big and too rich to remain the way we are. If anybody tells you that we are not too big and too rich, the person is lying. We are too big and too rich not to be able to provide education for our children. We are too big and too rich not to be able to provide health for our children.
“For our mothers, individuals continue from year to year to put money in their pockets. They say, I’m fighting because I want to be president, I’ve never told anybody I want to be president. I am fighting just one cause: can we change the course of Nigeria? If the Naval officers were here, they would tell you about a ship that is directionless. We can’t continue that way. I’m not saying the president is doing well or not doing well. I’m talking about the entire political class”.
Accordingly, he called on all well-meaning Nigerians to join the race for a better Nigeria, and commented on the extent of progress Nigeria’s neighbour, Ghana had made at the country’s expense.
Amaechi lamented the absence of good leadership and of security, water, power, health and other essential needs of the Nigerian people.
Governor Amaechi, at the event, was decorated by the state Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, King (Col.) Philemon Chinda Omunakwe (rtd).
Earlier, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, King Philemon Omunakwe had thanked Governor Amaechi for identifying with the legionnaires of the state.
He noted the contributions made by the military to ensure the country’s survival and unity, and appealed to government at all levels to appreciate the sacrifice of the country’s fallen heroes and take care of their loved ones.
At the 2014 Emblem Appeal launching were state legionnaires, representatives of service chiefs, including the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.
