The ‘Sins’ Of Governor Amaechi

Never in the history of leadership of Rivers State had there been so much muscle flexing and frowning within the cream of political circle, as it is now.

In a cursory view, one could have taken it as the usual human perception of change. But considering the great laudable strides that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has recorded within just one year and nine months, one wonders why this should be so.

This sparks off a deep contemplation into the unique circumstance and reminds one that, most often, situations like this do erupt from ‘aggrieved’ person(s) who rap up a package of wrangling, bickering and mudslinging against the perceived offender(s) or authority.

As it is always the case, many may unsuspectingly be carried along in the euphoria of this situation and join the bandwagon. The mistaken belief of these followers is often that their leader-critics are true seers and beholders of the better alternative way forward; who will lead them to the ‘promised land”. But the line to this “promised land” often gets cut, living followers at the shore, as soon as these leader-critics “crossover”.

As soon as these ‘critics’ are recognized by the criticised authority, their hues and cries stop thus living their large followers with one common consolation, “if you can’t win them, join them”. In other words, most critics fight for recognition and the unsuspecting followers are only stooges to enhance their selfish interest.

This writer has examined the hues and cries against Governor Amaechi’s government vis-a-vis the wonderful and laudable strides Amaechi has recorded so far, and I can draw the fact that apart from man’s natural dislike for change on the part of a section of the general public, the political frowning here and there is nothing other than war of recognition. And this is all about Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s ‘Sins’.

Take for instance, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) set up by Governor Amaechi to reconcile the political disharmony in the State. While the governor is succeeding in putting the once peaceful and harmonious State back on course, some political actors would not like it.

“SIN” NO II: Governor Amaechi has embarked on so many infrastructural development in less than two years. This means that Governor Amaechi has created so many business and job opportunities with the construction of numerous school buildings, health centers, roads, recreation centers etc and the various human/man-power development and empowerment programmes in the State. And it takes only a sound mind to understand the various groups of beneficiaries of these policies.

If selfish interest and personal aggrandizement are secondary and Amaechi’s government is given due understanding, cooperation and support, how would these laudable projects and programmes constitute sins, or fail as feared by the state ‘sympathisers’?

“SINS’ NO III: That Governor Amaechi “does not carry them along”. Here Amaechi’s “sin” is not that he is not doing well, but that he does not carry them along.

The question is: is ‘not carrying them along’ the peoples’ problem against the laudable infrastructural development programmes embarked upon by the governor?

Perhaps, it is pertinent to state that any movement or action for radical change is often not a continuation of the system it is seeking to change; otherwise, the change wouldn’t be a radical one.

Conscious of what a radical change and his set goal is, Amaechi, on assumption of office, informed the world that his government is not a continuation of the previous ones. That is to say, he would not endorse structures and elements that may not enhance the driving force of the present dispensation. Otherwise, he risks the realisation of his set goals. And of course, this decision to chart an entirely new course is evidenced in his rapid and numerous laudable achievements within a very short time.

One interesting fact here is that, there is no ‘god-fatherism’ in Amaechi’s regime. And this proves the fact that ‘god-fatherism’ is a cog in the wheel of progress in any dispensation.

It is pertinent to mention here that in majority of situations, some leaders do lament their inability to perform because “my hands are tied”. It is only in a meaningful reformist leadership that rapid and numerous achievements are recorded.

Governor Amaechi’s era is definitely a blessed one, an era of radical changes and must not be scuttled, otherwise, we would lament for years to come.

And since a magnificent structure under construction is never perceived; it is only on completion that its beauty and praises drawn; we should all encourage and support Amaechi to lead the state to a dawn of glory and pride.

Ukutumoren resides in Port Harcourt.