Amaechi’s Politics Of Inclusion

The Rivers State gov

ernment under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has no doubt recorded some landmark achievements in certain sectors of the society which has ostentiously earned him high degree of respect among his peers.

Like a leader with a mission and vision, the governor’s education policy has attracted accolade from several quarters within and outside the shores of the country.

The State won the coveted first prize in the implementation of the Universal basic Education (UBE), programme and in the health sub sector, the maternal mortility rate has reduced drastically, thanks to the Policy of siting primary Health Centres closer to the people. Similarly, the security challenge met on assumption of office was tackled frontally with its twin brother, obedience to the rule of law which the administration addressed as a matter of priority and restored sanity back to the state.

During the period, the State suffered marginally as investors closed  shops, workers were sacked and generally insecurity pervaded the entire environment. These success stories could not have been possible without a leader that is focused in realising the need for proper harnessing of human and material resources which is a sine qua non in determining the achievement that could be made.

Unarguably the selection of players sets the stage for what would eventually be the outcome of a team in terms of results because a good team has different traits, skills and capabilities  which when properly galvanized by the leader through deliberate effort to upgrade where necessary will bequeath a people-oriented governance.

Recently, Governor Chibuike Amaechi submitted ten names of Commissioner nominees to the State House of Assembly for screening and approval to complete the constitution of his new cabinet which he began in piece meal.

The list has names of four former commissioners, Dr. Sampson parker, Barr. Marshall Stanley-Uwom, Charles Gogo Levi and Joe Poroma whose potentials have not been fully utilised and therefore made to return to enable the present administration actualise the vision of giving Rivers people an unparalled leadership.

One of the remaining new nominees include Mr. Chuma Chinye who hails from Delta State but described in several quarters as Delta State born Rivers man having lived a greater part of his live in the state. A lawyer of great repute who functioned as Special Assistant on Ethics and Good Governance to Governor, Chibuike Amaechi between January 2008 to may 2011 and served as Director, Finance and Administration to the Amaechi 2011 Campaign Organisation.

Obviously, the nomination is sequel to critical assessment of performance of Mr. Chuma Chinye as Special Assistant to the governor and the excellent manner in which he discharged assigned responsibilities may have endeared him to his boss.

However, if expressions at the House of Assembly gallery during the screening exercise is anything to go back, it means people were surprise as to what a non indigene could be doing in the hallowed chambers of the Assembly but the answer lies in the assurance of the state executive during his inauguration in May 29, 2011, after the landslide victory in the April polls, (ie.) to lead an all inclusive government.

Opposition Political Parties were invited to join the present government but probably ego and the need to have a strong opposition after the court cases could be responsible for the delay in buying into the system but suffice it to say that there is nothing absolutely wrong with giving non indigenes resident in the state a sense of belonging through their inclusion as Cabinet member.

We are aware of several non indigenes in the state civil service, parastatals and agencies, some have risen to be Permanent Secretaries and Directors.

As a product of the rule of law, Governor Amaechi appreciates section 193 (2) and 14 (4) of the 1999 constitution which provides that any Nigerian who lives in a particular area for upward of ten years and above should merit the same status as natives.

Following the governor’s action, Rivers State has again braced the trail in asserting its position as a cosmopolitan state and headquarters of the South-South Geo-political zone of Nigeria that allows people from all walks of life opportunity to contribute their quota to the overall development of the state.

Having received massive support during the re-election process that cut across religious and political divide as well as ethnic nationalities resident in the state, it is therefore not out of place to justify the contributions of “indigenes from outside the State” towards the economic, political and social growth of the state through their involvement in the governance of the state.

In this respect, therefore, Rivers State has joined the league of states that made appointments to non native residents as Commissioner with the underlying principle of using the best materials available for the greatest interest of Rivers people.

In the case of Lagos State, a non Yoruba descent has been controlling a sensitive Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the result of having a square peg in a square hole perhaps, accounts for the level of success recorded in Lagos State at present.

Also in Enugu State a Yoruba man was saddled with the responsibility of Managing the Media as Special Adviser to the former Governor of that State Chief Chimaroke Nnamani throughout his tenure while in America the government gives equally opportunity to people of all races provided the intellectual and moral ability to function is deposited on the individual.

The man Chinye as Special Assistant on Ethic and Good Governance for the first time effectively Coordinated quarterly interaction between the Governor and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs) etc, through which avenue they contributed to the governance of the state.

It is expected that the University of Benin trained lawyer, Mr. Chukwuma Constantine Chinye, would bring his wealth of experience to bear on the new assignment to justify the confidence reposed on him for his inclusion into the State Executive Council and probably pace way for other non indigenes resident in the state to serve.

Infact, the irony of life is that the very enlightened citizens may be the ones to ponder about who comes from where but the common man on the street is not interested in who occupies what position because the paramount issue to them is service delivery that would improve the standard of living.

The Commissioner nominee, a son of the Niger Delta parades an intimating public service credentials and experience as the former Rivers State Coordinator of SERVICOM, former Special Assistant to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, legal Adviser, Board member Federal Inland Revenue Service and the author of best selling socio-political Satire “The Nigerian Factor” among others.

It is on record that even some of our so called indigenous Commissioners well known to us had left a sour taste in the .mouth of  Rivers people as a result of their abysmal performance in public office.

Therefore, it behoves a leader to guide and guard his loins as the duty of piloting the affairs of the state must be satisfactorily done with competent hands to achieve set targets.

We strongly hope that having functioned efficiently behind the scene as Special Assistant to Governor Amaechi which earned him the elevation Mr. Chinye would be propelled by the opportunity to redouble his effort and bring his wealth of experience to roast on the new assignment.