Amaechi: Protecting A Future …Rivers @ 45 Another Milestone

Today actually begins a countdown to the Golden Jubilee of the creation of Rivers State which comes up on May 27, 2017, precisely five years away. But we cannot fail to note the grace of God on our state and the new realities that have become unmistakable and durable landmarks.

   At times like this, we must reconnect to  the vision of the founding fathers of the state. It was a vision of freedom from political domination, a vision of an egalitarian and prosperous society and a vision of a progressive people and an enviable homeland.

Every year, our leaders are challenged not to let the dream die, but to see themselves as the new pencils in the hand of the creator needed to rewrite the story of our progress. One year into Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s second term, we can confirm that our present leaders are rising to the occasion and beginning to push the state to a new pedestal of sophisticated social and economic tapestry.

From a wider cultural base and land mass, Rivers State gave birth to a beautiful state –Bayelsa State. Ever since, a lot of progress has been made, even by becoming the Headquarters of the petroleum industry and the South-South geo-political zone of the country.

Even as we celebrate the creation of our state, 45 years after, we should not forget where we have come from, so that we do not make the mistake of going back there. We came out from some kind of regional oppression and minority complex that should remain only in our history.

We are happy that unlike the past, The Tide can truly associate itself with the activities of the Governor and government of Rivers State. Not only has the approach to governance changed for the better, the conscious effort to restart genuine progress through infrastructural development, award of scholarship and security cannot be missed.

Even as we note the uncommon achievements in road construction, the hope of a speedy completion of the Unity Road, the Trans-Kalabari Road, the Port Harcourt Ring Road and some critical bridges, these landmark projects when completed, will take Rivers State to a  whole new destination. Already, the Songhai initiative, the Monorail project, the Rivers Cloud and the many redemptive programmes have separated Rivers State from a decadent past.

The urban renewal effort of the present administration, and the design and gradual implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt City Project speak volumes on what the city of Port Harcourt and indeed Rivers State as a whole will look like in the next five years.

We are looking forward to a Mega Garden City with well laid out streets, free from blocked drainages and flooding and adorned with ornamental trees and street lights. The parks and gardens are being restored and a new wind of fresh air is blowing away the suffocating atmosphere of the past.

Unarguably health, roads, education and power infrastructure have witnessed a quantum leap. Moving from a pitiable past characterised by recession and dilapidation, the state has jumped to a height of glitter, quality and faith with possibilities.

Today, there are primary Health Centres fully equipped and functional with resident health personnel in more communities than ever, while the secondary health institutions, particularly the General Hospitals, have been given a facelift.

In the same vein, special hospitals such as the Maxilo-facial dental hospital at Garrison junction and the Tuberculosis Hospital, a special centre for the treatment of Tuberculosis, have been upgraded. In addition to this, free medical treatment for children and the elderly is obtainable in all government hospitals across the state.

The education sector is also being revolutionised with the construction of 350 Model Primary Schools across the state, 10 Model Secondary Schools, the upgrading of the Rivers State College of Education to University status, while a new campus is being built for the University of Science and Technology.

But mention must also be made of the new power generating turbines added to existing ones, giving the state hope for a regular power supply in no distant future. Of particular interest is the rapid spread of world class road infrastructure to access even communities in the deltaic parts of the state that were hitherto unreachable by road.

The construction of Elele, Ahoada, Bonny and Bori internal roads have led to increased economic activities in those areas and pointed a clear direction to the development of new cities around them to break the jinx of one city status for which Rivers State was known.

Perhaps, the most critical area where the people of Rivers State have heaved a sigh of relief is in the area of security. There is no doubt that night life and social activities have returned to Port Harcourt. This is consequent upon the reduction in kidnapping and militancy activities that stifled both economic and social activities in the state prior to 2007.

A day like this therefore offers the opportunity to congratulate our leaders for rising to the occasion. But it also compels us to challenge them and point them to the secret yearnings of the ordinary Rivers person.

A few years from now, the expectation of Rivers people would be the attainment of a golden State that will be golden in all ramifications. A State where the dreams of the founding fathers and the hopes of the children today will be realisable.

The key to arriving at a glorious jubilee is part in the special attention that can reactivate moribund State industries that are capable of creating more jobs for Rivers people. Also important is the enforcement of good values specific to the people.

Taking a cue from the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement that has revamped the Pabod Breweries and is getting RISONPALM back on track, the moribund West African Glass Industry, RivBiscuits, Metaloplastica among others can be put back on track to create more employment opportunities.