Amaechi Targets Five Mega Projects …Senator Mamora, Others Extol Gov’s Legacies

As part of celebrations marking the 5th anniversary of his Supreme Court victory, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has listed five key projects that would remain ageless landmarks in the state.

Speaking at the first Pan Rivers Leadership Network Summit yesterday in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi assured of pursuing the Trans-Kalabari Road, Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo Unity Road, and Greater Port Harcourt City Project, including its M1 and M10 roads, among others.

He said the completion of ongoing projects remained his core priority.

Amaechi remarked that, “there will be success in power, education, and health, but there is need for success in sanitation and in other areas as well”.

The governor insisted that the administration will continue to fund the Greater Port Harcourt City scheme and other projects, adding that, “we must move to the next level so that the next government will continue from where we stopped.”

While recalling how he came to power after the Supreme Court victory in 2007, Amaechi explained that his desire to transform the state is borne out of the need to address the inequity and injustice in the polity, with education, health and power as the major drivers.

Against this backdrop, he stated that good governance remained his quest, and promised not to betray the trust of the people.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the occasion and Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, Adeleke Olurunimbe Mamora, submitted that the Supreme Court victory of Governor Amaechi was divinely orchestrated to usher changes not just in the state but across the nation.

In Mamora’s views, Amaechi’s victory will be celebrated for a long time since it was a landmark patch of history for Nigeria, and thanked the leadership of Pan Rivers Leadership Network for marking the day and for organising the summit.

However, former minister of petroleum and one of the guest speaker, Prof. Tam David-West, who spoke on, “Reflections on the Quest for Unity in Rivers State: Contemporary Perspectives”, said the one way the state can move forward is to reflect on its present challenges and strive to make it better, adding that, “except Rivers State is united, we cannot have any impact at the federal level.”

Prof. David-West described Amaechi as God-sent, pledging his unalloyed support for his achievements so far, saying that, “any person who says he has not done well is an enemy of Rivers State”.

In her paper titled, “Credible Leadership: Panacea for Socio-Economic Development of Rivers State”, former president, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Ayo Obe called on the people to be good followers capable of charting a good course for their leaders.

The activist condemned the swelling sycophancy in the polity, pointing out that constructive criticism gives birth to purposeful leadership.

She, however, praised Governor Amaechi for demonstrating visionary leadership in Rivers State, and urged the people to support good governance at all times.

Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has ordered the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi to set up temporary learning facilities in flood camps in the state.

Governor Amaechi, who gave the directive while responding to questions during the Pan Rivers Leadership Summit, said such measure would help engage children meaningfully, while the flood subsides to pave way for full academic activities.

He also directed the commissioner for social welfare rehabilitation to quickly ensure that facilities and more conducive learning environment are provided for the physically challenged students in the state.

However, frontline member of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) Senator Adeleke Mamora has joined other eminent Nigerians and dignitaries to extol the leadership qualities of the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.

Senator Mamora, who chaired the first Pan Rivers State Leadership Network Summit at the mainbowl of the Alfred Diette-Spiff Sports Complex in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said he was humbled by Governor Amaechi’s numerous achievements in the state, which span every sector of the economy.

He said the governor’s achievements were as a result of divine intervention through the landmark 2007 Supreme Court judgement that has shaped the political history of the state.

The Lagos Senator, who described Amaechi’s victory in the supreme court as a celebration of the rule of law over the will of political cabals, said the theme of the summit; “Unity for development of Rivers State: what role for leadership and followership” was apt. He commended the Pan Rivers leadership network for the opportunity given to him to chair the Summit.

Senator Mamora called on Rivers people to throw their weight behind Governor Amaechi to expand the dividends of democracy to all nooks and crannies of the state.

In her presentation, a former President of the Civil Liberties Organisation (C.L.O) and pro-democracy activist, Mrs Ayo Obe, commended Governor Amaechi’s welfainst  Programmes in Rivers State.

Obe, who spoke on the topic, “Credible Leadership, a Panacea for Socio-Economic Development of Rivers State: Role of Followership,” said the socio-economic development of the state depended on good followership, pointing out that bad followership was capable of derailing good governance.

She said Governor Amaechi has responded to the imperatives of good governance by providing security and social welfare for the people of Rivers State.

In his remarks, a representative of the Pan Rivers Leadership Network, Chuma Chinye, said the body  was established to propagate the ideals of the founding fathers of Rivers State.

Chinye, who is also the commissioner for Commerce in Rivers State, said the body cuts across ethnic and religions divide, and was poise to harness the potentials of the state for full economic development.

Responding, Governor Amaechi, assured that his administration will continue to ensure that the people the state benefit from the common wealth through the provision of basic amenities, such as qualitative education, good health care, security employment power generation and sup ply, among others.

The Governor acknowledged some challenges in governance, especially in the area of environmental sanitation and bad roads, and called on the people of the state to pay their social welfare taxes to fund the various development projects in the state.

Taneh Benemene

L-R: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, and Vice President Namadi Sambo, during Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. on Wednesday.