ASALGA Town Hall Meeting: Amaechi’s Verdict

The visit of Governor Chibuike Amaechi to Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area for a Town Hall meeting on December 26, 2012 will for a long time remain green in the heart of Kalabari people.

The meeting had been shifted twice due to the tragedy that struck the nation in Nembe, Bayelsa State on the 15th December where Kaduna State Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa and former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi died in a helicopter crash.

However, when the Governor finally came, calling to the ancient town of Buguma, two weeks after the ugly incident, to give account of his stewardship, he brought smiles to the faces of the people in the area.

The Kalabari National College (KNC) play ground was filled to the brim. Traditional rulers were clad in resplendent royal attires, the women wore colourful dresses and the youths were beaming with smiles. The entire arena oozed with calmness.

Even the Governor was overwhelmed by the peaceful atmosphere such that he could not hide his feelings when he rose to address the huge crowd.

Governor Amaechi enthused, “let me congratulate the Kalabari people that you have changed completely”.

He explained the reason for his elation, reasoning that the Israelis who were constructing the multi-million Naira fish farm had not complained of harassment, “for the Israelis to work here without Police or army is something interesting”.

Secondly, he pointed out that the Buguma Beach Party scheduled to hold a week later meant that actually the people had thrown away their belligerent attitude and embraced change, “Now that you can have a beach party means things are changing. It means that your micro-economy will begin to improve again”.

He did not waste time to enumerate government’s projects in the area rather, Governor Amaechi began to announce the ones the government would do.

“Trans-Kalabari Road is coming”, Amaechi announced, “We have awarded the contract to Lubrick for 21 billion. You know before what I promised the chiefs is that I will stop at Bakana, but now we have agreed to take it to the end of Buguma and one assurance I give you is that by January, I will mobilise contractor to start work”.

The Governor continued, “we will do the roads according to importance. The most important road for me is that Trans-Kalabari Road and the money is heavy, N21 billion so allow me to focus on the road first, then, we can talk about other road”.

He recalled that during his second term election campaigns, he had promised to consolidate on the old projects.

He said he did not promise to do many projects, since a lot of the old ones have not been completed.

One star project he had promised the people of the area was the fish farm which is almost completed. He therefore used the forum to direct the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that all lower cadre jobs were given to the indigenes, while management positions could be opened for others.

On health, he declared, “we are looking at developing three general hospitals that will serve as referral points.

The one for this area is in Degema. We will look at the Degema hospital and renovate it between now and early next year, so that anybody around here, Asari Toru, Akuku-Toru, everybody can go there and be attended to.

Governor Amaechi, also promised to do more land reclaiming in the area, especially at Buguma and to construct a landing jetty at Augulama town.

He promised that Krakrama, Minama and Alelema axis will have a health centre that will serve them, while urging the people to ensure that they pay their taxes in order to enjoy government’s free medical health scheme.

Frowning at complaints that most of the doctors in the health centres  were not staying  in their wards, Governor Amaechi urged the people to monitor them by keeping records of their attendance and forward reports to government.

After the first phase of the forum, controversy arose when one of the stakeholders raised an eye brow over the lopsided political appointments in the area.

Mr. Daric Davis had lamented during the questions and answers session that most of the political appointments went to Buguma alone, with little or none left for the other 13 communities.

In respose to the question, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree headed to the podium to explain the reason behind this.

According to the Speaker, the lopsided political appointments was not deliberate but was as a result of ward delineation in the area. He explained that Buguma alone has 10 wards, while the remaining towns had 3 wards.

This situation he explained was responsible for the allotments of all political positions to those from Buguma, while leaving only one slot to others.

Reacting to the development, Governor Amaechi apologised and promised to address the matter”, “be rest assured that I will protect you, henceforth, when it comes to appointment. I will ensure that Buguma does not take all”.

Most of the participants who asked questions pleaded for more projects, especially health centres and schools, in their communities.

Chief Diamond West sought for the establishment of health centres outside Buguma, noting that in Oporoma community there was no functional health centre, including Okpo town.

Another participant, Tekena Sokubo requested for road linkage to the six central communities by the coastline. He lamented that apart from Buguma, other communities were cut-off by the riverine terrain, arguing that once they were linked, it would boost the economy of the area.

The Governor replied to request made by Mrs Ebianga Briggs for government to pay WAEC and NECO fees for their children. She also urged government to look into the plight of widows.

Amaechi replied that while the government was running free education, it would not bear the cost of paying exam fees for pupils, as that is the responsibility of parents.

Chairman of the Local Government Area, Hon. Ojukaye Flag Amachree described the forum, as an opportunity to give account of his stewardship to the people.

Hon. Amachree lauded Governor Amaechi for touching the lives of the people more than any governor in the history of the state.

So far, he stated that apart from the state government’s projects his administration had been able to link the communities to the national grid, constructed footbridges, and commissioned an ultra-modern market with over 200 lock-up shops to house traders.

He nevertheless, called on multinational companies, federal and state governments, to do more land reclamation since the area lacks land space.

Addressing the former earlier, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii explained that the aim of the meeting is to bring government closer to the rural populace.

“This forum is a key process of democracy, “Feyii stated “Since the government has been entrusted with responsibility to discharge the welfare of the people. It also provides government opportunity to know what the people feel and need.

He therefore urged every participant to be free to express his or her feelings.