RVHA Passes Confidence Vote On Amaechi

Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a vote of confidence on the state governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi as part of moves to reduce the level of verbal attacks on him.

A motion to this effect was sponsored by the Leader of the Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd and 25 others at yesterday’s plenary session.

Relying on the prayers of the sponsors of the motion, the House resolved that a special session be held for the governor to highlight some of his achievements and tame the criticisms of the opposition.

Following robust debate on the motion, the Speaker, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree divided the House on the issue, and the result was 23 in favour and three against.

Presenting the motion, Hon Chidi Lloyd said, recently, the office of the governor of the state and chairman Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) came under serious attack by those percevied as enemies of the people of the state.

He observed that Rivers people gave the governor their mandate and the quality of his character endeared him to his colleagues, who elected him to lead them, stressing that Rivers people should speak through their representatvies to condemn the verbal attacks on the leader.

“Rivers people should condemn, in strong terms, the unwarranted attack on the person of the governor, and reaffirm the confidence on him” the leader declared, and urged offcials of the federal government to stop causing disaffection between the President and the state governor.

Hon Victor Amadi, Etche 1, said recent events call for Rivers people to stand behind the governor, emphasising that Governor Amaechi had not done anything wrong to earn thje level of critisicm because he had touched the lives of Rivers people positively.

On his part, Hon Onari Brown, Akuku-Toru I, said the House needed to encourage the governor for doing well and pass the confidence vote, adding that since the governor spoke out on the delay in the constrcution of the East-West Road, work has resumed on the project.

According to Godstime Ben Horsefall, the governor’s position on the ceding of some Kalabari communities was the reason behind his being persecuted, and enjoined Rivers people to rise in support of the state government.

Other speakers in support of the motion include, Victoria Nyeche, Anderson Miller, Ibiso Nwuche, Innocent Barikor, Legborsi Nwidadah, Gift Wokocha, Felicia Taneh, Lucky Odili, Golden Chioma, Fredrick Anabaraba, Ngo Augustine and Irene Inimgba.

Opposing the motion, Hon Michael Okey-Chinda, Obio/Akpor I argued that if a man performs his duties as governor that was voted to serve the people, it does not require vote of confidence.

He rather urged the House to appeal to the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to the East-West Road, adding that he respects the office of the governor but does not think that vote of confidence at this time was necessary.

L-R:Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr Abraham Nwankwo and Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr Bright Okogu, at a news conference on 2013 Federal Budget in Abuja yesterday