Amaechi Advocates Guber Rotation: Only Areas Yet To Produce Gov Should Aspire …Tells Critics: We’ve Done Well In Second Term

Any area that has produced governor before should go and sleep and allow other areas to produce”, these were the words of  Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi yesterday ,as he received thousands of Etche people who paid a solidarity visit in support of his administration in Government House, Port Harcourt.

The governor called for the set up of what he called Etche Enlightenment Committee to educate and mobilise the people on the need to exercise their voting power in the next elections. He insisted that the people’s vote must count since that was one way Rivers people would elect their leaders independently without external influence in 2015.

Amaechi also used the solidarity visit to call on Etche people to support the new multi-million dollar Farm Village, pointing out that the 10 per cent equity share they hadin the farm scheme would continue to multiply over the years, since land does not depreciate, explaining that he sited the project in the area to create employment opportunities and empower the rural farmers within Etche and Omuma areas.

The governor while blaming the current political crisis on some detractors said his administration was poised to do more for Etche people, “ I believe we have abandoned you people for so long, so if we have three things, we will take two and give you one’’.

It was against this backdrop that he stressed that his government had embarked on massive transformation of the area with the siting of 40 primary schools, two model secondary schools, construction of internal roads in Etche area and health centres, while hinting of fresh plan to build a referral hospital worth N1.7billion in the area.

The two- term Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF) also promised to construct the failing Chokocho/Oil Mill and Ozuzu Roads to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

Earlier, Chairman of  the Traditional Rulers Council and Onye Isi Etche, Eze Emmanuel Opurum said Governor Amaechi’s administration was God- sent as Etche people had witnessed unprecedented development since his inception, “ We have enjoyed what we have not enjoyed over the years since Rivers State was created in 1967’’.

Eze Opurum stressed that the Etche people would ever remain loyal and support the Amaechi-led government, “ because to us, His Excellency is like an egg ‘’.

The same view was expressed by member of House of Representatives for Etche/Omuma Constituency, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke who read the address of the group as he commended the governor for defending the territory and property of the state, further submitting that Amaechi’s recent victory as NGF chairman underscored his popularity and acceptance by the people.

Nwuke said, “ we are proud of you we are very proud of you and the people have mandated me to congratulate you on this victory’’.

The Reps member pledged the support of the people of Etche, emphasising that the good deeds of the governor in the area were indeed enough to attract the people’s total backing for the administration.

Later on, political stalwarts from the area, Chief Ambrose Nwuzi, Chief G N Ubani and Chief J. E. Amadi, pledged the people’s unflinching support to the Amaechi administration.

Chief Nwuzi said, “ Etche people have come and you are part of us. Other people who have ambition should put it on hold till your tenure come and go’’.

Meanwhile, Governor Chibuike Amaechi says his administration has not slowed down nor failed in the second term, saying critics of his government are not up-to-date on the ongoing projects in the state.

Speaking at the first State Council on Information organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications in Port Harcourt yesterday, Amaechi submitted that the criticism is as a result of poor knowledge of government activities, as he called on the Ministry to evolve novel measures to educate the citizenry.

According to the Rivers State Chief Executive, apart from roads, his administration had commenced efforts to rehabilitate various media outfits, which include a new Radio Rivers now to be relocated to Elelenwo, a new printing machine and equipment for Rivers State Newspaper Corporation and digitalisation and upgradement of Rivers Television.

He insisted that the essence of government was to deliver on its promises, and equally mentioned the International Conference Centre at Chief GU Ake Road, and the new School of Nursing at the old University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). “ as some of the new projects underway.  I’am happy that you know that by December this year, we will move everybody from the former School of Nursing to a new school’’, he said.

Revealing that some of the health and school projects started during his first tenure were still on course, Amaechi promised that, “ By September, we shall deliver 250 primary schools to 250 communities in 250 days at least to answer our critics’’.

Assuring the people of regular power  supply before the end of the year, Governor Amaechi stated that the major set back now was the creation of a new state transmission line to reduce voltage fluctuations, while stating that the government had commenced building transmission lines to boost distribution.

He disclosed that six of the new model secondary schools worth about N4.5 billion each would also be delivered by September, as he condemned selfish politicians from the state for spreading falsehood .

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Olu Fubara described the forum as timely, and tasked information managers to live up to expectation.

‘’Democracy flourishes when citizens have access to information,’’ Chief Fubara stressed.

In her address earlier, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari  had said the forum was aimed at charting a new course in the state information management  policy, and domesticating the new Freedom of Information Act.

She revealed that the Rivers State was among states in the frontline that pursues transparency and accountabili

; Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi (middle), with Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and former Group Public Affairs Manager, NNPC, Chief Olu Fubara, at the first Rivers State Council on information in Port Harcourt, yesterday

ty in line with global best practices.

In his speech, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odin-Kalu lauded the state government for setting the pace in education and ensuring accountability in its activities.

The NHRC Chairman maintained that through education and information, the citizenry could be well informed and empowered to drive governance.