Amaechi Vows To Sustain Service To Rivers People: Says, ‘Am Here To Serve’ …As Orashi Declares Governor’s Hunters, Rivers Enemies

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has promised to redouble his efforts at delivering the dividends  of democracy to the people of the state because, “I am in office to serve”.

He spoke while declaring open a three-day retreat for Rivers State Senior Government Officials which ended over the weekend at the State-owned Songhai Farms in Bunu Tai in Tai Local Government Area of the State.

Amaechi said the retreat was a wake-up call for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to redouble their efforts towards fulfilling his administration’s vision and complete all ongoing projects in the state before the end of his tenure.

At the retreat was Governor Amaechi himself, his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii, Commissioners, Special Assistants, heads of academic institutions, the Executive Director of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and the State Economic Advisory Council.

A paper was presented by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr Franklin Nlerum while status reports were made by respective commissioners in the ministries of power, works, transport, health, water resources and rural development, agriculture and commerce and industry.

The Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam and the Governor’s Special Assistant on the new Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Mrs Vivian Braide, also made presentations.

Tagged “Project implementation and the march towards 2015”, the retreat drew valuable ideas from the participants that would enable the Amaechi administration deliver more efficiently to all Rivers people.

In his welcome remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii  said the retreat was convened to determine the projects executed, ascertain their outstanding level and ensure their completion before the end of the Amaechi administration in 2015.

In the communiqué at the end of the retreat, the participants noted that the Amaechi administration had undertaken numerous laudable projects across the state and commended him for his vision and foresight.

They also noted his commitment to good governance, and sustainable infrastructural development in the state.

The participants also commended Governor Amaechi for setting up the Rivers State Economic Advisory Council and noted the key role of the council in the administration’s drive towards sustainable development.

The participants noted the challenges in completing the proposed 750 model primary schools and 24 model secondary schools in the state by the Amaechi administration and appealed to the Education Ministry to organize, before the end of the year, an education summit to review the role of education in the state’s development plan.

They noted the prevalence of environment degrading activities by individuals and companies in the state and urged the ministry to accelerate work on all outstanding projects, including the carbon credit project and complete the Waste-to-Wealth and Scrap-to-Wealth project, before the year ends.

The Ministries of Agriculture and Health were commended for the Amaechi administration’s strides in those sectors, just as the stakeholders reiterated the administration’s commitment to safe and efficient healthcare delivery.

For the Works Ministry, those at the retreat noted the aggressive provision of road infrastructure by the Amaechi government, and also encouraged the Finance Ministry to ensure prompt release of funds.

The level of work done at the Greater Port Harcourt City was appreciated as the retreat stressed the need for the Justice Ministry to speed up work on proposed regulations and laws for land use management in the new city.

The need to provide potable water for rural communities and households in the state capital was also highlighted just as participants commended the strategic intervention of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), especially the exceptional performance of students on the agency’s scholarship programmes in academic institutions overseas.

The Ministry of Transport was urged to put into use completed bus terminals at Omagwa and Eleme areas of the state while the need to comply with the public procurement law by all procurement entities was equally stressed.

The retreat ended on Sunday evening with a vote of thanks by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Meanwhile, the people of Orashi region comprising of four local government areas of Abua/Odual, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada-East and Ahoada-West of Rivers State have described politicians fighting against the admininstration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi as enemies of the state.

Numbering over 2,ooo, the people had defied an alleged police blockade attempt and rain yesterday to pay a solidarity visit to Amaechi in Government House, Port Harcourt, as they condemned the spate of political attacks on the governor.

Spokesman of the group and Senator representing the Rivers West Senatorial District, Wilson Ake said their visit was aimed at sending a clear message to those fighting the governor that they are losers. “Our visit here today is clearly to send a message to those persons concerned that they are not fighting the course of the Rivers people,’’ Senator Ake said.

Ake also remarked that, “ the attack and hate you and indeed your government is experiencing today is purely as a result of your fight against social injustice, which is the proper path for development and posterity, and sane minds will always remember and join forces with you and your government to surmount’’.

The senator who read the address of the people believed that the government of Amaechi was divinely instituted and therefore cannot be pulled down, stressing that the four local government areas of Orashi was currently strewn with developmental projects, which is unprecedented in the history of the area.

Speaking against the heightened scheme to remove Amaechi government by some politicians, the senator assured that such plot will fail and that the administration will leave office by May 2015.

‘’Therefore we will stand with you in this struggle in any circumstance to forestall the efforts of these workers of iniquity in our state,’’ Ake assured Amaechi.

Also, member representing Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas in the House of Representatives, Honourable Asita said the people have come to express their support to the governor.

He said, “ We thank you for taking out time to see us, and then to tell you that Orashi people are grateful people. When you do something good to us, we will remember.

We have seen the projects you have done in our places like our senator has said, and we are grateful for the things you have promised to do. Don’t waste time, do them.’’

Some royal fathers from the area who spoke in support of Amaechi include Chief Sambo Adiele, His Royal Highness Umar, and Chief K K Ewor.

Chief Adiele praised the governor for his courage, and assured him that his stiff stance for truth will surely prevail.

In another development, Governor Amaechi has hinted of  plans to set up a 20-member committee to review projects sited in the Orashi area.

The committee, which is expected to meet the governor on Sunday, will also recommend new projects, especially for communities that have not benefitted.

He promised to complete the Abua/Agbandele bridge and another road linking Odual to the mainland.

Commenting on the political development, the governor urged the people to stand against politicians and forces of oppression whose aim is to enrich themselves saying,” what you people have shown today is what is called peoples power’’.

L-R:Senator Nenadi Usman, Senator Chris Ngige, and Senator Sonni Ogbuoji as they resumed after two weeks break in Abuja, yesterday.