Amaechi Lists FG’s Sins Against Rivers

The Federal Government’s lack of commitment to the commencement of train seven of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) is a major constraint to the socio-economic development of Rivers State.
Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi who stated this yesterday in his broadcast to the people said the step which was taken by the Petroleum Minister Dezieni Allison-Madueke would deny Rivers people tens of thousands of jobs and also discourage investments in the state.
The governor said the Minister insisted that investors should go and invest in the Brass NLNG project rather than in the NLNG Train Seven project in Rivers State.
Governor Amaechi while justifying his decision to leave the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for All Progressive Peoples Congress (APC), also accused the Federal Government of sidelining Rivers State in boards and other federal appointments at the Federal level, “Rivers State is treated with levity. Out of the several councils of Universities, no Rivers person was found worthy of becoming a University Council Chairman”, he said.
He also mentioned total absence of federal presence in Rivers State as another major ploy against the state adding that the good governance tour in the state exposed the total lack of federal presence in the state which he described as the cash cow of the federation.
Abandonment of work on the East-West Road, deliberate delay of work on the Port Harcourt International Airport, the third busiest airport in the country, when work in other airports have been completed, and commissioned, poor state of Bonny-Bomu road leading to the only functional LNG project, he said shows the lack of interest of the Federal Government on its projects in the state.
The governor remarked that “no personal interest or ambition can be higher than the welfare of the people that gave him their mandate without condition”, he said of President Jonathan and also accused the Federal Government of ceding oil wells belonging to Rivers State to Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa Ibom States.
“Even after we got a judgement that the oil wells were wrongly ceded to Akwa Ibom State and should be returned to us, only dry wells that were no longer producing oil were returned”, he said.
“In the specific case of the Soku Oil Wells, despite a decision reached that the monies should remain in an escrow account till all matters concerning it are resolved, the Federal Government continues to pay neighbouring Bayelsa State the revenue meant for Rivers in a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul”, the governor maintained.
Governor Amaechi who also noted that internal party democracy had been scarified on the altar of personal greed and injustice declared that it would be impossible to achieve set goals and aspiration of the state under the PDP as presently constituted.

R-L: Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph A. Ajienka, VC, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta State, Prof John Orwala Elis-Efestor and Petroleum Minister’s representative, Engr Ernest Wankpa, during the 10th Induction/Anniversary of the Institute of Petroleum Studies, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Photo: Obinna Prince Dele