FG And The Rivers Project

Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi, a couple of days ago
restated his ordeal with the Federal Government over some development efforts in the State. He noted that the apparent injustice meted to the Rivers people gave rise to the political face-off between Aso Rock and Brick House.
Speaking at the Awards ceremony of the Centenary celebration of Port Harcourt at the weekend, Governor Amaechi said that because he was elected to protect the interest of Rivers State and its people, he did not know how to pretend that all was well when the state was being denied her dues.
While we do not want to believe that the Federal Government would have any reason to deny Rivers State her due the failure of the federal authorities to counter the allegations or explain circumstances that may have led to the situation, tends to give credence to our worst fears.
Apart from the fact that Rivers State remains one of the highest contributors to the oil and gas earnings of Nigeria, the State cannot possibly suffer any frustration from the Federal Government at a time when a ‘Port Harcourt boy” is President of the country.
Even as we deliberately steer clear from the political fight that has tended to shame the political focus of the Niger Delta as a whole, the issues being complained about by the Rivers State Government cannot be ignored. In addition to the fact that all the issues affect the ordinary Rivers resident, some actually touched on old boundaries and major economic concerns.
These are things that no State would take lying low. These are things that are capable of causing serious fight between ancestral allies and neighbours. These are things the Federal Government, which is faced with many crises, should not be seen to be championing no matter the attraction.
Although President Goodluck Jonathan recently committed to equitable development across the country, the Rivers State Government had spent the last one year calling for the development of federal roads and facilities located in Rivers State without any response. Even funds spent on federal roads are not refunded.
Specifically, the Rivers State Government has complained over the delay in completing the renovation of the Port Harcourt International Airport, when all other airports awarded at the same time have since been completed. Also worrisome is the recent blocking of a foreign loan, intended for the development of some water projects in Rivers State.
But most annoying and unacceptable is the secret annexure of Soku Community and its environs into Bayelsa State. Because of the oil wealth of the area, the authorities have failed to remember that Soku is a Kalabari community that is situated deep in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. Apart from the linguistic and ancestral ties with Kalabari, the administrative base of Soku has never been in doubt.
While Rivers State questions the release of money held in escrow account for Rivers and Bayelsa states over a land dispute to Bayelsa, the transfer of some traditional oil wells in Rivers State to neighbouring Abia State is capable of making even a deaf and dumb person to speak up.
Clearly, it has become incumbent on the Federal Government to clear the air on these issues and re-assure the Rivers people of their stake in Nigeria. At a time when Rivers State should be one of the favoured states and for good reason, it should not be treated as an enemy territory. Even as we cannot say Bayelsa is being favoured because the President comes from there, the first lady comes from Rivers State.
Apparently, there are more to it than we can see, but we think that the political differences of some persons should not be allowed to affect the interest of a whole State and its people. As a country that claims to operate on the rule of law, justice demands that people get their due, no matter the political differences of their leaders.
At a time when there is a development-oriented government in Rivers State, nothing should constitute a stumbling block for the Rivers Project. As a State that suffers greatly from the oil and gas business, its timely development should indeed interest the Federal Government.
Finally, we expect that the Federal Government would free itself from these weighty allegations and encourage development across the country and, especially the Niger Delta where the current economic mainstay of the country comes from.