How We Transformed Rivers State – Amaechi …Warns State Might Return To 2007 Scenario

Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Mr Olufemi Adenaike (left), addressing a News Conference in Kaduna recently. With him is the Deputy Commissioner of Police (cid), Mr Gazali Muhammed. Photo: NAN

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi says the transformation of the state after 2007 was as a result of marching vision with action.
He told course participants of Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, in Kaduna State, who visited him in Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, that the first drive was to diversify the state’s economy by strengthening the educational and health sectors.
By taking over the payment of teachers salaries, Amaechi pointed out that the government was able to reduce the financial burden on the local government councils.
He said the state also raised its internal revenue profile from N2.5billion to N6billion monthly, hinting that the target of government was to push it to N8billion, until the current political crisis crept in and drove investors away.
“That is not enough”, Amaechi explained, adding that…”we did not introduce new taxes, but plugged the loopholes; hence we have saved more money for the state.”
The Rivers State governor while urging the course participants to carry out detailed study of the state, said the state government has built and completed 300 model primary schools out the 750 targeted; and also built 140 health centres across the state, while raising electricity generation capacity of the state gas-powered turbine to 545 megawatts.
Amaechi insisted that all these were responsible for the transformation the state was witnessing until the recent political crisis, which he blamed on the jostle for 2015 elections.
“We should differentiate between politics of elections and politics of the people”, the governor warned, adding that “I pray it does not deteriorate to what it used to be in 2007”.
Earlier, leader of the group, Brigadier- Gen Gbolahan Oyesofobi disclosed that the visit was part of the course requirement, to expose participants to practical situations.
The Director of Land Warfare in the AFCSC also said they chose Rivers State among other 10 states because of the unique developments in those state.
Brig-Gen Oyesofobi explained that already, participants have begun conducting their research, as results would be presented at a special seminar, which he invited the governor to attend during the course of the year.
He lauded the governor for his developmental strides, especially the Songhai Farm and Siat (RISONPALM), describing them as perfect examples of the success of a public private partnership.