Nigeria Drifting To Precipice, Amaechi Warns

L-R: Vice President Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Angaga, at the launching of Nigerian Industrial Revolution in Abuja, recently.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi has warned that the country was heading to a precipice if the current leadership does not overhaul the governance system of the nation.
In an address he delivered at the session of the state House of Assembly on Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State governor warned that all benefits of the country’s centennial celebrations were lost because of poor leadership, poverty and corruption in the polity.
Stating that on attaining 100 years, Nigeria was still battling to strengthen institutions of governance, Amaechi noted that there was no good legacy to leave behind for future generations.
In his words, “Sadly as leaders, we must admit the truth which stares us in the face. It is the fact that our country is drifting perceptibly into dangerous waterfall. ‘’
He disclosed that a recent poll conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) indicated that, “60 per cent of those polled worried that the current federal administration is doing bad job of fighting corruption, while an overwhelming number wanted to see government address the employment gap by creating more jobs and reducing poverty.’’
Worried over the spate of killings, assassinations, power provision, dwindling revenue and wobbling economy, the Rivers State governor emphasized the need for the federal authorities to evolve new strategies capable up lifting the nation into a better 100 years in the future.
Amaechi emphasized, “…a country is not simply judged by how long its democratic structures have been up, but by the very substance of those structures and what they represent in the eyes of its people’’.
On the way forward, the governor suggested the need to battle corruption in the oil industry, especially in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, further recommending that the employment strategy should be overhauled beyond the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P) and YouWin Programme.
Further submitting that,”…no economic revolution has been done on power of candle lights and ‘I pass my neighbour generators’, Amaechi stressed the need to use the forthcoming National Conference to restructure the country.
Amaechi cautioned Nigerians to resist attempts to be deceived but rather usethe opportunity for betterment of the polity.
He promised that his administration will always pursue quality education, human capacity building, health care and job creation and equity, as he urged the lawmakers to ensure good democratic governance and protection of the rights of the citizens.