National Daily

Renewed Commitment to Development in Rivers

Celebrating 365 days in office was an epoch-making event which Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State will ever remember in his life time. It was one occasion that the governor utilized to declare his resolve to set aside prevailing crisis and take the state to a higher pedestal of development, reports NWADIKE UGOCHUKWU from Port Harcourt.

IT is on record that the leadership of Rivers State Government was bestowed on Hon. Chibuike Amaechi through the Supreme Court verdict of October 25, 2007, without election. Thereafter, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Uche Ndu was also asked to swear-in Amaechi immediately as the authentic governor of Rivers State.

When Amaechi assumed office, the popular impression about him was 'what will be the faith of Rivers State under the new leadership', but the governor was believed not to be perturbed as all his thoughts and imaginations were conceived to be focused on how to develop Rivers State.

Another issue that have been dominating political discourse in Rivers State has been the concern over the certificate of return issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Chibuike Amaechi as the winner of April 14, 2007, governorship election in the state. The issue has become contemptuous after October 25, 2007; Supreme Court ruling that ousted Celestine Omehia presumed to have won the April 14, 2007 governorship election on the platform of the PDP and in his place installing Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the winner of the PDP primaries but who never contested the main election.
Despite the Supreme Court verdict and consequent swearing-in on October 26, 2007 of Hon. Amaechi as the fifth executive of Rivers State, a section of the political class was of the view that since Omehia was the one who contested the April election and was issued the certificate of return by INEC as evidence of wining the election, Amaechi has no electoral claim to the governorship position. Some have argued that this argument may have been canvassed to heat the political space and slow down the wheel of governance in the state.

Moreover, with the swearing-in of Amaechi, Omehia asked election Tribunal to strike out his name from petitions earlier filed against him. The puzzle has been, “can Amaechi answer to charges that were in the first instance instituted against Omehia at the Tribunal? Some others are of the view that for Amaechi to celebrate 365 days in office he should wait until the tribunal finishes its judgment on the governorship election in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has said that he has no court case in any court in Nigeria.

Assuming office, Amaechi made the deceleration that he had the vision for building development and sustenance of an egalitarian state, befitting of the pride of the Rivers man and woman as envisioned by our heroes past. He said his mission in government is to find a new part to the daunting track of re-engineering the social, economic and infrastructural well being of the state. He reposed the determination to position the state as one of the best in the comity of states and make it competitive on its ability to provide for its citizens just as much as it can be find anywhere in the world.

Governor Amaechi also renewed his determination to give conscious devotion to the social contract with the people of Rivers State to deliver at their door steps the much talked about dividends of democracy. The governor remarked: “we are aware of the enormous burden trusted upon us by the people of Rivers State who had to contend with over-stretched and deteriorating infrastructural facilities, harsh economic climate and the problem of security of lives and properties”.
Amaechi expressed the hope that in the right frame of mind and good health, the challenges arising from Health problem in the state can be confronted.

To improve Education in the state, he promised to create model schools good enough for children of the privileged class and affordable even to poorest. His vision is to give Education to the future generation for the challenges of tomorrow. Apparently, the state government would build new ultra modern and well equipped university to replace the existing Rivers State University of Science and Technology (U.S.T). “We may be churning out half baked graduates who may be misfit for the needs and who lack the capacity to position the state for sustainable development,” the governor lamented. It was indicated that Rivers State government under the leadership of Amaechi, has chosen the part of shedding government of 100% financing to embrace the concept of public private partnership, creating a joint vehicle by way of a special purpose vehicle for the purpose of attracting foreign investment in the health sector. It is the desire of government to bring in foreigners who are undertaking to invest 60% in the model hospital needs which shall be proximate to the need of Rivers people.

A bill for the creation of the Rivers State Road Maintenance and Vehicle Habitation Agency has been initiated to strengthen government's focus on Road maintenance, construction and re-construction.

It is government intention to support the present task force by giving them power to do more jobs. The Rivers State Government has donated N2 billion to the committee to enable them to achieve the quest to better the lot of the Rivers man and woman. Although the ministry of works is being repositioned and strengthened to deliver world class infrastructure and roads that would make it conducive for economic activities to strive.

The Port Harcourt, trans-Amadi Trans Kalabari, Bori roads and bridges in Ogoni, Adoni Unity road and Port Harcourt network drainage master plan, various fly over and other development projects will be pursued with vigor. Rivers State Government is also doing something in the housing sector. The government's vision on Housing is encapsulated in its urban renewal plan which involves the development of three cities including the creation of Port Harcourt City.

The unity road project awarded by the former Governor Peter Odili to which incumbent Governor Chibuike Amaechi has donated N21 billion also indicate the need to establish waste recycling plant to enhance wastes management as is in the New Master Plan.

However, the Rivers State government is conscious of the fact that government alone cannot do everything; thus the pivot of this administration is to partner with the private sector to drive development in the state.

Governor Ameachi indicated that the transport sector should be public driven. It is expected that the Rivers State Government will provide enabling environment, established Rules and Regulations that will ensure decent conduct of business in the Transport sector to enable private individuals participate actively.
Meanwhile, the state is partnering with a company which is proposing to build more rails while government will create the terminals.

The government also showed determination to reward handwork and productivity. Governor Amaechi recently approved the payment of 15% consolidated salaries and paid all arrears of pensions, gratuity and death benefits from 2003; and ensures salaries are promptly paid regularly.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi said that the youth of the state would be given their right place in his government, promising that series of empowerment and employment programmes have been initiated for the youths.
Government has also planned to establish channels of employment through the micro credit scheme in partnership with First City Monument Bank, and the state sustainable development programme.

Governor Amaechi is widely believed to have shown enormous commitment in area of investment in the power sector. The governor has demonstrated strong intention to provide electricity to the people in Rivers State to create catalyst for accelerated development.

As part of effort to check the current power problem encountered in Rivers State, the Rivers State Government has taken steps to facilitate the completion of works on the state independent power project before the end of this year. Governor Amaechi inspected the Trans-Amadi Gas Turbine expansion work. With the release of N11 billion funds to the contractors handling the Trans-Amadi and Eleme Gas plant station, the problem encountered with electricity supply, according to the contracting firm, Rockson Engineering, would be resolved as the work is expected to be completed between September and December 2008.

When the on going work in the three stations is completed the residents of Port Harcourt its environs are expected to begin to have substantial electricity supply in the state capital and parts of the state between September and December 2008. There is strong promise of improvement in power supply as governor Amaechi had earlier directed the Special Assistant on Power to work out details on how to solve the distribution problems to enable government provide necessary funds to improve power generation from gas Turbine Station.

Amaechi led Administration emphasis on Education and welfare of students, the state government has approved 100 per cent increase in bursary allowance paid to students of Rivers origin in tertiary Institutions. it is considered necessary that the state need to produce more qualified manpower that can cope favorably with others elsewhere in the country. The government is however taking a step further by trying to secure admission overseas for qualified indigenes to ensure that not only the children of the wealthy have assess for foreign Education.

Many belie e that the greatest leadership asset of governor Amaechi is his dispensation of equity, justice ion governance. He is believed to be favourably disposed to equal opportunities for all citizens resident in Rivers State. His policies are conceived to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in having access to the services and institutions of the state.
There is wide expectation that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission would succeed in exposing the ills of yesteryears and that such exposure would caution political leaders in the state that there is no longer hiding place for them anymore. Peace has been considered very crucial for the development of the Rivers State and the governor is believed to be giving it all the attention it requires top be achieved.