Date Published: 10/28/09

We have nothing to hide in Rivers, Says A

RIVERS State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, says his administration is determined to break way with the past with a view to deepening democracy in the state. To this end, the governor said he will continue to make the accounts of the state public.

He was speaking in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Tuesday night while explaining the reason behind his public accountability forum. According to him, ''it is to demonstrate transparency as the government has nothing to hide''.

Governor Amaechi said when the idea of an accountability forum was conceived as an avenue to explain to the people how the state funds were managed, some members of his cabinet were scared.

He said that he insisted on going public and also directed all transactions to be printed and made available to the public, because “if you are not stealing money, then you should not be afraid to publish the records”.

The governor challenged Rivers people to call for records of expenditure in Government House and compare it to what was the situation before he came into office, stressing that it will be an example to vindicate that his administration has been prudent.

“If I was not sure of the income and expenditure records, I would not come to the public because people are usually afraid to do so but the mere fact that I stand before you to give account means that I am sure of my facts”, the governor declared.

The State Chief Executive noted that the present state government approves funds that have budgetary cover and insists that Ministries comply with the requirement before seeking approval.

On the suspension of two local government chairmen, the governor said both council bosses were involved in the sponsorship of some criminal tendencies in their areas, an action which negates the state government principle of zero tolerance to crime.

He said if similar measures were taken in the past, the level of criminality which held the state hostage before the advent of his administration would have been checkmated, emphasizing that since their suspension peace have been restored in those councils.

The governor also disclosed that the committee set up by the state government to assess the performance of the council chairmen has submitted its report and government would take actions after studying the report.

The governor defended some decisions of the government to make the state better, noting that after the release of funds, the “Operation Zero Potholes” in Port Harcourt and its environs has recorded tremendous improvement while the dry season would be utilized to speed up road construction work.