Date Published: 12/01/09

Amaechi indicts Ogoni Council Chairmen

* Directs them to refocus their priorities

GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, one of the key oil-producing states of Nigeria, has come really hard on Local Government Chairmen in the Ogoni axis of the state, claiming that they have not done much to lift the standard of living in the area.

The governor who was obviously angry with the council chairmen said it was immoral and unjust for them to continue to hold down Ogoni.

He has accordingly charged the council chairmen in Ogoni to refocus their priorities to enable them deliver tangible dividends of democracy to their people.

Amaechi, gave the charge in Bori, during an interactive meeting with the Ogoni people. According to him, '' the state government has taken over the funding of primary education and primary health care services, which were the constitutional responsibilities of the local government councils''. He also urged the chairmen to tell the people what they do with the funds allocated to the councils.

The governor explained that since the third tier of government is the closest to the people, it was mandatory for the council chairmen to tell the people the projects they are executing that justified their leadership of the various council areas.

He said the state government's desire to give adequate account of its stewardship led to the setting of an independent body to assess the performance of all the 23 local government councils of the state, revealing that only four Chairmen, out of 23, performed above average.

Amaech however, lauded the Gokana and Eleme council chairmen for being among the four out of the 23 council chairmen in the state rated above average, and berated Khana Local Government Chairman and his colleague in Tai for their poor performance despite the huge funds available to them.

The governor assured the Gokana and Eleme council chairmen that the state government would partner with them to provide more infrastructural facilities that would add value to the lives of their people.

Answering questions during the interactive session, Governor Amaechi advised Ogoni people to vote only for leaders that would have their interest at heart, while insisting that the present leaders should give account of the common wealth under their control.

In response to another question, the governor said the state Executive Council is working on a bill that would specify appropriate punishment for Principals and Head teachers of schools in the state that would fail in their responsibility to give students quality education, adding that the law when passed would also demand government to do its part to ensure improvement in standard of education.

The governor assured the people that the government is working assiduously to ensure that the Ogoni area be connected to the national grid, to enable them have electricity before the Christmas festivities.

He used the occasion to appeal to Ogoni leaders to put the past behind them and unite by stopping all divisive tendencies that balkanized them years ago.