Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has advised former
Governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, to accept the reality that his
political party lost the rerun elections and allow the state government
focus on the rebuilding of the state.
Governor Wike said that the responsibility of reviving the state after
the immediate past administration failed to use the three trillion naira
(N3trillion) that accrued to the state under its watch is enormous.
Declaring open a retreat on strengthening capacity, efficiency and service
delivery for sustainable development for top government officials at Onne
Multi-Purpose Centre on Thursday, Governor Wike said that the
administration has deployed resources and expertise to correct the
failures of the Amaechi administration.
He said: “I call on the former Governor and leader of the APC in the State
to accept the reality that the re-run elections has woefully been lost by
his party and that Rivers people have, again, overwhelmingly re-affirm
their confidence, trust and preference for the PDP.
“Therefore, spare us the agony of unnecessary hostility and allow Rivers
State to move forward in peace and security. We expect you to use your
high office and connections to attract meaningful development projects to
the State as I did during my time; not senseless and unpatriotic
distractions. Enough is enough.
“All of us are aware of the sorry state of things in Rivers State before
May 29 2015. Between October 25 2007 and May 28 2015 over three trillion
naira accrued from all revenue sources to the State. Yet, they did nothing
tangible with that money to develop the State. Instead, they squandered
and diverted most of this money into private pockets through bogus and
ill-fated projects. ”
The governor noted that all key projects initiated by the Amaechi
administration were either abandoned or not executed at all.
He said: “Let’s briefly look at the records since they live in denial. The
visible projects initiated by former Governor Amaechi during his eight
years in office include: the Karibi Whyte mega Hospital project, the
Greater Port Harcourt Project, the new Rivers State University project;
the RSSDA over-seas scholarship scheme; the mosquitos eradication scheme,
the Adokiye Amiesemaka Stadium project, the 500 primary schools project,
the 23 mega secondary schools project, the ill-fated less than 1.5kms
monorail project, and the dualization of some inner city roads.
“However, none of these projects was realized before they left office
despite spending billions and billions of naira on them. For example, the
Karibi Whyte Hospital was not just abandoned at the foundation stage, it
turned out to be a big scam on Rivers people. The Greater Port Harcourt
project existed mainly on paper without any tangible progress. The Adokye
Amiesimaka stadium was abandoned half completed, while not even a stone
was laid for the proposed new Rivers State University.
“Furthermore, the mosquito eradication project was another huge scam, just
as the secondary school and overseas scholarships scheme were
misconceived, fraudulent and unsustainable. In addition, they sold off
three of the State’s four independent power plants initiated by the
Governor Odili administration to cronies and diverted the proceeds to
private ends.
“The narrative is not different in their much-flaunted education and
health projects. Their own project audit before they left office reveals
that out of 498 primary schools they initiated, only 116 were completed
and the rest abandoned. Similarly, out of the 23-mega secondary schools
they initiated, only one was completed, the rest abandoned. Throughout the
eight years, no public secondary school was rehabilitated, while all the
general hospitals were willfully abandoned to rot and decay. I challenge
the former Governor to controvert these facts in a public debate.
“He said despite inheriting a badly governed state, his administration
hit the ground running, initiating critical projects and programmes that
have revived the economy of the state to the benefit of the people.
The governor said: ” I made it clear from our first day in office that we
didn’t run for the office of Governor for the fun of it. We ran to restore
hope to our people; provide first-class public infrastructure, tackle
insecurity and make Rivers State a preferred destination for local and
foreign entrepreneurs.
“We promised to build a new Rivers State where our people will be secure
in a well-managed government that cares about how we serve our people;
secure in a justice system that protects the rule of law and delivers
equitable justice; secure in a prospering economy that works for everyone;
a Rivers State where our children have equal access to first-rate
education regardless of background; a Rivers State that is secure in a
healthcare system that is accessible, qualitative and affordable for
everyone.
“He pledged that his administration will continue to work for the
benefit of the people translating the New Rivers Vision into reality
within the specified time.
The governor noted that his administration will sustain sound
development principles and the pro-people accountable application of
resources to enhance the development of the state.
He said: “Let me re-affirm the determination of our government to make
Rivers State secure, peaceful and prosperous through public and private
sector participation. Although the glorious fruits of the transformative
process we have started would take some time to fully manifest, there is
no doubt that we are making steady progress with the lean resources at our
disposal, despite the disruptive distractions from the bizarre opposition
that has taken partisan politics to the point of terror.”
In his opening remarks, Secretary to the Rivers State Government,
Chief Kenneth Kobani stated that the retreat was organised to equip top
government officials with knowledge to assist the governor achieve
his development goals.
The Retreat had as resource persons the following: Prof Ibrahim Gambari,
Prof A.O. Afolabi, Prof Bob Osaze, Ambassador SM Taribo, Dr Ita
Ekpeyong, Mr Emeka Ezeh, Ambassador John Gana, Prof Christiana Okoji, Dr
Egem Odey and Ferdinand Agu .
The governor, his Deputy, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Special
Assistants, Permanent Secretaries, Members of Boards and Commissions are
participants at the retreat.