The Rivers State Chapter Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) says the persistent overseas travels by the State governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi especially in the face of administrative exigencies are becoming worrisome.
In a statement endorsed by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, the party accused Amaechi of fiddling away the State’s scare resources on travelling jamborees under the pretext of sourcing for foreign investors that may never be seen.
The party recalled that on several occasions, there were need to attend to issues of urgent public importance, and emergencies that required the governor’s prompt intervention but failed because the governor was nowhere around.
ACN reasoned that the large chunk of funds put into the unprofitable journeys and logistics is more than enough to revamp the ailing industries in the State.
Putting the number of such travels embarked by Amaechi just to cruise around the globe since he assumed office as governor to well over 200, the party called for a stop to the aimless shuttle, describing it as wasteful.
“To us, the habitual overseas travels by Amaechi make nonsense of the State policy on ICT through which much of the economic contact internationally ought to be made and thereby reducing cost and risk. But because the cause for some of these travels is shrouded in secrecy, the use of the faster HI-TEC for the discussions is considered unnecessary”, the ACN alleged.
The party is therefore alerting the relevant authorities especially the various law enforcement and anti-graft agencies to ensure the purpose(s) and places of foreign visits by all government officials are well taken note of.
“Above all, embarking on regular overseas trips in the face of serious agitations by different sections of the State amounts to gross insensitivity by government and could create an avoidable chaotic situation or crisis,” the party concluded.