Thursday, April 7, 2016

ACCEPT THE REALITY OF YOUR POLITICAL LOSS,GOVERNOR WIKE TELLS AMAECHI , APC

 

ACCEPT THE REALITY OF YOUR POLITICAL LOSS,
GOVERNOR WIKE TELLS AMAECHI , APC
*says his administration has kick-started the revival of the
state

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.
Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic
Media.
7th April, 2016.
30 mins · Public

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