Why I visited Rivers Assembly – Amaechi

BY UDUMA KALU, with agency report
…Says FG brings down anyone with ambition
Governor Rotimi Amaechiof Rivers State has said that he visited the
state House of Assembly on the day of the crisis to rescue some
lawmakers, who were being attacked because the police assigned to the
assembly had been compromised.
Speaking, yesterday, at Chatham Housein Central London, where hundreds
of Rivers indigenes and students came tosupport him, Amaechi said the
crises began when it was suspected that he had higher political
ambitions for 2015.
He delivered a speech entitled Reform and Resource Governance in Nigeria.
He said the current political crisis involving him was based on the
assumption that "I want to run for 2015elections. But again, there is
no law that criminalises ambition in Nigeria. Itis sad because people
do everything to bring you down.
"If this crisis continues, one group will lose and that is the people
of Rivers State. Should the state suffer for the so-called ambition of
the governor?"
Amaechi said even when he had not declared for any position, the
impact ofthe clampdown was that several projects in Rivers State had
been put on ice by Federal Government.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State
Impact on Rivers
He said: "For instance, we have two helicopters to monitor security
that they have refused permission to be brought into the country and
they have frustrated plans we have to open a syringe manufacturing
factory in Rivers State.
"Even if they have an issue with me, why should the whole of Rivers
State suffer? We have numerous projects for which we have signed
agreements with Federal Government to introduce and implement.
"But since this crisis began they have suspended all of them and the
people feeling it are the ordinary people of Rivers State."
Students, who came to for the event said they were there to show
appreciation for the good work their governor was doing. Many of the
students were beneficiaries of the governor's scholarship scheme
designed to improve manpower in thestate.
Chaired by the British MP, Richard Fuller, Vice Chairman of All-Party
Parliamentary Group on Nigeria in the House of Commons, the session
was part of Chatham House's African dialogue series.
Chatham House, home of the Royal Institute of International Affairs,
regularly invites Nigerian politicians tothe UK to participate in its
discussions about how the African continent is developing.
Amaechi on Rivers' crisis
Amaechi stressed that the current crisis in Rivers State threatens
security,and that some of the disbanded militant groups have now been
revived and are being used to cause mayhem and protest against his
government.
He added that on the day there was fracas in the Rivers State House of
Assembly, many of the thugs were brought in with the connivance of the
police commissioner.
He said: "I used to be the Speaker of the House and the law is that
you are not even allowed to bring your walking stick in when entering.
"How did these people manage to bring in thugs, weapons, a fake mace
and cause mayhem while the police were not only looking on but aiding
them?"
He said that the violence started long before the recording seen on
Youtube,when five assemblymen smuggled a fake mace into the House and
used hoodlums to create chaos.
Lists achievements
According to the governor, after the Police Commissioner refused to do
anything about it, he went there with his security detail and it was
they who eventually restored order.
Outlining a catalogue of achievements his administration had recorded
since assuming office in 2007, Governor Amaechi said they included
infrastructure projects, agricultural plantations, sending hundreds of
students on scholarship to the UK and Canada and massive funding of
education.
He pointed out that 500 primary schools have been built in Rivers
State during his tenure and 250 more will becommissioned starting from
October.
He said: "The academic structure we inherited was very bad as many
children could not stay in school and those who did got a very poor
education.
"We are building schools and uniforms,sandals, bags and books are
free, whilewe have built 60 health centres and 70 more will be
commissioned before December.
"We send 300 students every year to the UK and Canada on scholarship
and we have established palm oil and banana plantations that employ
workers.
"By the end of our tenure, we would have laid the foundation for a
more robust and less oil-dependent economy in Rivers State."
Noting that Rivers State had the second largest economy in Nigeria,
thegovernor said he was of the opinion that good political leadership
could improve things further.
However, he added that the political culture in Nigeria, where
politicians believe they are doing the people a favour, is a huge
impediment as is the refusal of certain people to leave the political
scene.According to Amaechi, certain politicians have remained on the
scene despite having nothing more to offer because they have no other
means of earning a living.