Again, Amaechi Says He Has No Personal Grudge With President Jonathan

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, January 1st, 2014

Femi Kehinde

The Governor of Rivers State Chibuike Amaechi has stated that there is no personal quarrel between him and President Goodluck Jonathan despite widespread believes that the two are sworn enemies.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi

In a statewide New Year broadcast delivered by the Governor, he noted that he only has some misgivings against certain actions of the Federal Government towards the people of Rivers State.

In his words: “First, we have expended huge resources in executing approved federal projects in the state such as the Port Harcourt Owerri Road without any
refunds.

“Secondly, there is hardly any reasonable federal project ongoing in the state. Work on the Port Harcourt International Airport, a major gateway into the Eastern parts of the country, has been largely abandoned while airports whose rehabilitation was embarked on at the same time have since been commissioned.

“Thirdly, the federal government has embarked on a reduction of our natural resource endowments. A number of oil wells and gas fields located in the state have been carved out and ceded to neighbouring states while resources due from these have also been paid to those states.

“Fourthly, major industrial and strategic security projects that were originally slated for location in Rivers State have been moved to neighbouring states without even the courtesy of an explanation.

“Fifthly, there is evidence of discrimination against Rivers State indigenes in key federal appointments. Of all the councils and boards of federal universities and tertiary institutions recently announced, there is hardly any Rivers indigene considered fit to head any of them.

“Sixthly and most importantly, the federal government has actively encouraged the destabilization of the security of the state through tacit encouragement of the return of militants onto the streets of Port Harcourt and by encouraging the police to play a partisan role in the political affairs of the state.

According to him, efforts to reach a peaceful resolution of the differences on these issues with the federal government have not quite yielded results as the negative actions has not been reversed despite repeated appeals and countless negotiations from Rivers State Government.

“Our doors remain open to a negotiated settlement of these issues within the context of the constitutional relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government”. He declared.

On the underlying principle behind his movement to the opposition party, All Progressive Congress, APC, the Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum said he believes that the APC offers more robust platform for the realization of the dream of Rivers people for quick even development.