Poor Planning, Corruption Frustrate Development In Nigeria – Amaechi

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Saturday, September 27th, 2014

By Tajudeen Balogun, Lagos

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi has taken a swipe on the Nigerian leadership, saying the challenge of development in the country is due to poor planning and lack of political will by the ruling class to deal with corruption.

Amaechi made the assertions late Friday in an interview with an international cable news television, Al –Jazeera and monitored by AFRICAN EXAMINER.

Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State

“The problem of Nigerian economy is lack of planning; If government plans well, the economy will be better for it. The major factor is power and the President has promised by 2013, there will be power all over Nigeria. He is running for the second time and has also promised the security challenge will end by the end of October this year”, Amaechi indicated.

He emphasized that the key to economy development was power, therefore hailed privatization of power sector, yet noted despite privatizing the industry, the country still suffers electricity supply.

Governor Amaechi noted that the German economy was mostly run by Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SME), but regretted that the Nigerian government only relied on natural resource and “share the oil money”.

On corruption, the Governor who has been having a running battle with President Goodluck Jonathan owing to some political differences, declared that corruption thrives in the country because it was only the poor that were questioned and punished for sharp practices, while the rich steal and go unpunished, citing example of the alleged missing N20 Billion in which the government failed to investigate.

Unfortunately, those who steal public money, Amaechi stated lived under palpable fear, therefore always build security around themselves, as they were surrounded by the poverty stricken populace.

While fielding questions on security challenges confronting the country, Governor Amaechi, opened up and said no matter the number of the Military sent to the North Eastern part of the country, the problem would persist If government failed to address poverty in the society.

Besides, for the war against insurgency to be won, Amaechi mentioned that the government must be “sincere”. This he argued was lacking, hence, alleged that Federal government which said it was waging war against Boko Haram, has been involving in “grooming of criminals” in the Southern part of the country against the 2015 general elections.

He also that alleged the crimes in high places, has created economy for the armed robbery, kidnapping and Boko Haram insurgency.

He however revealed the Rivers state government has focused more on agriculture and massive recruitment to tackle problem of unemployment. In line with this, the Governor responded that the state has engaged 13, 000 teachers and upgraded schools. He added his government would soon engage another set of teachers.

Amaechi disclosed the reason for special attention on the two areas was due to large number of labour they would capture and impacts on reduction of crime level in the state.