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Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport - Politics (10) - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport (45982 Views)

BREAKING: Amaechi Gets Caught, Comes Under Fire For Bribing Sahara Reporters Bos / Amaechi, Minister Of Transport Arrives Port-Harcourt - Photos / List Of Agencies And Parastatals Under Amaechi, As A Minister Of Transport (2) (3) (4)

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Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Kestolovee95(f): 3:58pm On Nov 11, 2015
na the one wey him small brain fit carry be that. lol
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 4:00pm On Nov 11, 2015
Demdem:


Fool, is it safe to declare that if the propaganda pictures u posted isn't a true reflection of what is there today then ur lineage should remain cursed? grin grin
So refreshing! They say a picture is worth a thousand words yet you want to dispute the nitty gritty of my picture evidence. I expect that from a corrupt politician supporter anyway. I am yet to see any of your counter pictures.
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:02pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:
[/color]
Nigerians have a long way to go. [color=#990000]They are after party affiliation
rather than question the integrity of the leaders they are electing. I cry every day when I read about that nation. It is the most discouraging thing to see when you see people refusing to change, like the i d i o t called Demdem here.

I am glad to see somebody like you with intelligence to understand this simple fact about Nigerians.

Fool, so right inside that toilet u constantly wash for Oyibo, u know I am a party man eh?
Fool fucck apc and pdp. The joke is on u.
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:04pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:

So refreshing! They say a picture is worth a thousand words yet you want to dispute the nitty gritty of my picture evidence. I expect that from a corrupt politician supporter anyway. I am yet to see any of your counter pictures.

Did u say nitty gritty to ur lie? grin grin grin
Oya sanction the below. i wonder why is being difficult for u to confidently say. grin grin


Demdem:


Fool, is it safe to declare that if the propaganda pictures u posted isn't a true reflection of what is there today then ur lineage should remain cursed? grin grin
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 4:05pm On Nov 11, 2015
Demdem:


Fool, so right inside that toilet u constantly wash for Oyibo, u know I am a party man eh?
Fool fucck apc and pdp. The joke is on u.
Please, don't run away from your task. You are programmed to defend criminally minded politicians like Amaechi, hoping he will give you handouts at the end. You Amaechi-a$$-smelling i d i o t! He is going to fart hard on your big nose later. Let's watch! I can wager on that.
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:06pm On Nov 11, 2015
For the benefits of some fools still resident here. chew this grin grin grin

NgeneUkwenu:
Some of you may not know that Amaechi as Minister of transportation, has just been handed arguably the highest responsibility in the new government, as he going to supervise, re order and super intend over 10 Parastatals and agencies which employ over 30% of the entire Nigerian civil servants.


Just take a look at the highlight of the huge task and responsibility that await Hon. Minister Of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as he takes over the ministry.

Water Ways


1. Nigerian Port Authority (NPA)

2. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA

3 . National Clearing and Forwarding Agency (NCFA)

4. Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC)

5. Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)

6. Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC)

7 Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT)


Aviation:
1. Federal Airport Authority Of Nigerian (FAAN)

2. Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

3. Nigeria Air Space Management Agency(NASMA)

4. Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB)

5. Nigerian College Of Aviation And Technology (NCAT)

6. Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NMA)


Land Transportation

1. Nigeria Railway Corporation

2. All Federal Roads In Nigeria ( Including but not limited to Construction, Maintenance And Supervision)




lalasticlala

Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 4:06pm On Nov 11, 2015
Demdem:


Did u say nitty gritty to ur lie? grin grin grin
Oya sanction the below. i wonder why is being difficult for u to confidently say. grin grin


Go and sniff on your crack-inducing-Amaechi a$$
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:07pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:

Please, don't run away from your task. You are programmed to defend criminally minded politicians like Amaechi, hoping he will give you handouts at the end. You Amaechi-a$$-smelling i d i o t! He is going to fart hard on your big nose later. Let's watch! I can wager on that.

Demdem:


Fool, is it safe to declare that if the propaganda pictures u posted isn't a true reflection of what is there today then ur lineage should remain cursed? grin grin
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by wiseoneking: 4:09pm On Nov 11, 2015
modath:
What do you lots know beyond wailing

You know those long buses that ply una side? Nuff said!

Those giant birds that fly?

Those things that bring una container from obodo oyinbo?

Those long black "iron things" that drag on the floor?

Make una learn, una nor go gree!!





Transport is great!!

nawa, you didnt even make sense in your submissions, yet you still got some egg heads clapping with LIKES.
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:10pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:

Go and sniff on your crack-inducing-Amaechi a$$

Demdem:


Fool, is it safe to declare that if the propaganda pictures u posted isn't a true reflection of what is there today then ur lineage should remain cursed? grin grin
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 4:11pm On Nov 11, 2015
What has Amaechi achieved as the former governor of Rivers state? With all the oil allocations than abandoned monorail project yet some a$$wipes are complimenting him for that in this thread, like the idiotic Demdem and his cohorts!
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:16pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:
What has Amaechi achieved as the former governor of Rivers state? With all the oil allocations than abandoned monorail project yet some a$$wipes are complimenting him for that in this thread, like the idiotic Demdem and his cohorts!

Below are just very few acheivements of the General of common sense revolution. i cant exhaust all. can u say the same for either ur governor of Jonah-daft ur hero right from his bayelsa days to presidency? grin grin

https://www.nairaland.com/1444292/amaechis-hospitals-vs-akpabios-hospitals

https://www.nairaland.com/1442142/amaechis-schools-vs-akpabios-schools

https://www.nairaland.com/2678228/amaechi-vs-akpabio-performed-better

https://www.nairaland.com/1327120/amaechis-schools-port-harcourt
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by pat358(m): 4:17pm On Nov 11, 2015
Congratulations to Rotimi Amaechi.i In this dispensation, Transportation is a huge Ministry. It includes air, land and sea.
Aviation is under Amaechi. If you go through the list you will observe that there is only Minister of State of Transport.
This confirms that Aviation has been merged with Transportation.
I trust Amaechi, he is a man of vision, he will bring innovation and excel in that Ministry.
I wish him and other Ministers God's guidance as they embark on the challenges of their portfolios
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by wiseoneking: 4:17pm On Nov 11, 2015
adioolayi:
Fashola the Engine room...
Ameachi ..Transportation.. not bad ..it includes Aviation, Railway, Maritime and other transport sector..wow..It's expansive too...God help this guys to bringing about real CHANGE!
YOU LIED AGAIN. AVIATION IS NOT INCLUNDED.
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 4:22pm On Nov 11, 2015
Demdem:


Below are just very few acheivements of the General of common sense revolution. i cant exhaust all. can u say the same for either ur governor of Jonah-daft ur hero right from his bayelsa days to presidency? grin grin

https://www.nairaland.com/1444292/amaechis-hospitals-vs-akpabios-hospitals

https://www.nairaland.com/1442142/amaechis-schools-vs-akpabios-schools

https://www.nairaland.com/2678228/amaechi-vs-akpabio-performed-better

https://www.nairaland.com/1327120/amaechis-schools-port-harcourt
Bwahaha... You should be ashamed of yourself for posting those links. Those aren't milestone for oil producing state. I can see why you will continue to be viewed as primitive by me or any intelligent person.

Those looks like the projects meant for rural South Africa. In fact, most South African rural projects images I have seen are better.
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by guysis(m): 4:23pm On Nov 11, 2015
Buhari:Amaechi

Amaechi:Baba

Buhari:Abeg I no wan hear say that mono rail project u run leave for pH dem no complete am oo

Amaechi: Chai!!!I don die.Come collect this post sef I no want again.
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by pat358(m): 4:24pm On Nov 11, 2015
People should get it right. Ministry of Aviation is now under that of Transportation. This was made known to the public before confirmation of Ministers.
People should try and get their facts right before making contributions
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:26pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:

Bwahaha... You should be ashamed of yourself for posting those links. Those aren't milestone for oil producing state. I can see why you will continue to be viewed as primitive by me or any intelligent person.

Those looks like the projects meant for rural South Africa. In fact, most South African rural projects images I have seen are better.

Hypocrite.....see ur pathetic life grin grin grin CAn u showcase any of ur heros acheivement especially in Bayelsa? grin grin Just mention One thing, i will be ok. grin grin


Demdem:

Below are just very few acheivements of the General of common sense revolution. i cant exhaust all. can u say the same for either ur governor of Jonah-daft ur hero right from his bayelsa days to presidency? grin grin

https://www.nairaland.com/1444292/amaechis-hospitals-vs-akpabios-hospitals
https://www.nairaland.com/1442142/amaechis-schools-vs-akpabios-schools
https://www.nairaland.com/2678228/amaechi-vs-akpabio-performed-better
https://www.nairaland.com/1327120/amaechis-schools-port-harcourt
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 4:39pm On Nov 11, 2015
Demdem:


Hypocrite.....see ur pathetic life grin grin grin CAn u showcase any of ur heros acheivement especially in Bayelsa? grin grin Just mention One thing, i will be ok. grin grin


Who are you talking about? I have no idea of what you are talking about. You are a lover of mediocrity for posting those links. Shame on you. angry lipsrsealed lipsrsealed lipsrsealed cry cry cry cry
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:43pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:

Who are you talking about? I have no idea of what you are talking about. You are a lover of mediocrity for posting those links. Shame on you. angry lipsrsealed lipsrsealed lipsrsealed cry cry cry cry

U are the same eediot am talking to goon grin grin and refering to the kai-kai fool, jonah-daft himself. grin

all4naija:
What has Amaechi achieved as the former governor of Rivers state? With all the oil allocations than abandoned monorail project yet some a$$wipes are complimenting him for that in this thread, like the idiotic Demdem and his cohorts!

Demdem:


Below are just very few acheivements of the General of common sense revolution. i cant exhaust all. can u say the same for either ur governor of Jonah-daft ur hero right from his bayelsa days to presidency? grin grin

https://www.nairaland.com/1444292/amaechis-hospitals-vs-akpabios-hospitals

https://www.nairaland.com/1442142/amaechis-schools-vs-akpabios-schools

https://www.nairaland.com/2678228/amaechi-vs-akpabio-performed-better

https://www.nairaland.com/1327120/amaechis-schools-port-harcourt
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 4:45pm On Nov 11, 2015
Demdem:


U are the same eediot am talking to goon grin grin and refering to the kai-kai fool, jonah-daft himself. grin



If you point to those links as laudable achievements by Amaechi you are nothing but an enabler of criminality. Shame on you as always.
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by IVORY2009(m): 4:47pm On Nov 11, 2015
Until u repect ur self, I shall come back 4 u....
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Demdem(m): 4:47pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:

If you point to those links as laudable achievements by Amaechi you are nothing but an enabler of criminality. Shame on you as always.


Below are just very few acheivements of the General of common sense revolution. i cant exhaust all. [size=15pt]can u say the same for either ur governor of Jonah-daft ur hero right from his bayelsa days to presidency? [/size]

https://www.nairaland.com/1444292/amaechis-hospitals-vs-akpabios-hospitals
https://www.nairaland.com/1442142/amaechis-schools-vs-akpabios-schools
https://www.nairaland.com/2678228/amaechi-vs-akpabio-performed-better
https://www.nairaland.com/1327120/amaechis-schools-port-harcourt
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by IVORY2009(m): 4:48pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:

So refreshing! They say a picture is worth a thousand words yet you want to dispute the nitty gritty of my picture evidence. I expect that from a corrupt politician supporter anyway. I am yet to see any of your counter pictures.

dont quote him again

1 Like

Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 4:51pm On Nov 11, 2015
IVORY2009:


dont quote him again
Thank you. I thought as much because he thought he's smart in his foolishness! He's old in his f o o l!
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by nairaarea: 4:54pm On Nov 11, 2015
When people question Amaechi`s stewardship in Rivers state it surprises me

Long before the snake gave birth, everybody knew the baby snake will be a long creature. That is why not many are surprised about the grudge fight in Rivers State, five months after the elections. And the target of the battle is how the instrumentality of the Rivers State government can be used to deface and defame former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Politics is a terrible calling, especially the type played in Nigeria.

Not up to six months after leaving office, it seems what the Amaechi administration was known for is already being erased calculatedly and gradually. But before we forget, I recall that once upon a time, Port Harcourt was like a city under siege. The brigands were in charge.

The citizens, often times, were asked to raise both hands up, sometimes with their shoes in their hands, to cross certain places in the Port Harcourt city.

The waterfronts were dens of barefaced criminals.
It was not only the hapless citizenry that were browbeaten. Even the government was subservient to the whims and caprices of the “waterfront boys” They took control of even the structures of government.

I am aware that whenever the then Governor Peter Odili was going to visit any community, Government House had to clear from the “boys”. Depending on the signal they gave, Odili would either proceed or reschedule his visit. Clearing from the boys also included paying what they termed “landing fee”.

And whenever Odili got to such places, the boys took over the security structure until he left.
That was the norm.

Then a certain young man, called Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi got into Government House as governor and declared a force majeure. He vowed to end the brigandage. That was the first war he had to fight, to change the narrative of the Rivers people.
With the help of the police and other security agencies, the hoodlums were chased out of town. And for nearly eight years they were out of business and reckoning. But now they are back.

I recall how some Israeli security experts came to Rivers and with the special permission of the Police authorities at the time, they trained a Special Police Squad in the state on how to combat crime decisively.

With facilities like the hi-tech C4i which had a large screen, somewhere in the state secretariat, through which the whole of Port Harcourt could literally be viewed and tracked, fighting crime in the state was made easy. Crooks and criminal were routed. Police patrol vans combed every nook and cranny with vicious niche. Port Harcourt people could then sleep with both eyes closed. And they heaved a sigh of relief.

But when the fight between Amaechi and Jonathan began, not only was the police used against him, even the Special combat squad trained by the Israelis, all got transferred out of Rivers, all aimed at collapsing the security network put in place by Amaechi. And crime began to creep back.

While this happened, the Amaechi administration was revving up a revolution in the education sector. He was knocking down old schools and building ultra modern ones whose standards were simply beyond reproach. In droves, parents were withdrawing their children from the private schools they had flocked to, and returning to the reloaded public schools. The facilities and personnel in the said schools measured clearly with global standards. A total of 13,201 teachers were not only hired but trained to fit. Five Hundred primary schools were being constructed with 212 completed and 172 fully functional. 24 Model schools (one per LGA plus an extra) was undertaken, with five completed and one fully functional, the education sector was truly going through a rebirth.

What’s more, 309 students of Rivers State were sent on scholarship to Malaysia, 95 to Russia, 2 to Brazil, 15 to Germany and 28 others sent to Germany to acquire technical and vocational skills.

Surely, it was not for nothing that the state was named the UNESCO World Book Capital in 2014. It was a major feat that put Port Harcourt in the global map of prized cities in the world, having beaten other cities like Oxford (UK), Lyon (France) Moscow (Russia) etc.
It was first in Sub Sahara Africa. And the first in Africa through public bid. Alexandria (Egypt) had won it in 2002 but not through public bid like that of Port Harcourt.

The Director General of UNESCO, Mrs. Irina Bokova, had said at the investiture ceremony that, “Port Harcourt in Nigeria has been named as the 2014 World Book Capital on account of the quality of its programme, in particular its focus on youth and the impact it will have on improving Nigeria’s culture of books, reading, writing and publishing to improve literacy rates”.
How can we forget all these?

Many roads were either reconstructed, built afresh or dualised with modern drains and fittings. The roads are still there, including even federal roads like the Port Harcourt-Owerri road, which the Amaechi government built. That does not mean all of Port Harcourt’s roads were worked on. Villages and communities were lit up.

I cannot forget the 12 long bridges that took a road, for the first time, to towns like Opobo, Andoni etc. They were huge projects.
What is more, the ambitious project of Greater Port Harcourt which sought to recreate another city, fitted with modern facilities and services. Yes, the city is not fully realized yet, but it is true that substantial work had been done.
Although I am not a fan of the mono-rail project, because it couldn’t have been a priority to an emerging economy, yet the fact remains that it is a noble project on which huge sums have been sunk.

Indeed, many people, including this reporter, had believed Amaechi was undertaking too many projects at the time. His project plates were perpetually full, as he governed with the passion of an activist like driving to go inspect projects at unholy hours like 2 a.m.
What about the health sector. Primary Health Care centres nearly approximated the status of General Hospitals in all the local government areas. The hospitals were simply amazing with many of the doctors being products of the state scholarship scheme under the Amaechi administration.

It is ironic that it is in this same sector that there is standing issue of abandoned Karibi Whyte hospital project.
Not many people will not be enthralled by the vastness of the Songhai Farms in Tai, Ogoni, which also employed so many Rivers people and which must be producing plantain in tons by now.

The mechanized fish farms in Buguma had in no small way also boosted the state’s overall economy.
The above are some of the undeniable landmark achievements of the Amaechi administration. And he was poised to continuing the streak when the fight between him and the former president, Goodluck Jonathan broke out with all the concomitant consequences. Many people yet believe that there was more to the bitter disagreement between the duo than mere political differences. The latter had unleashed federal might against Amaechi including even the controversial swap of ownership of the Soku oil wells said to belong to Rivers State, to Bayelsa State.

Nobody would deny that Amaechi got distracted in a way. Who wouldn’t be anyway?
The emergence of Nyesom Wike as the governor of the state in the last election is a fall out of the disagreement between Amaechi and the Jonathans.
That explains why the opposition and criticism of all that Amaechi did has been fierce and vitriolic.
It is even worse that Amaechi’s past is now being dressed with robes of fraud and infamy, apparently to mortify his political essence. No denial.

And suddenly the narrative of “an action governor” is being confused with the folk tales of fraud.

I believe that Amaechi can be probed by a succeeding government, provided the intent is altruistic. Unfortunately, the utterances and declarations of Governor Wike are hardly mistaken. On too many occasions, he had declared Amaechi guilty of the many accusations even before the probes were set up. What that means is that given his obvious bias, the panels are likely to work from the answer to the question, in such a way as to arrive at the conclusions reached by Wike even before the inquests began.

The Rivers polity is sharply divided. Many of those who even applauded Amaechi’s achievements turned against him because of the support to President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Many saw it as a betrayal of his ‘brother’. But those who so argue forget that Amaechi it was who gave Jonathan the highest vote of 2 million in 2011. Even before the fight broke out, what good did Jonathan do to Rivers State? Was there any federal presence in the state as a reward for the 2011 support, even if the factor of kindred connection is discounted? Those who castigate Amaechi for supporting Buhari forget that that same brother of his had oppressed him openly by supporting somebody ( Jonah Jang, a northerner) who scored 16 votes as against Amaechi who scored 19 votes in the contest to become the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Does one good turn not deserve another? They say it is politics. But I think it has a shade of evil.

As it is always, darkness cannot comprehend light.

Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by nairaarea: 4:58pm On Nov 11, 2015
all4naija:
What has Amaechi achieved as the former governor of Rivers state? With all the oil allocations than abandoned monorail project yet some a$$wipes are complimenting him for that in this thread, like the idiotic Demdem and his cohorts!

More of what Amaechi did in Rivers

22 bridges
340 model secondary schools
140 health centres
Employed 13200 teachers, 400 doctors

Video evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2cnSswkrk0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by nairaarea: 5:09pm On Nov 11, 2015
.

Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 5:31pm On Nov 11, 2015
Demdem:




Morron, transport has never been merged with works. It has always been separate.

What Minister of Works and Tranport has been there because of Road construction.... even during the military, these two ministry drags Road construction
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by adioolayi(m): 5:48pm On Nov 11, 2015
wiseoneking:
YOU LIED AGAIN. AVIATION IS NOT INCLUNDED.
You don't know what you are saying...read you won't read...Let me school you a bit..Just yesterday..PMB merged Ministry of Aviation and Transportation together... You get it now..right

https://www.nairaland.com/2729561/union-faults-aviation-ministry-merger
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 5:56pm On Nov 11, 2015
nairaarea:


More of what Amaechi did in Rivers

22 bridges
340 model secondary schools
140 health centres
Employed 13200 teachers, 400 doctors

Video evidence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2cnSswkrk0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Do you call the buildings in those images sound and modern infrastructure?
Re: Rotimi Amaechi Gets Minister Of Transport by Nobody: 5:57pm On Nov 11, 2015
nairaarea:
When people question Amaechi`s stewardship in Rivers state it surprises me

Long before the snake gave birth, everybody knew the baby snake will be a long creature. That is why not many are surprised about the grudge fight in Rivers State, five months after the elections. And the target of the battle is how the instrumentality of the Rivers State government can be used to deface and defame former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Politics is a terrible calling, especially the type played in Nigeria.

Not up to six months after leaving office, it seems what the Amaechi administration was known for is already being erased calculatedly and gradually. But before we forget, I recall that once upon a time, Port Harcourt was like a city under siege. The brigands were in charge.

The citizens, often times, were asked to raise both hands up, sometimes with their shoes in their hands, to cross certain places in the Port Harcourt city.

The waterfronts were dens of barefaced criminals.
It was not only the hapless citizenry that were browbeaten. Even the government was subservient to the whims and caprices of the “waterfront boys” They took control of even the structures of government.

I am aware that whenever the then Governor Peter Odili was going to visit any community, Government House had to clear from the “boys”. Depending on the signal they gave, Odili would either proceed or reschedule his visit. Clearing from the boys also included paying what they termed “landing fee”.

And whenever Odili got to such places, the boys took over the security structure until he left.
That was the norm.

Then a certain young man, called Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi got into Government House as governor and declared a force majeure. He vowed to end the brigandage. That was the first war he had to fight, to change the narrative of the Rivers people.
With the help of the police and other security agencies, the hoodlums were chased out of town. And for nearly eight years they were out of business and reckoning. But now they are back.

I recall how some Israeli security experts came to Rivers and with the special permission of the Police authorities at the time, they trained a Special Police Squad in the state on how to combat crime decisively.

With facilities like the hi-tech C4i which had a large screen, somewhere in the state secretariat, through which the whole of Port Harcourt could literally be viewed and tracked, fighting crime in the state was made easy. Crooks and criminal were routed. Police patrol vans combed every nook and cranny with vicious niche. Port Harcourt people could then sleep with both eyes closed. And they heaved a sigh of relief.

But when the fight between Amaechi and Jonathan began, not only was the police used against him, even the Special combat squad trained by the Israelis, all got transferred out of Rivers, all aimed at collapsing the security network put in place by Amaechi. And crime began to creep back.

While this happened, the Amaechi administration was revving up a revolution in the education sector. He was knocking down old schools and building ultra modern ones whose standards were simply beyond reproach. In droves, parents were withdrawing their children from the private schools they had flocked to, and returning to the reloaded public schools. The facilities and personnel in the said schools measured clearly with global standards. A total of 13,201 teachers were not only hired but trained to fit. Five Hundred primary schools were being constructed with 212 completed and 172 fully functional. 24 Model schools (one per LGA plus an extra) was undertaken, with five completed and one fully functional, the education sector was truly going through a rebirth.

What’s more, 309 students of Rivers State were sent on scholarship to Malaysia, 95 to Russia, 2 to Brazil, 15 to Germany and 28 others sent to Germany to acquire technical and vocational skills.

Surely, it was not for nothing that the state was named the UNESCO World Book Capital in 2014. It was a major feat that put Port Harcourt in the global map of prized cities in the world, having beaten other cities like Oxford (UK), Lyon (France) Moscow (Russia) etc.
It was first in Sub Sahara Africa. And the first in Africa through public bid. Alexandria (Egypt) had won it in 2002 but not through public bid like that of Port Harcourt.

The Director General of UNESCO, Mrs. Irina Bokova, had said at the investiture ceremony that, “Port Harcourt in Nigeria has been named as the 2014 World Book Capital on account of the quality of its programme, in particular its focus on youth and the impact it will have on improving Nigeria’s culture of books, reading, writing and publishing to improve literacy rates”.
How can we forget all these?

Many roads were either reconstructed, built afresh or dualised with modern drains and fittings. The roads are still there, including even federal roads like the Port Harcourt-Owerri road, which the Amaechi government built. That does not mean all of Port Harcourt’s roads were worked on. Villages and communities were lit up.

I cannot forget the 12 long bridges that took a road, for the first time, to towns like Opobo, Andoni etc. They were huge projects.
What is more, the ambitious project of Greater Port Harcourt which sought to recreate another city, fitted with modern facilities and services. Yes, the city is not fully realized yet, but it is true that substantial work had been done.
Although I am not a fan of the mono-rail project, because it couldn’t have been a priority to an emerging economy, yet the fact remains that it is a noble project on which huge sums have been sunk.

Indeed, many people, including this reporter, had believed Amaechi was undertaking too many projects at the time. His project plates were perpetually full, as he governed with the passion of an activist like driving to go inspect projects at unholy hours like 2 a.m.
What about the health sector. Primary Health Care centres nearly approximated the status of General Hospitals in all the local government areas. The hospitals were simply amazing with many of the doctors being products of the state scholarship scheme under the Amaechi administration.

It is ironic that it is in this same sector that there is standing issue of abandoned Karibi Whyte hospital project.
Not many people will not be enthralled by the vastness of the Songhai Farms in Tai, Ogoni, which also employed so many Rivers people and which must be producing plantain in tons by now.

The mechanized fish farms in Buguma had in no small way also boosted the state’s overall economy.
The above are some of the undeniable landmark achievements of the Amaechi administration. And he was poised to continuing the streak when the fight between him and the former president, Goodluck Jonathan broke out with all the concomitant consequences. Many people yet believe that there was more to the bitter disagreement between the duo than mere political differences. The latter had unleashed federal might against Amaechi including even the controversial swap of ownership of the Soku oil wells said to belong to Rivers State, to Bayelsa State.

Nobody would deny that Amaechi got distracted in a way. Who wouldn’t be anyway?
The emergence of Nyesom Wike as the governor of the state in the last election is a fall out of the disagreement between Amaechi and the Jonathans.
That explains why the opposition and criticism of all that Amaechi did has been fierce and vitriolic.
It is even worse that Amaechi’s past is now being dressed with robes of fraud and infamy, apparently to mortify his political essence. No denial.

And suddenly the narrative of “an action governor” is being confused with the folk tales of fraud.

I believe that Amaechi can be probed by a succeeding government, provided the intent is altruistic. Unfortunately, the utterances and declarations of Governor Wike are hardly mistaken. On too many occasions, he had declared Amaechi guilty of the many accusations even before the probes were set up. What that means is that given his obvious bias, the panels are likely to work from the answer to the question, in such a way as to arrive at the conclusions reached by Wike even before the inquests began.

The Rivers polity is sharply divided. Many of those who even applauded Amaechi’s achievements turned against him because of the support to President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Many saw it as a betrayal of his ‘brother’. But those who so argue forget that Amaechi it was who gave Jonathan the highest vote of 2 million in 2011. Even before the fight broke out, what good did Jonathan do to Rivers State? Was there any federal presence in the state as a reward for the 2011 support, even if the factor of kindred connection is discounted? Those who castigate Amaechi for supporting Buhari forget that that same brother of his had oppressed him openly by supporting somebody ( Jonah Jang, a northerner) who scored 16 votes as against Amaechi who scored 19 votes in the contest to become the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Does one good turn not deserve another? They say it is politics. But I think it has a shade of evil.

As it is always, darkness cannot comprehend light.
MEDIOCRE!

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