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Home | Analysis | Features | Amaechi and the challenge of restoring peace in Rivers State

Amaechi and the challenge of restoring peace in Rivers State

28 February, 2008 01:00:00 IGNATIUS CHUKWU

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Amaechi

Chibuike Amaechi made history last year when he was asked by the Supreme Court to inherit the votes won by the PDP in Rivers State and step in as governor. IGNATIUS CHUKWU, our Assistant Editor in PH, examines the governor's efforts to improve the economic fortunes of the crisis-torn state

Defining moments intensive planning can be said to be the definition of Governor Chibuike Amaechi's first 100 days in office so far. This is seen by his aides as a period of strategic thinking and planning to reposition the state bedeviled by political crisis and militant/cult violence. Ogbonna Nwuke, the Director of Press Affairs (DPA), likes to call it 100 days of great challenges, of positive focusing on the development needs of Rivers people shaped by the governor's commitment to the resolution of the problems of the people of the state. This concept revolves around the notion of 'Rivers money for Rivers people'; So, programmes and projects (and actions) are beginning to flow, to come on stream. All put together, it has been 100 days of striving to maintain and achieve peace, security and stability in the state and in the Niger Delta region. It can be called a period of fierce awareness of the fact that Port Harcourt drives the Niger Delta.
In terms of the economy, the administration has tried to push its twin philosophy of less government/bigger economy and that Rivers money should be for Rivers people. "This is a new definition here which seeks to deepen democracy, involve the people and make them the object of governance in such a way that their wishes and needs determine what the administration stands for".
Inherited projects, pragmatic politics
Those who see nothing but friction between the former administrations in the state and the present one have been clearly told to know that as far as Amaechi is concerned, government is a continuous process, and the administration is not ready to preside over abandoned projects. For this reason, Amaechi wants contractors to carry on with their jobs but with greater sense of commitment. "So, projects that are well-planned, well-thought out and well-structured would be supported and executed, and they are being executed", Nwuke maintained. This may be true. Few days ago, the governor paid out over N7Bn to the contractors handling the controversial N60Bn power project.
The DPA said this is a forward-looking administration and that what is important is that jobs are well-executed, not who awarded them. The projects would however be strictly monitored to make sure they are executed to standard.
The new administration wants to be seen as one that has worked to give governance and development a new dimension putting the people first. "We have started a road revolution that has ensured that roads are motorable all year round. For this, we created the Road Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) and the bill has gone to the House of Assembly to make a law. Now, most roads have been resurfaced in the state capital. It was a committee but it is now a commission. The result will be no more loss of man-hours on our roads in the state capital".
In health, the DPA says there is a clear policy of making Rivers State number one and a referral state."We expect a generation of model health centres at the local level. Our designs are ready. New general hospitals around the state will be built to sustain life at that level. It is of interest that the government has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Canadian firm to promote specialist health services. It will be a 12-storey structure in the state capital, with hostel system. Our foreign partners are putting in about $240m into it, and the Rivers State government is contributing 40 per cent of the cost, mainly by provision of land.
In Okirika where the Evil Forest was, is being transformed into a medical enclave. It will have hospital, road, power, water and housing estates. A new town is coming up there now, and the clearing of the forest has started. It will transform from an evil forest to a paradise. Succur will replace horror in the place.
Banks and oil companies are taking up the new site of the University of Science and Technology (UST) at Omagwa near the International Airport Hotel. Now, there is also the new satellite town to be built at Onne comprising of both residential and industrial zones. A bridge will link the island with the mainland. The drawings are said to be at advanced stages.
The administration says it is working on the Port Harcourt Ring Road project and the drawing is ready and the tractors will soon roar into life. The people of the state cannot wait for a time when traffic chaos would be no more.
Work on the Unity Road (N11.8Bn) and the Trans-Kalabari Highway resuming, after the militants stopped progress of work earlier.
In essence, the first 100 days has restored peace, stability trust in the government, etc, and these are the defining moments of the Amaechi administration. The administration has had to take the cultists and their suspected sponsors head-on. The Joint Task Force (JTF) has been made to march through the Evil Forest in Okirika, tried to silence Ateke Tom and his gang, tried to take out Soboma George, etc. Now, the governor has demonstrated ability to take on even his former masters in the fight to subdue the cultists. His message is that the days of cult-sponsorship is over, though some have thrown pebbles at him.
Amaechi and the Ides of march
Those wondering if the RSIEC will succeed in view of accusations that the governor wants to conduct fresh primaries and substitute candidates who had already emerged are being seen as jokers.
"Who are complaining, and what primaries did they win? These were people who found that justice was near the corner and moved quickly to hijack the very basis of democracy, the grassroots structure. The truth is that a responsible lawmaker went to court and obtained a ruling voiding the sham exercise, voiding the very constitution of that electoral commission. A duly constituted court of law threw out the commission (RSIEC) and everything it did". The problem is that more persons are also in court challenging the decision of Amaechi to cancel the previous primaries.
The government wonders how anyone can claim that those primaries (conducted under Celestine Omehia) were legally tenable "Even the PDP chairman (Uche Secondus) has openly said he never initialed the list of so-called candidates in any letter to the RSIEC, and this man is still in the party there as chairman of the ruling party. Who then forwarded the list?'. The belief in government circles is that lots of illegal actions were taken within that period, and what this administration has tried to do is to take recourse in due process and constitutionality.
The aides are sure that Amaechi is committed to a free, fair and transparent local council election, but the month of March when the local elections would hold may determine the place Amaechi would occupy in the electoral history of the state.
The DPA insists that: "We will play according to the rules, and it is not in doubt that the governor is committed to transparent, free and fair elections. All we are saying is asking the people to seize the initiatives and use the opportunity offered by the level-playing fields. If the governor will not ask for favours, is it a lesser personality that would ask and get it?". The party primaries proved that some key government officials may have asked for favours, going by the rancour in the ruling party over the primaries.

Participatory democracy
Nwuke says the administration entrenching participatory democracy in the state, and that this should not be misconstrued as sign of weakness or lack of ideas. "In democracy, there are stakeholders.
The governor has admitted that nobody has the monopoly of knowledge. We are creating an interface between the people and the government, so the people will know the direction of the administration. It is not that the government has no plans of its own.
The governor is prepared to lead, but we are asking the stakeholders to buy into it.". Stakeholders have so far brainstormed on Education, Transportation, Lands, etc. This may continue in all ramifications.

"Planning is now important in Nigeria and Rivers State is crucial to the survival of Nigeria. This is why we have carefully laid the foundation. Now, the administration is ready to fly", the DPA declared. With a N280Bn budget proposal, Amaechi can only but fly in the coming months, if the elections tribunal will say so.

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