Rivers State Governor and Ch
airman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has fired back at the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, over their comments on the nation’s economy and South-South support for President Goodluck Jonathan, respectively.
Amaechi stated that the Nigerian economy is battling to survive, contrary to the rosy picture been painted by the Finance Minister.
According to him, the Federal Government is yet to pay fully the Rivers State allocation for the month of July.
Amaechi spoke at a programme organized by the Rotary International, District 9140 for young future leaders at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Thursday.
On Uduaghan’s remarks that opposition to President Goodluck Jonathan should not come from the President’s South-South region, Amaechi stated that he considers Nigeria’s national interest far and above any other (regional) interest.
This was as he challenged young men and women to become interested in governance issues and demand and get responses from those in government.
He bemoaned the fact that those fighting a just cause were being maligned on the altar of public criticism, stating also that Nigerians suffer from not asking relevant questions.
“When you are principled in Nigeria and you stand on your principles, what do they call you? ‘Stubborn’, the audience chorused. “They expect you to compromise at a point but when you refuse to compromise, you are a very stubborn man”.
“We (NGF) asked the Minister for Finance to resign if she is not able to manage the economy and she replied that ‘I dey kampe’. As at now, we are yet to receive complete, the federation allocation for July. How strong is an economy that cannot fund its statutory state government federal allocation? Our entitlement as Rivers State Government in July was N19 billion, they have paid us only N14 billion, you get the point? Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) published receipt of N1.05 trillion in July, so why do they say that there is no money? If we receive N1.05 trillion by July, why are they saying there is no money.
“Now, why am I saying this to you? I am saying it because as potential leaders, you must learn to ask questions. If you think that the youths spur me, you don’t, you don’t inspire me. Why don’t you inspire me? Because you are learning to be like us. Let me paint the image of us – corrupt, poor leadership, that’s what you are copying…
“We produce oil and we are one of the poorest nations in the world, are we not? Which nation would allow a Commissioner of Police like (Joseph) Mbu to continue to be Commissioner of Police other than in Nigeria? ‘Iraq, Syria’, the crowd chorused. “Maybe, Syria. So, you see our peers: Syria, Iraq, Pakistan. I am sharing experiences with you before I talk about the issue of leadership.”
“Now, I read today’s paper and my friend (Governor Emmanuel) Uduaghan (of Delta State) says anybody who is from South-South should not oppose our President, should not have a different view from our president. Did you read it? I will reply him but let me start replying him from here. First, I am a Nigerian… The reason why you have South-South, South-West, South-East, South this, North-West, North that, is because in Nigeria, what you have in leadership is a wreck culture. I would have brought you a book titled ‘It’s our turn to eat’ in Kenya. In Nigeria, it should be what, ‘It’s our turn to chop’.
“Now the reason you have this South-West, South-East, North-West, North this, North that and all that is because you have a wreck culture where all we care about is how to share the till… So, South-South has shared for four years, how many of you have benefitted from the sharing for four years, raise your hand, how many of you, ‘none’, ” the crowd again chorused. “So none. How many of you passed through East-West Road, how was the road”. “Bad”, they again chorused. “And our President is from South-South, so you see why I should support the President? “No ooo”, the crowd chorused again.
“So, the basic rule is that none of us should oppose our President if you are from South-South, that is what the man (Uduaghan) tells us…”
He urged the youths to arm themselves with education to revive Nigeria which is comatose, expressing sadness that the country’s poverty rate has risen to an unbearable level where many Nigerians hardly get enough to eat.
“Now for you as young men and women, we present you a nation that is yearning for repair. For me, the nation does not only need repair, it requires change.
“In 1970, the poverty rate in Nigeria was 30 per cent. How many of you know the poverty rate now? I was in a meeting where I said it was 70 per cent, the Minister of Finance said it was 68 per cent. What’s the difference between 68 and 70? So, we are giving you a nation that is in the state of comatose, that’s what we are handing over to you.
“If it is a nation that is progressing, from 30 per cent in 1970, we should be talking about 15 per cent now. So, you have work to do and the first step to that work is education”, Amaechi said.
He explained that his administration introduced free education in the state to afford everyone, particularly poor parents the opportunity of sending their children to school, lamenting that the cost of education in the country had denied education to most Nigerians.
Amaechi also used the occasion to commend Rotary International for complementing governors in the fight against polio.
Earlier, the District Governor of Rotary International District 9140, Dr Charles Oniawan, said Rotary unites people from all nationalities and backgrounds, saying that the programme was designed to give the youth leadership skills to serve the people and humanity.
Among those present at the event was former Rivers State Deputy Governor in Dr Peter Odili’s administration, Sir G.T.G. Toby, who is a former District Governor of Rotary International.
