Lies
... You are intellectually lazy, Amaechi stresses
How much has really accrued to the Rivers State Government since Governor Rotimi Amaechi assumed office as governor?
That is the question that reasonable minds are pondering over now, given the release of unsubstantiated information relating to the alleged activities of Niger Delta state governments by an otherwise innocuous group which goes by the name, Niger Delta Citizens and Budget Platform.
The group had claimed it had done a detailed study. What it came up with has been the subject of media interest and great controversy across the entire region and across Nigeria.
Commenting on the Rivers State, a State many observers agree significant changes are taking place in less than two years, the Niger Delta Citizens and Budget Platform claimed that the Amaechi administration had literarily misappropriated more than N500 billion.
It similarly took port shots at funds allocated under general administration, a key subhead in the budget, creating the impression that such appropriation was needless.
In Port Harcourt, capital of the Rivers State, not many along the corridors of power found it funny.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi who rarely reacts to such issues took a swipe at a study group, describing their conclusions on Rivers State as a product of intellectual laziness.
The Governor noted in his response, “My attention has been drawn to a report published by the Niger Delta Citizens and Budget Platform which purported to analyse budgets of states and local governments in the Niger Delta.
“My initial feeling was to ignore the report as a sponsored work of political opponents and as it is common knowledge that often public officials are needlessly denigrated by the public, especially members of the press.”
He however remarked that his reaction had been necessitated by the need to correct certain inaccuracies that had formed the basis of reports in the media that are totally false.
“Reading your report”, the governor explained, “one is left with the impression of a patriotic, overzealous, naïve and innocent group of researchers.
“The report however creates the impression of an intellectually lazy group who could not avail themselves of the opportunity of field visits to project sites. Your report alluded to the fact that the projects the state embarked on are not people oriented. Haba!”
“What can be more people oriented than to embark on a modern health centre at densely populated areas like Bundu waterside and Okija street , which is less than a kilometer from your office”, the governor asked, “Why did you not investigate the fact that we have rebuilt the dental hospital to a four storey hospital?
Governor Amaechi reminded those behind the Niger Delta Citizens and Budget Platform that the dental hospital is just a five minute drive away from their office.
On the issue raised on General Administration and Miscellaneous items, the State’s number one citizen dismissed the imputation of the group, saying again it lacked all of the elements of proper research.
“Your allusion left your audience with the impression that General Administration and Miscellaneous items are wasteful”, the chief helmsman emphasized, “Proper research would have exposed to you that Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency last year awarded scholarships to three hundred students to study in Britain and Canada . Another group went to Malaysia .”
Please turn to box for full text of the governor’s reaction.
