President Goodluck Jonathan has said
the struggle for political space in Rivers State is creating unnecessary
tension and that it is not the best the peace-loving people of the state
deserve.
A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu
Gowon (rtd.), whose regime created Rivers State in 1967, urged the people to
work for the peace and stability of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi, however,
declared that he would never watch oppression and that if social justice is put
in place, peace would come.
Amaechi, who is also the chairman of
the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), insisted that Rivers State must be
reclaimed from looters and that the people must stop the thieves from taking
over power in the Niger Delta state.
President Jonathan, Gen. Gowon and
Amaechi spoke yesterday at a symposium as part of the programmes lined up for
the Port Harcourt City Centenary Celebration, with the theme: “Port Harcourt
City, Past, Present and Future,” at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Moscow
Road in the Rivers State capital.
The event was also attended by
members of the National and Rivers Assemblies; the Secretary to the Rivers
State Government (SSG) George Feyii, who chairs the Centenary Celebration
Committee; commissioners, other top government officials, the Vice-Chancellor
of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Joseph Ajienka; traditional
rulers and other eminent personalities.
Papers were presented by Profs.
Tekena Tamuno (a former VC of the University of Ibadan (UI), Nimi Briggs and
Otonti Nduka as well as Mrs. Judy Nwanodi, among others.
President Jonathan also unveiled two
books: Port Harcourt at 100: Past, Present and Future and Economic Development
of Rivers State.
The President, who was the special
guest of honour, was represented by his Special Adviser on Research,
Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, noted that Port Harcourt had done
so much and meant so much to many people.
President Jonathan said: “Even as we
celebrate, I have observed with pains that the struggle for political space in
recent times is creating unnecessary tension in this city, which has served all
of us so well.
“I believe that this is not the best
Port Harcourt deserves. We can all, as fathers, mothers and leaders, do more to
intervene and help douse the fire of partisan differences, in order to preserve
the peaceful glory of Port Harcourt.
“This city will always be home for
me and, I believe, for millions of others as well. We must continue to secure
the peace and tranquility that gave Port Harcourt its homely and comforting
character.
“The greatest asset of Port Harcourt
is its creative youth. This extensive volume of human potential requires an
endless stream of space and opportunity, so that they can help build the city,
the state and our nation.
“We must sustain the reorientation
of our youth to deepen their sense of commitment to the noble values of hard
work, selflessness and discipline. The Federal Government will continue to
collaborate with the state and local governments to ensure that our youths
receive their due.”
The President also admonished the
youth to be prepared to learn and work hard, while stressing that the Federal
Government acknowledged Port Harcourt’s unique place in the nation’s
development.
He said his administration has
resolved to continue to contribute to the development of Port Harcourt and to
uplift the conditions of the people of the city and other Nigerians.
Jonathan described Port Harcourt as
the product of the contributions of many hands and many ideas, noting that the
process of its making and growth was “certainly” still ongoing, adding that the
city, in its first 100 years, has formed a strong relationship with oil, palm
oil and crude oil.
Gen. Gowon said: “I am particularly
happy that I made modest contributions to the development of Port Harcourt as a
capital city, with the creation of Rivers State by my administration in 1967,
following the split of Nigeria’s four regions to create a 12-state federation.
“Successive administrations have
done their utmost to transform Port Harcourt, which has not only become the oil
capital of Nigeria’s economy, but is today one of the most commercially viable
state capitals in the country and the administrative headquarters of one of the
fastest growing states of the federation.
“As we gather to celebrate 100 years
of the founding of Port Harcourt, I will like to take the opportunity to
counsel that we all continue to work for peace and stability of Rivers State
and Nigeria as a whole.
“This is because if any part of our
land is not at peace, everyone will suffer the consequence at one time or
another. I urge you to take the opportunity of this centennial celebration to
unite.”
The former head of state also lauded
the founding fathers of Port Harcourt, who, he said, worked tirelessly to
ensure the development of “our beloved Garden City”.
Gen. Gowon also stressed that
Amaechi and members of his team, as well as members of the planning committee
of the centenary celebration, among others, have done well.
Amaechi said: “The Rivers State we
have now belongs to you; you must reclaim it from the looters and me. That is
what the centenary is all about. We must recreate the Rivers State that we
have, so that our children can have a better place to live in. You must stop the
thieves from taking over power.
“I am happy that you have given me
an opportunity to serve. All of us who have served should allow the younger
ones to come in. When I was running for governorship, they said I was too young
and would not be able to govern and I felt challenged, to prove to you that I
can govern.
“We have made sure that now, the
average age to govern Rivers State is 45. Those of us who have served should go
and do other things; we are all graduates. Let us go and practise. Allow others
the opportunity to take over the governance of Rivers State.
“I am a Catholic. The church does
not preach peace. The church preaches social justice. If social justice is put
in place, peace will come.
“There is no disagreement between
the President and I. I respect him as my President. I respect the fact that he
is an intellectual. I respect the fact that God has blessed him to get to that
post. Nobody can get to that post without the blessings of God. Respect to that
office is respect to God.
“I was also told that you cannot
watch oppression, because if you watch oppression, you will die. I submit
completely to the President, but on behalf of Rivers people, I also ask for
social justice. I believe that the President means well, I believe that the
country has so many problems.
“As a leader, a lot of people will
abuse you, but as a leader, you must continue. I support him (President
Jonathan) in accepting that. I support him in continuing to govern this state
and I assure you, peace will come.”
The NGF chairman also pointed out
that Port Harcourt was accommodating to every Nigerian, but suddenly the people
woke up, with some people masquerading in the name of Niger Delta taking over
the streets of the city, declaring that they were armed by politicians and they
began to maim and kill.
As the Speaker of the Rivers House
of Assembly, Amaechi said, he passed a Bill into law, asking the government to
prosecute the criminals for cultism and murder.
The governor said: “It was shortly
after I became governor that the government began to prosecute them (the
criminals). If we took action at that time, we will not be where we are today.
How many of you remember that those who were in government were part of
cultism? Because you need an array of young men to fight the war.
“The little ones that were available
were because poverty had set in. Individuals became the army of politicians. Do
you remember that as they were killing themselves, our treasuries were being
looted? They were fighting for politicians to be governor, deputy governor,
members of the House of Assembly.
“We tackled the issue of insecurity
in Rivers State. Until Mbu (Mbu Joseph, Rivers Commissioner of Police) came, I
was driving myself with one car behind me. Now, I need more cars and more
policemen, so that I can be safe.
“That is why I said I would not be
part of transforming. I prefer to go back to where Alfred Diete-Spiff (the
pioneer military governor of the old Rivers State) left us. Then, we had
wonderful primary schools that I attended and there was the need to rebuild the
old Port Harcourt.
“There was the need to rebuild our
city. There was the need to reclaim our city from the hands of dangerous men,
who had taken possession. We began the process of rebuilding what we met on the
ground. The first thing to get back to what Port Harcourt used to be is
education. We wanted to give the children the opportunity of getting the type
of education we got in public schools.”
Amaechi also noted that not many
parents could afford to take their children to private schools, with ICT
introduced in Rivers public primary schools. “Rivers people are now enjoying
good roads, with more being constructed”, he added.
The Chairman of the Port Harcourt
City Centenary Committee, George Feyii, who is also the Secretary to the Rivers
State Government (SSG), said efforts to celebrate the centenary started last
year, with Port Harcourt older than Nigeria by one year.
Tags
Politics
Good talks Amechi,it shows u are a man of visions,purpose n good will 4 d people.Where is Wike,tell me him as far as Rivers state is concern presently governor Amechi is his oga no matter how much he is been backed by presidency Amechi is still his superior n will continue to be n he shud also 4get his ambition of becoming a governor in Rivers state
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