…Wike takes over from Amaechi
… Demands for return of Soku oil wells as Amaechi did
… Accuses FG of not developing Rivers despite treasure base
… Cries out on PH Airport, Bonny Road, East West Road, etc, just like Amaechi did
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has taken over the task of lambasting and tongue-lashing the Federal Government, exactly where his arch-rival and enemy, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, left off about two years ago. This has made observers wonder if the present governor was proving Amaechi right.
When Amaechi, the immediate past governor of the oil-rich state was doing this, Wike, then a federal minister and ally of the former president (Goodluck Jonathan), countered Amaechi and labeled him as being antagonistic to the centre.
Amaechi had accused the Jonathan federal administration of several acts of neglect ad marginalisation, even of diverting some projects from Rivers State to Bayelsa and also of making Rivers lose several oil wells that brought the state down from number oil state status. Wike defended like a man ferociously.
Now, on the visit of the Acting President, Yemi Osibanjo, Wike, now sitting where Amaechi used to sit, has started saying exactly what Amaechi used to say that was tagged rebellion and antagonism.
In welcoming his guest who came to seek ways of resolving the Niger Delta crisis so as to help the country earn $44billion in 2017 (2.2mbpd @ $55 per barrel for 365 days), Wike accused the Federal Government of not being fair to the state that according to him, produced most of the wealth of the nation.
What Wike said of FG
Wike seemed to shock all by demanding for action on the Soku oil wells, saying the FG must pay the proceeds to a suspended account till outcome of the dispute. This was Amaechi’s greatest offence to Jonathan and his FG just a couple of years back, an APC insider told newsmen the next day.
Wike was not done. He further said: “Rivers State alone accounts for not less than a third of Nigeria’s earnings from the export of hydrocarbon resources, yet there is little or nothing to show for the state’s contributions to the national resource pool, which is being used on a massive scale to develop other parts of the country.
“Thus, the lack of tangible federal projects and development attention from the Federal Government are some of the underlying problems that must be addressed as quickly as possible to give our people a sense of belonging.”
The governor was quoted as wondering why the Federal Government had refused to reciprocate the kind gestures of the Rivers State Government after all its positive investments.
Wike urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency tackle cases of underdevelopment in the state. He urged the Federal Government to tackle the East West road, rehabilitation of Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt and Onne Seaports and the completion of the Bodo-Bonny road.
He regretted the failure of the Federal Government to allow work to commence on the construction of the 7th train of the Nigeria LNG Project in Bonny Land.
The governor appealed to the Federal Government to give life to the Ogoni cleanup project which has remained dormant after it was flagged off.
What Amaechi used to say
Amaechi had always accused the Jonathan administration of not initiating any single project in Rivers State in his six years in office. He dared Jonathan to a public debate to point out one project. This was seen as impudent on the then governor’s part.
Amaechi had accused the Federal Government of not caring about the East West Road and this was where the public rift between Amaechi and Jonathan began (though there were hidden issues) and the then Minister of Niger Delta Ministry (Orubebe) took Amaechi up in a major fallout. The former president’s mother-in-law had to die on that road to cause a huge scandal and quick action on the East West Road.
Amaechi also openly pelted the former president for holding down the flag-off of the NLNG 7th train that was expected to almost double the old capacity and launch Nigeria to the 4thlargest NLG power in the world. Amaechi said Jonathan insisted on Brass NLG in Bayelsa taking off before NLNG’s next train. The then president never responded to that accusation.
Amaechi also accused Jonathan of sitting on the UNEP Report (for three years) that awarded $1billion jobs to repair Ogoni environment. He also accused the Jonathan administration of stopping two armoured helicopters that were ordered to fight kidnappers and oil thieves, two menaces that have overrun the state and the oil region at the moment. Now, Wike is also crying out against the FG on that, though many do not know which FG he was angry with, Jonathan’s or Buhari’s.
Amaechi used to lambast Jonathan for sitting on the N23billion World Bank water scheme fund via the African Development Bank that was expected to install a modern water reticulation system in the ever-increasing Garden City. There were many other accusations against the centre by Amaechi but these were seen as acts of insubordination.
Wike lists Rivers’ contributions to Nigeria
Wike said Rivers was contributing hugely to the development of Nigeria. “Only recently, we spent over a million dollars to procure a sophisticated surveillance device for the use of the police and the DSS to facilitate the tracking and arrest of kidnappers as well as rescue of kidnap victims in the state. Regrettably, this equipment is stuck at the port because of the refusal of the Federal Government to grant the waiver that is needed.” (Fact; it was the Jonathan administration that clamped down on this despite contributing $15million to its procurement from the US. The clampdown merely continues.)
The governor said his administration has severally demonstrated a commitment to Nigeria from the very beginning of his administration with discernible actions. “For instance, even without prompting from the Federal Government, we mobilised some stakeholders to rehabilitate the East – West road, from Eleme junction to Onne junction, with about three billion naira. Today, that part of the road, which leads to the economic heartland of the nation, including the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone is in good shape because of our singular efforts.
“Also, that Rivers State is least affected by the spate of attacks on oil pipelines and other facilities by militants is not by accident but by the deliberate and direct involvement of the state government in ensuring that these vital national economic infrastructure are protected and insulated from such ferocious attacks by the hoodlums.
“Furthermore, the State Government has spent and continues to spend a lot of money to support the security agencies to fight crime and safeguarded lives and property in the State”.
Governor Wike said despite the contributions of Rivers State to the resource base of the nation, it has been denied access to developmental projects.
He declared that his state was not in contention with the Federal Government as he said Rivers State remains committed to the unity, progress and indivisibility of the country
Speaking last Monday at the Special Town Hall Meeting between the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and Rivers State Stakeholders at the Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor said: “It is important for us to emphasise that the Government of Rivers State is not and cannot by any stretch of imagination be in contention with the Federal Government.”
What others said
Some selected leaders of the state spoke in support of Wike. The leader of the Elders of Rivers State, Onueze C.J. Okocha (SAN) said: “I want to state categorically that the government and people of Rivers State do not consider that they are at war with the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This does not seem to be the case and in recent times, it would appear that the Federal Government and its ministries, departments and agencies have tended to act, or omitted to act, as if they have problems with Rivers State”.
In her address, an activist chosen to speak on behalf of the women, Ankio Briggs, called on the Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure that they restored the security details of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, otherwise Rivers women would provide security for the governor.
Similarly, chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, the king of Opobo, Dandeson Douglas Jaja, called for the restoration of the security of Governor Wike. He said failure to do so would mean that the Federal Government wants the governor to come to harm.
Oil producing communities also demanded for developmental projects and empowerment of their people.
What Osibanjo said and what he did in PH
In his much expected response, the Acting President assured the people of Rivers State that the Federal Government would tackle their grievances.
Projects
Earlier, the governor had taken the special guest of honour to see his projects, just the way Amaechi did to Jonathan when he was yet acting president.
Osinbajo was made to flag off the reconstruction of the Doctors Quarters of the Braithwaite Specialist Memorial Hospital, (BSMH) Port Harcourt.
Whilst laying the foundation stone for the Doctors Quarters of the state major hospital, (BSMH), Osinbajo said that the doctors’ quarters would help in repositioning medicare in the state.
He said: “It is my special privilege to lay this foundation stone of these doctors’ quarters at the Braithwaite Specialist Memorial Hospital. It is very special because this is a special contribution to the creation of access to healthcare in the country; and especially the welfare of doctors who do the commendable work of ensuring the health of the people.”
The quarters is said to have 22 units of three bedroom flats with a community canteen and dedicated water facility. The governor had said that the doctors’ quarters would be completed on schedule and in line with approved specifications.
Osinbajo also inspected the ongoing construction of the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park, and was told it is the first of its kind in the country.
He also inspected ongoing construction of the Rivers State Ecumenical Centre, aimed at unifying the Christian community in the state.
The Acting President commended the governor on these projects, just as Jonathan said he was overwhelmed by the sheer size of projects embarked upon then by Amaechi and even asked him how he hoped to find funds to complete them all. His fears later proved real.
