Amaechi urges LG chairmen to serve the people
Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi has expressed worry at the level of corruption in the country where public funds are diverted for private use. Amaechi spoke shortly after swearing into office 21 local government caretaker chairmen in the state and urged them to use public funds for the good of the people.
While congratulating them on their recent appointment, the governor admonished them to shun corruption.
“I am a worried man, I am extremely worried for the country because the level of text I got from people even the desperation by old council members who wanted to return, I wonder why they were so desperate. It just shows me that they were only interested in increasing their stomach infrastructure.”
“I got very, very worried. People were desperate, people were threatening, all sorts of text messages were sent to me but I remained adamant and said ‘let the people go and choose, I will not participate in this very exercise’. I believe that you have been chosen and please serve the people. “My problem is that the level of corruption in Nigeria now knows no bounds, so bad that if you read Sahara Reporters, you will hear that two aircraft were arrested in South Africa carrying $9.3 million dollars. Now, you can see, the problem is, they left here (Nigeria) freely, unchecked, nobody asked them questions. So, if at that federal level, people can get away, you have to see how bad corruption has become in Nigeria, that Nigerians can travel anyhow they like with money, money they didn’t earn, money that is stolen.”
“Now, nobody is afraid to be corrupt. State governments are not able to pay salaries because instead of the normal money we receive every month, it has come down for Rivers State nearly 45 to 50 per cent, that’s the way it is now and the reason is because the other money is stolen.”
He said the state would organize local government elections to usher in democratically elected local government chairmen and councillors just after the country’s general elections.
“We have assured the state that we would organize (local government) election immediately after the national elections because we believe that only democratically elected council chairmen should run the councils. So, I congratulate you for the next three months and I hope you will be able to perform”, he said.
Out of the 21 newly sworn-in caretaker chairmen, seven of them were retained including those of Bonny, Emohua, Tai, Oyigbo, Obio/Akpor, Opobo/Nkoro and Omuma Local Government Areas.
With the State’s 23 local government areas, Degema and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas were however not affected by the transition.
The 21 caretaker chairmen sworn into office by the governor on Tuesday included Hon. Igoma Gift Loveday (Abua/Odual), Barr. Chinenem Jerome (Ahoada East), Hon. Victor Abaje (Ahoada West), Hon Allwell George (Asari-Toru), Christian Otiasah (Akuku-Toru), Deacon Emmanuel (Andoni), Adonye Wilcox (Bonny), Prince Awalanta Ejire (Eleme), Reginald Okwuoma (Etche), Godstime Orlukwu (Emohua) and Sylvester Vidim (Gokana). Also included were Barr Nwobueze Amadi (Ikwerre), Hon. Gordon Tornwe (Khana), Lawrence Chuku (Obio/Akpor), Mina Tende (Ogu/Bolo), Chief Amangi Sunday (Okrika), Hon. Emeka Nwogu (Omuma), Michael Igolima (Opobo/Nkoro), Hon. David Oyesorom (Oyigbo), Nnamdi Wuche (Port Harcourt) and Hon. Mbakpone Okpie (Tai Local Government).
While congratulating them on their recent appointment, the governor admonished them to shun corruption.
“I am a worried man, I am extremely worried for the country because the level of text I got from people even the desperation by old council members who wanted to return, I wonder why they were so desperate. It just shows me that they were only interested in increasing their stomach infrastructure.”
“I got very, very worried. People were desperate, people were threatening, all sorts of text messages were sent to me but I remained adamant and said ‘let the people go and choose, I will not participate in this very exercise’. I believe that you have been chosen and please serve the people. “My problem is that the level of corruption in Nigeria now knows no bounds, so bad that if you read Sahara Reporters, you will hear that two aircraft were arrested in South Africa carrying $9.3 million dollars. Now, you can see, the problem is, they left here (Nigeria) freely, unchecked, nobody asked them questions. So, if at that federal level, people can get away, you have to see how bad corruption has become in Nigeria, that Nigerians can travel anyhow they like with money, money they didn’t earn, money that is stolen.”
“Now, nobody is afraid to be corrupt. State governments are not able to pay salaries because instead of the normal money we receive every month, it has come down for Rivers State nearly 45 to 50 per cent, that’s the way it is now and the reason is because the other money is stolen.”
He said the state would organize local government elections to usher in democratically elected local government chairmen and councillors just after the country’s general elections.
“We have assured the state that we would organize (local government) election immediately after the national elections because we believe that only democratically elected council chairmen should run the councils. So, I congratulate you for the next three months and I hope you will be able to perform”, he said.
Out of the 21 newly sworn-in caretaker chairmen, seven of them were retained including those of Bonny, Emohua, Tai, Oyigbo, Obio/Akpor, Opobo/Nkoro and Omuma Local Government Areas.
With the State’s 23 local government areas, Degema and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas were however not affected by the transition.
The 21 caretaker chairmen sworn into office by the governor on Tuesday included Hon. Igoma Gift Loveday (Abua/Odual), Barr. Chinenem Jerome (Ahoada East), Hon. Victor Abaje (Ahoada West), Hon Allwell George (Asari-Toru), Christian Otiasah (Akuku-Toru), Deacon Emmanuel (Andoni), Adonye Wilcox (Bonny), Prince Awalanta Ejire (Eleme), Reginald Okwuoma (Etche), Godstime Orlukwu (Emohua) and Sylvester Vidim (Gokana). Also included were Barr Nwobueze Amadi (Ikwerre), Hon. Gordon Tornwe (Khana), Lawrence Chuku (Obio/Akpor), Mina Tende (Ogu/Bolo), Chief Amangi Sunday (Okrika), Hon. Emeka Nwogu (Omuma), Michael Igolima (Opobo/Nkoro), Hon. David Oyesorom (Oyigbo), Nnamdi Wuche (Port Harcourt) and Hon. Mbakpone Okpie (Tai Local Government).
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