BY Taiwo George
Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, says his prolonged battle with Patience Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s president, is the result of his refusal to part with money meant for the development of the state.
Amaechi accused the first lady of using thugs against him, saying the economy of the state would collapse should Jonathan win the 2015 election.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Friday during the joint graduation of students of University of Ibadan and pioneer graduands of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, the governor lamented that his feud with the federal government has lasted this long.
“When I became governor, I fought militancy. The security report reached me and I came here and chased the militants away,” he said.
“I have to protect you because it is my responsibility. Some of the militants went to Lagos, Ivory Coast, Ghana etc. Today, they are back because the wife of the president brought them back to protest against me.
“I refused to give them money in Abuja because if I did that, I won’t be able to carry out any development projects or finish the road from Rumuolumeni to Rumuepirikom. The quarrel between me and the wife of the president is because she said I should bring your money, Rivers people’s money and share with her.
“Now that, you are graduates, you are now eligible voters that can use your voters’ card to change society. Ask yourselves this question that I have always asked Rivers people: What have we Rivers people done to President Jonathan that he has refused to bring any project to Rivers state?
“We had to fight them before they could do the east-west road. I had to abuse the federal government and they abused me back, before they could do the work you now see on that road.”
He also frowned at the consistent shortfall in oil revenue and its negative impact on the economy.
Amaechi accused Nyesom Wike, the immediate past minister of state for education and governorship aspirant in the state, as the cause of some of the unfinished projects in the state.
“Since September this year, federal government has not been able to pay any state from the federal allocation. They said they don’t have money. This is the first time that our president is emerging the 6th richest person in Africa.
“I told the people of Rumuolumneni that we have awarded N1.5 billion for their internal roads and have also paid the indigenous contractor who is from the area the sum of N700 million.
“We said Rivers money is for Rivers people because they don’t have capital. This man took the contract and gave it to a man who now wants to be governor. This man that is been backed by Mrs Jonathan gave N250 million to the indigenous contractor and disappeared with N450 million without constructing the road.
“And this is the man who wants to be governor, with billboards screaming the concept of New Vision. What kind of vision is that for a thief? They have been thieves for too long so it cannot be new vision. The only thing that is new is that he has industrialised stealing.”
He promised that his administration would continue to promote education, urging teachers to be committed and demonstrate a high sense of responsibility to their duty.
Before it was upgraded to a university, Ignatius Ajuru university was primarily a training institution for teachers.
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