Newly inaugurated governor of Rivers State, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday retained Mr. Tele Ikuru as his deputy. Ikuru was also the deputy of deposed governor, Celestine Omehia.
Amaechi also named former Information commissioner under the administration of former Governor Peter Odili, Mr Magnus Abe, as the Secretary to the State Government. The new governor, who was inaugurated at exactly 6.45pm by the state Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu, at the Exco Chambers of the Government House, immediately reconstituted the state executive. The new members include Chief Chigri Ken (Attorney-General and commissioner for Justice), Thankgod Udeagu (Finance), Chief Nyesor Nweke (Chief of Staff) and Ogbonna Nwoke (Director of Press).
Amaechi, who arrived at the Government House, Port Harcourt, at 5.48 pm to a rousing welcome, said he would present a bill on due process and public procurement to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday. When passed into law, the bill is expected to streamline contract awards and ensure that Rivers people get the benefit.
The governor also said the Rivers State government would be heading to court on Monday to challenge the constitution of the State Independent electoral Commission (SIEC).
Ameachi said his administration would emphasise accountability and responsibility.
”Gone are the days when public funds were applied as personal funds. If you ask me for money, I will give you my personal money. I won’t use the state money. I won’t use state funds to pursue a case if I am charged to court.”
He also said he had buried the past, and that he would not witch-hunt anybody. The governor craved for the people‘s understanding over his request not to be addressed as ”His Excellency,” but simply as Rotimi Amaechi.
He said the government would consult widely on the way forward for the state, adding, ”I will, as from Monday, start consulting with all our people on how to form a unity government. We will consult with people at the local government level and all interests.
”It is not only PDP that will be held responsible for governance, all the people will be involved, PDP will head it because we won the election.”
He added ”We will not condone cult activities. In my whole life, I have never belonged to a cult group. If you find any trace that I have belonged to any cult group, be free to make it public.”
Ameachi said he became the speaker of the Rivers assembly through the courts, and he became the governor through the same process.
Residents of Rivers state had earlier on Friday trooped out in their thousands to welcome the new governor to Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The residents had taken position at strategic locations on the major road leading to the Government‘s House as early as 8 am, to await the arrival of the new governor. The anxious crowd later surged towards the government house at around noon.
The former deputy governor, Ikuru, and members of the state assembly also converged on the executive chamber of the Government office , awaiting the commencement of the inauguration of the new governor.
Some of the personal aides to the former governor, Omehia, were also present at the council chamber.
Earlier on Friday, Amaechi visited the Presidential Villa to pledge his loyalty to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The new governor stopped over at the Villa before proceeding to Port Harcourt to take over the reins of government, vacated by the former governor, Celestine Omehia, after the Supreme Court ordered Amaechi’s installation on Thursday.
Amaechi and about seven aides, who accompanied him to the Villa, were all clad in dark and ash-coloured suits. The governor appeared calm, but the aides could not hide their delight as they strutted beside him.
He arrived at the Villa as the Governors’ Forum retreat was opening at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, and met with Yar’Adua behind closed doors moments after the President returned from the session. In a short enc pledge was necessitated by the fact that Yar’Adua is not only the President, but also the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party. Interestingly, Amaechi was expelled from the PDP after he dragged the party to court, following his substitution with Omehia as the Rivers State governorship candidate.
Asked about his mission in the Villa, Amaechi said, “I came to see the President to pledge my loyalty. He is the leader of the party, the leader of the country. I just came to say, ‘Look, Mr. President, I am loyal. And I am going back to the state to take charge.”
He also said he remained a member of the PDP. Commenting on his expulsion, he said, “Don’t forget that the Supreme Court did say that the action was subjudice and asked the Appeal Court to hear my matter. So, I must assume that I am still a member of PDP.”
The governor also gave an insight into his feelings when he received news of the Supreme Court judgment. He said he went down on his knees in gratitude to God. He added, however, that the verdict did not come as a surprise.
Amaechi said, “Well, it (judgment) was not shocking because I was expecting it. I was expecting it because I knew that the Supreme Court will do justice, and the next thing I did was to thank God. It was a fight between brothers.
“It was just a fight to ensure that justice was maintained in the electoral process in the country. When they announced it and I received it, I knelt down and thanked my God for giving me the opportunity to serve Rivers people.”
Against the backdrop of insinuations that there is no love lost between him and Omehia, Amaechi said there was no axe to grind. He noted that Omehia and himself are blood cousins.
Dismissing expectations of impending retaliatory moves against the former governor, Amaechi said the two would meet at their family meeting. He told newsmen, “Don’t forget that Mr. Celestine Omehia is my blood cousin. We are from the same family. We will meet at the family meeting. Nothing happens rather than the fact that we will meet at the family meeting. We are blood cousins, I can say that”
He also said that he bore no grudges against those who facilitated his displacement from the PDP governorship ticket, stating, “No, nobody. No victor, no vanquished. When I was fighting this struggle, I said it was just a struggle for justice. It was just to make sure that the right thing is done by the country so that tomorrow, the poor man does not suffer. It was just to make sure that the poor man has the opportunity of righting wrongs through the judicial process.”
Ibanga Isine, Port Harcourt, Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja
The Punch
Saturday, October 27, 2007
