To some he is a rebel with a cause, to others he is a
spoiler bent on rocking the boat, but almost all agree
that as governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has
performed excellently. The model primary and
secondary schools that compare with the best in
Africa, the healthcare scheme conceived by the
administration anchored on model primary
healthcare centres and secondary healthcare
facilities are among indicators that have drawn
compliments to the pace and pattern of governance
in Rivers State. Amaechi who is also chairman of the
Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF last week hosted an
international Energy, Environment and Investment
Forum attended by some of the world's leading
infrastructure experts. On the sidelines of the forum,
Governor Amaechi took time articulate his agitations
to visiting journalists.
Was there any agreement between you and the
Federal Government that led to the release of the
Rivers State Government owned aircraft?
There was nothing like that. I didn't even see
anybody in the Federal Government; we didn't even
have any meeting. I just called one person. It was not
this plane they were interested in releasing, but the
(security) helicopters. I said I wanted to sell the
helicopters and the person I called offered to talk to
the president to seek the approval of the helicopters
and they got the approval. (to bring them into the
country) And in the course of getting approval for
the helicopters, they got approval for the plane to be
released. There was no negotiation, no interface or
whatsoever other than the telephone conversation.
So, what is all this rumour that I am going to the
PDP? I have finished with the PDP.