Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has said he is opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan because the South-South region where the president hails from has not benefited from his administration.
The sorry state of the economy, poverty rate and poor infrastructure, especially the East-West Road, are some of the other reasons Amaechi said he is opposed to Jonathan’s presidency.
Reacting to comments by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke on the nation’s economy and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was rallying the South-south’s support for Jonathan, Amaechi stated that the Nigerian economy is struggling to survive, contrary to the rosy picture painted by the finance minister.
According to him, the federal government was yet to fully pay the Rivers State allocation for July.
On Uduaghan’s remarks that opposition to Jonathan should not come from the president’s South-South region, Amaechi stated that he considered Nigeria’s national interest far and above any other interest.
He lamented the way those fighting a just cause were being maligned on the altar of public criticism, pointing out that Nigerians usually suffered for not asking the relevant questions.
“When you are principled in Nigeria and you stand on your principles, what do they call you?”
“Stubborn,” the audience chorused.
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They expect you to compromise at a point but when you refuse to compromise, you are a very stubborn man.
“We (NGF) asked the Minister of Finance to resign if she is not able to manage the economy and she replied, ‘I dey kampe’. As at now, we are yet to receive the complete federation allocation for July.
“How strong is an economy that cannot fund its statutory state government federal allocation? Our entitlement as Rivers State Government in July was N19 billion, they have paid us only N14 billion, you get the point?
“Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) published (revenue) receipts of N1.05 trillion in July, so why do they say that there is no money? If we receive N1.05 trillion by July, why are they saying there is no money?” he queried.
Amaechi, who spoke at a programme organised by the Rotary International, District 9140 for young future leaders at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Thursday, said he was opening up to the youths, because as potential leaders they should learn how to ask their leaders questions.
“Now, why am I saying this to you? I am saying it because as potential leaders, you must learn to ask questions. If you think that the youths spur me, you don’t, you don’t inspire me. Why don’t you inspire me? Because you are learning to be like us. Let me paint the image of us – corrupt, poor leadership, that’s what you are copying.
“We produce oil and we are one of the poorest nations in the world, are we not? Which nation would allow a Commissioner of Police like (Joseph) Mbu to continue as commissioner other than in Nigeria?”
“Iraq, Syria,” the crowd replied.
Responding, he said: “Maybe Syria. So you see our peers – Syria, Iraq, Pakistan. I am sharing experiences with you before I talk about the issue of leadership.
“Now, I read today’s paper and my friend (Emmanuel) Uduaghan says anybody who is from South-South should not oppose our president, should not have a different view from our president. Did you read it?
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