The new Governor of Rivers State, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday, talked tough saying his government would not be a continuation of any past administration in the state.
In his maiden broadcast to the state, he announced the immediate suspension of the planned demolition of the Port Harcourt waterfronts by the administration of his predecessor, Celestine Omehia.
He said God had given the people an opportunity for a new beginning and was ready to reposition the oil-rich state.
In view of this, Amaechi said that his administration would review all existing policies and programmes of the past regime.
While projects and programmes that meet the genuine desires of the people would be continued, he said those that fall short of expectations would be stopped.
He said, “This administration is not a continuation of any past administration. God has given us a great opportunity for a new beginning and we accept it.
“We will review all existing programmes and policies and while we will continue with those that meet the genuine desires and expectations of our people, we will not hesitate to discontinue with those that do not. There is no room for window dressing.
“We shall reduce to the barest minimum, the discretionary powers of the governor. Government will play by the rules; government business will be conducted by due process and rule of law and shall be enforced without fear or favour.
“The three arms of the government shall be truly separate while urging the leadership of the other arms to reform.”
Amaechi deplored the continued activities of militants and cultists in the state and ordered the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
The governor, said that based on advice by the state’s Security Council, the curfew imposed by the previous administration would continue.
He said the current state of Port Harcourt city was a matter of serious concern to the administration and noted that genuine steps would be taken to address the problem.
Amaechi, therefore, urged the people to brace up for the challenges of the coming days, adding that the action of the government in addressing the problems might hurt some of the people.
Some of such actions, he said, would involve the demolition of illegal structures and other sacrifices on the part of the people.
He continued, “Rivers State aches for change, change in governance, and policies in some of our cultural values and attitudes. The implication for government, therefore, is a rebirth, which tailors our actions in tune with the aspirations of our people.
“The current state of the city of Port Harcourt is a cause for concern to this administration. Incidents of flooding, traffic congestion, impassable roads, lack of portable water etc. show that the current state of infrastructure and social amenities are incapable of sustaining the exploding population of the capital city.
“This administration intends to take urgent steps to address these issues and we implore all citizens to be ready to make whatever sacrifices that may be required to achieve these noble goals.”
The governor said his administration had made a solemn promise to God to be prudent in handling the resources of the state in view of the high expectation of the people.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Magnus Abe and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Oyenso Nwike, were sworn in to office by the governor, shortly after the broadcast.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ordered a security alert in the Niger delta as Amaechi moved into the Government House.
The security directive coincided with apparent anxiety in the volatile oil-rich Warri community in Delta State following the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday removing Omeiha as the governor.
Findings revealed that the government issued the security order as a pre-emptive measure to checkmate some cultists who might have sympathy for Omehia and resume hostilities on the streets of Port-Harcourt and creeks of the state.
A reliable source in the JTF told our correspondent that The Presidency directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Owoye Azazi, to prevent the prevailing peace in the region from relapsing as a result of the fate of Omehia.
The CDS, who supervises the operation of the JTF reportedly passed the order of The Presidency to the outgoing Commander of the security agency, Brig.-Gen.Lawrence Ngubane, on Friday.
Our source, who is a senior Army officer in the JTF, said Azazi directed Ngubane to act without delay. Azazi specifically asked his surbodinate to beef up security around strategic oil installations and other assets of the governments as well as oil majors and their service companies in the region.
Consequently, Ngubane deployed fresh troops and crisis-combating equipment in the various towns and communities, especially, in the oil bearing areas in the region on Saturday, in compliance with the directive of his boss.
It was gathered that many gun boats were sent out to patrol the waterways and creeks of the region on Saturday, apparently, to keep the criminals at bay.
Similarly, JTF personnel, comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force, Nigerian Police and the State Security Service, have been stationed at major oil installations in the region to safeguard them.
Our correspondent sighted armoured vehiches on the fleet of the JTF menacingly patrolling the streets of Warri on Saturday.
When contacted, Ngubane told the Sunday Punch that the action was informed by the fate of Omehia and Orubebe.
Ngubane, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said the JTF was not ready to take chances in the execution of its mandate in the region.
Oct282007