From Vivian Israel, Port Harcourt
Former Presidential Candidate of National Conscience Party, (NCP) in the 2011 general elections, Mr. Dele Momodu has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on infrastructural development in the health and education, power and agricultural sectors in the state.
Momodu spoke Wednesday shortly after an inspection tour of ongoing and completed projects with Governor Amaechi in parts of Rivers State in Port Harcourt. Places visited include, the Kelsey Harrison Hospital, world class maxillofacial hospital, Model Primary Schools, the Model Health and Model Secondary Schools, Afam Power Station, Songhai farm and the Banana farm in Tai Local Government Area of the state.
He commended Governor Amaechi for putting the state resources into huge investments that would promote development in the state.
According to him, “ I must say, I am very very impressed with his performance. We have been on tour to some parts of the state. Going by the places we visited today, I have seen huge investments in Education, Health Services, in Power, and Agriculture, and I wish every state in the country to do the same, and I also expect the Federal Government to take the development initiative to a higher level”. Momodu said.
Mr. Dele Momodu who is also the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, appealed to the Federal Government to take a definite stance on the performance of Governor Amaechi and embrace his visionary developmental initiative by giving him all the needed support to achieve the vision of his administration for Rivers people.
“If we have more Amaechis in Nigeria, I am sure we would have done a lot better than what we are doing at the moment. But, I will appeal to the Federal Government in particular to support Governor Amaechi, he is trying his best possible to develop the state. Let us forget about politics, although, I am not in PDP, but I am in the National Conscience Party (NCP), I am a Nigerian and I want to appeal to other politicians to give peace a chance”, Momodu explained.
Continuing, Mr. Dele Momodu, remarked that the foundation for a new Rivers State already put in place by Governor Amaechi is a wake-up call for other Governors across the country and Amaechi successor to emulate the virtues of his visionary leadership with a view to bringing dividends of democracy to Rivers people.
“I saw road construction (along YKC –Slaughter road in Woji) that is on-going as we were coming back from the inspection tour, and I came down to see things for myself, but I cannot imagine the level of ambition Governor Amaechi has because it takes a man with such serious ambition to do that which impact on the people. The most important thing is that, Amaechi has laid the foundation for a new Rivers State, and then hopefully whoever comes after him, should take the development further from there”, Momodu said.
Stressing on education, which he described as the most striking point of development in the Amaechi led administration, Mr. Dele Momodu who is also a public analyst and social commentator said, Governor Amaechi has eventually created for himself a distinguished and outstanding record from other Governors across the country because of the priority he placed in the education sector, including the compulsory free and basic education ushered in to reduce illiteracy and boost rapid sustainable development.
According to him, “One of the things that strike me most is education, and for me, education is everything, if not I won’t be standing here, because, I was not born rich. I grew up in ancient city of Ile-Ife, and I was once a village teacher”.
Speaking further, Mr. Dele Momodu thanked Governor Amaechi for reviving and revitalizing the fallen standard of education in the state especially his passion for Rivers people to enjoy quality education that is free and compulsory at the Primary and Secondary education level.
He said, “I know that, the standard of education has fallen in Nigeria, so, anyone who is working hard to change it for the better, I will support, and I think, there are no University structures that are more beautiful than the model secondary and primary schools Governor Amaechi built in Rivers State. And, I have told Governor Amaechi that pictures don’t lie, so, I took my Ipad to take some shots.” Dele Momodu said.
