The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has been drawn to a public statement credited to the Action Congress of Nigeria. The ACN had condemned “the administrative structure for the control and management of road traffic in the state.” The party had claimed knowledge of “huge amount of money sunk into the sector” saying it is a ““colossal waste.””
The PDP is amused at such puerile and briefcase antagonism of Governor Chibuike Amaechi. The ACN in Rivers state has metamorphosed into nothing but a morbid obscurantist which sees nothing but evil in good deeds; an incurable pessimist which holds to verbal nonsense even in the face of straight facts.
It is obvious that traffic in Port Harcourt ranks among the heaviest in Nigeria. The reason is due to daily influx of local and foreign interests who are in haste to tap to the maximum the atmosphere of tranquility which the present administration in the state has created. ACN would prefer where there were no investments, an imbecile economy abandoned to hawks like those who run that party.
ACN claimed the present administration had incurred much expenditure in the management of traffic in the state but failed to state such figures. That, in itself builds the fallacious strand around that claim. If the ACN had proofs of its claims, it should have made them public. We challenge the party to make public this “huge amount of money sunk into the sector.” If not, the PDP in Rivers State would continue to hold the ACN for what it is a party of incurable liars motivated by hate of the huge successes the PDP administration in the state has achieved.
Governor Amaechi has a human heart which the leadership of the ACN lacks. It was this same party while asking for votes in 2011 that had promised Rivers state electorate it would ensure they slept with their eyes open.
Governor Amaechi feels the pains of those he governs; Governor Amaechi thinks, sleeps, talks and walks the welfare of the people of Rivers state. So, he could not bear the sight of traffic gridlock on Port Harcourt streets. Till date, no other Nigerian governor had been reported to have undertaken to assist control traffic. For Amaechi, his official privileges can afford him easy movement or pass. Amaechi has de-mystified governance. He is not an emperor who rules by stick and swagger. Amaechi wants to feel what the poor man feels.
The Rivers State Government introduced the TIMARIV to manage traffic in the state. This body works in synergy with other statutory agencies of government. To boost the operations of that agency, the government has set up a management board under the chairmanship of Chief Ibe Eresia-Eke, a former General Manager of the Rivers State Transport Company, RTC. All steps are to improve the milestone so far achieved.
While we may admit that there are still areas of challenge, we must commend Governor Amaechi on his pro-active moves which no doubt are to improve the situation of road traffic in Rivers state towns and communities.
Rather than embark on fruitless search for relevance, the ACN should join the present administration in its bid to change the lives of Rivers people.
GEORGE UKWUOMA-NWOGBA
PUBLICITY SECRETARY
PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PDP
RIVERS STATE.
