Rivers: Amaechi Bought Palliative Buses in 2011 – APC Chieftain Alleges

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has described the fanfare that greeted the flag-off ceremony by the Rivers State Government for its palliative bus transport scheme as a mere jamboree and spending binge intended to attract unnecessary attention at the expense of public fund.

This was as he declared that the buses flagged-off by Governor Sim Fubara as part of cushioning effect for the removal of petrol subsidy in the country were purchased by former governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi in 2011.

Eze, who is a member of the APC Legacy Projects Media Team in Rivers State therefore cautioned Governor Fubara not to use Amaechi’s legacies to loot the state treasury, noting that Fubara wants to improve in the arts of mis-governance from where Nyesom Wike stopped.

Speaking on the flag-off held Tuesday at the premises of the defunct Rivers Transport Company (RTC), the APC Chieftain said the coaster buses displayed during the flag-off and which are now deployed for the scheme were purchased by former Governor Amaechi in 2011 when the state hosted the National Sports Festival of that year and were thereafter used to transport civil servants from their homes to the State secretariat and back to their bases at the close of work on daily basis.

He said the Rivers Transport Company was a public investment which continued to boom until around 2017 when it was frustrated out of business by the administration of former Governor Wike which ran the state without any clear-cut policy framework and economic blueprint.

These were contained in a statement made available to Forefront News in Port Harcourt, in which Eze noted that the buses however laid idle all through the administration of Nyesom Wike, who only revived them in 2022 to further his selfish presidential interest which was aborted prematurely.

The APC chieftain noted that the fanfare and flag-off were unnecessary given that since the fuel subsidy removal, other states where government are conscious of their obligation to citizens have been rolling out better palliative schemes such as cutting work days, increasing monthly salary, establishing food banks and reducing school fees in public institutions to help students from less privileged homes remain in school.

Eze also said that in less than 24 hours after the lunch of the buses, some of them broke down on the road due to mechanical fault, signaling that no proper servicing was carried out on the old buses before they were deployed on the roads whereas millions have been swindled from the state coffers for same purpose.

He further said that the state may be at the brink of economic collapse given the level of looting spree that has been planned against public treasury chief among which is the N200 billion Port Harcourt Ring Road Project which was hurriedly thought-out to siphon funds and transform private pockets while the majority continue to wallow in abject poverty and want.

According to Eze; “What the state needs at the moment is to prioritize investment; attract local and foreign investors to leverage the market and expand job openings for the people; this will provide food for families and grow the economy.

“And one sure way to achieve this is to market the Greater Port Harcourt City, a mega project with economic potentials ready to be harnessed.

“It is shameful that Rivers State, the ‘treasure base of the nation’ could not attract any foreign inflow all through the administration of Nyesom Wike. Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Oyo etc have all overtaken the state, whereas Lagos and Abuja have maintained their firm grips in the index.

While commending Amaechi for building strong legacies that has continued to resonate and provide platforms for exemplary leadership despite leaving office some nine years ago, Eze cautioned the Rivers State Government not to hide under the sterling performance of Amaechi to loot the treasury.

He further stressed that Rivers people are very much aware that no dime was spent on the so-called palliative transport scheme.