From PRINCE MONDAY WHISKEY, Regional Editor, South South
More troubles seem to be awaiting the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Transport, The Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as a frontline leader of thought from Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, has called for his resignation.
Chief Gbenekama says Amaechi’s utterances on the Maritime University has shown that he lacks leadership capacity and does not have the interest of the Niger Delta region at heart and therefore cannot serve in such sensitive national position as minister.
He made the call while speaking in an interview with National Daily in Osubi near Warri, saying that the outburst by the Minister of Transport when he called for the scrapping of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, has clearly shown that the man lacks leadership qualities to head such a position.
The Bebenemowei (Chief Mobilizer) of Gbaramatu Kingdom said they were happy when towards the end of the reign of the past President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, was inaugurated, adding that they were happy because it was one way to empower the Niger Delta and make them feel a sense of belonging.
“It is a serious setback to the region. Our people are not happy. We are very unhappy. But the Minister of Transport has announced it but we feel that it is not a good policy if it is from the Federal Government. Federal Government should rescind this decision because this is something that we the Riverine Communities will benefit immensely from. It is close to our heart and we don’t expect a government that is boastful of employment, empowering the youths and all, scrapping a prospective empowerment institution.
” It is a surprise. Its like we don’t have right to education, we don’t have right to be members of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we don’t have right to life. So we feel that the Federal Government should rescind its decision. As for me as a person, I am even calling for the resignation of Rotimi Amaechi because he is a son of the Niger Delta. If that is how he is going to represent us then he is not representing the interests of the Niger Deltans. So the man should resign. As a matter of fact he should resign immediately so that somebody will take over his portfolio and ensure that the dividend of democracy is achieved by the Niger Deltans,” the Gbaramatu high chief stated.
On the order by the Military Hierarchy to Ijaw Traditional Rulers to produce the master minds of the recent blown up pipeline, Chief Gbenekama advised the Federal Government not to apply a different law for the people of the Niger Delta as traditional rulers in the North East have not been given a marching order to produce the members of the Boko Haram sect.
“That is an unfortunate decision. Unfortunate because is Nigeria ruled with different laws for the South South and different laws for the Northerners. In the North East Boko Haram came to a village that is smaller than my village and kidnapped over 200 people, 200 girls. They didn’t take them through the air, are they spirits? People were there when they were being taken away. But it was the Federal Government that was blamed for not taking care of the security of the people and property.
“Now in our case people are sabotaging the country’s economy. That is an economic sabotage, it is a criminal act. We detest it, we don’t like it. But to say that the Chiefs and Traditional Rulers should fetch out the criminals, when does the constitution of Nigeria says it is indigenes that must fetch out the criminals,” Chief Gbenekama reiterated.
On the current problem in the Niger Delta region, he advised the Federal Government to look for political solution rather than using a sledgehammer to hit any issues that comes up. While saying that they are not in support of any criminal, he assured the Federal Government that the Ijaw Nation will support any move aimed at developing the region and the Nigeria country through her petrol-dollar natural resources.