Amaechi, Chickens Out From Challenge

They say he who lives in a glass house should not throw stones. However, the governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi seems to have, in his characteristic manner of unguarded speeches, forgotten this wise saying and has consequently swallowed his vomit as a prominent citizen of the State took up the gauntlet thrown by him.

Rt. Hon Amaechi recently threw a wide challenge to the entire citizens of Rivers State on his assumed unparalleled governance of the State, forgetting that he has people who had worked closely with him and who are still abreast of the goings on in the State.

Sir Dr Abiye Sekibo, former Secretary to the State Government, SSG and former minister of Transport, consequently, took up the challenge and asked that a professional body like the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, or the Nigeria institute of Public Relations, NIPR, should act as moderators.

Disappointingly, the governor tucked his tail between his legs and chickened out of the challenge he personally threw to the public without being compelled.

Surely, governance has not descended so low that a governor would talk carelessly before thinking.

We enjoin the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the great party of Nigeria, to bring to caution the tantrums, of the governor as he is wont to throw governance to the dogs and thus inadvertently tarnishing the party he represents.

The governor should wake up to the exalted office he is presently occupying even though he never worked for it and go about his duties as befit a governor.

In the same manner, the Secretary to the State Government SSG, Hon Magnus Abbe should not in his a rush to curry favour from his master, throw insults carelessly at prominent sons of the State.

He should realize that he too would sooner or later, become a former SSG and may receive what he is presently sowing.

We understand that laundering the image of a governor who talks carelessly is not an easy task, yet the State should not be ridiculed further by those who occupy exalted positions and who feel that licking the boots of their master is the only way to retain their positions.

Jerry Needam, JP
Publicity Secretary
PDP Rivers State