TRUTH, RECONCILIATION PANEL UNDERWAY IN RIVERS

Disturbed by the deepening political polarisation, and socio-economic discontent in Rivers State, one of the major oil and gas-producing net in the Niger Delta area, the state government says it will soon constitute a Truth and Reconciliation Committee, TARCO, to reconcile the peoples of the troubled state as a way of building enduring peace for rapid economic growth. 

This move follows the unanimous resolution at the maiden stakeholders meeting of  Governor Chibuike Amaechi's administration at Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Governor Amaechi had requested the people to consider the option of a Truth and Reconciliation Committee, or the setting up of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry, to look into issues of cultism in the state, ascertain their sponsors, and proffer appropriate punishment, but stakeholders preferred the former.

Amaechi explained that members of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee would be announced soon, noting that they would be expected to restore peace in various parts of the state by genuinely reconciling all aggrieved persons and communities.

He also disclosed plans to build a new campus of the State University of Science and Technology, and relocate it to a more convenient site, while justifying the removal of the institution’s Vice Chancellor and dissolution of the Governing Council.

The governor said an Education Summit would be convened in the state soon, to consider options for the development of the sector, to improve the standard of teaching and learning, and suggested merging over 240 secondary schools in the state to a manageable size, with the provision of modern facilities.

He noted that the state government intends to tackle the issue of waste management in Port Harcourt and its environs, by re-ordering the system of dumping of wastes, and introducing the waste to wealth programme.

On transportation, Governor Amaechi said the state government would build larger parks at the entry-points into Port Harcourt to check the activities of reckless drivers, while a public-private sector driven transport system would be put in place to coordinate transportation within the city centre.

He also said government would implement the laws on, wearing of crash helmet for motorcycle operators in the state, noting that if they fail to comply, government may be forced to do away with motorcycle as a means of transportation in the state.

In his contribution at the meeting, former Governor of the state, Chief Rufus Ada-George, lauded Governor Amaechi for articulating his programmes for the state, noting that the programmes portray him as a man who would not condone lawlessness.

Chief Ada-George noted that from Amaechi’s utterances, it appears that he would not condone interference with the job of the security agencies, as anybody found culpable should be allowed to face the law.

He, however, appealed to the people of the state, especially those he described as Government House Jobbers (GHJ) to allow the Governor to settle down and work, and stop acts of sycophancy, while a calling on the people to rally round the present administration to succeed.

Others who spoke include Chief Ebenezer Isokariari, Captain Elechi Amadi, Eze Chukumela Nnam Obi II, Oba of Ogbaland, Chief Ombo Isokariari, Dr Doris Fisher amongst others.

In the mean time, Amaechi says he has forgiven all those who offended him or abandoned him in the course of his struggle, and called on Rivers people to forgive one another to move the state forward.

Governor Amaechi said this while addressing his administration's maiden stakeholders meeting, enjoined the people of the state to  forgive one another to enable the state develop in an atmosphere of love and peace.

He said he has been directed by God to forgive everyone who has wronged him, noting that except everyone learns to forgive it would be difficult to work as a team in moving the state forward and apologised to all those he has wronged in course of his court case, to forgive him as well.

The governor who narrated his ordeal throughout the struggle said nobody can lay claim to his success but God, and assured the people that it was time to work, while urging lobbyist to allow him concentrate and commence the implementation of his programmes.

“I have visited some elder statesmen for reconciliation of the people and I will still continue to do so.  Let us allow the past to be the past and come together for a new beginning”, Governor Amaechi declared, stressing that such reconciliation moves would go on until the entire Rivers people are united.

He promised to respect the wishes of the people as his administration would remain prudent and accountable, emphasising that since no human being is above mistake, he should be corrected when such mistakes occur.

“I have always said that no human being is above mistakes so let us try to forgive ourselves, no matter the degree of provocation”, he said, pointing out that forgiveness is the needed panacea for growth and stability in the state.

The governor who explained the actions taken so far by the state government, including the setting up of the Economic Advisory Council, the Town Planning Committee, and the appointment of some key functionaries of government to commence the implementation of his programmes, said several public-private sector driven initiatives would be flagged off in the state soon.

Governor Amaechi said he met with contractors handling the multi-billion naira Unity Road and the Trans-Kalabari Highway where he intimated them that his administration places emphasizes on the completion of the road projects, while the Rainbow Town Housing Units for low income earners would start soon.

He hinted that the state government is partnering with investors from the private sector, banks, real estate developers and multi-nationals to provide modern housing units benefiting of the status of Rivers State .

He disclosed that the Port Harcourt Ring Road which was his original idea would be carried out to decongest traffic in the city centre, while new modern cities would be built outside Port Harcourt. 

-------------------------------------------------------------