Life And People
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi At 55: A Happy Birthday to the great advocate for the masses -By Ifeanyichukwu Mmoh
Since he became minister of transport in 2015, I am not particularly surprised that he had devoted more attention to reinventing the train system.
Not too many Nigerians understand why Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi is the honorable minister for transport. As a friend, follower and admirer of this great advocate for the masses, it’ll be a disservice to the Nigerian people and indeed a dishonor if I failed to share my experience with a view of helping us to understand the character and person of the honorable minister – as I write him this birthday wish.
Fate had determined that among the 32 friends and course-mate graduating from the Applied Geology Programme of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi state in 2006, I was going to Rivers state of Nigeria for the mandatory NYSC experience. The first thing I observed upon arriving Rivers state in 2007 was the shaky arrangement left behind by former Governor Sir Peter Odili.
I am sure that only a few knew that the emergence of Governor Amaechi following the October 25th 2007 judgment of the supreme court Abuja was complemented by intense prayers from the corps members who were already finding life difficult to cope with under Sir Omehia and, had to resort to fervent praying that the government’s tenure should expire.
Thankfully, Governor Amaechi wasted no time to pay up the backlog and he did so within the first 3 weeks of assuming office! He saved me and fellow corps members from starving in 2007! I began to follow his actions afterwards after the speedy manner of responding to our plight as NYSC volunteers in his state. I saw in him, a man who understood that his purpose as governor was divine and for service to the people!
As governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi distinguished himself as an advocate for the masses in several other ways. For instance, Eleme Flyover/Roundabout used to be a major Junction/Intersection that cost motorists hours in traffic but Amaechi removed it; awarding the construction contract to the very capable Julius Berger (NGR) Plc.
Public schools and primary health centers across the state received great attention and facelifts. The Port Harcourt international airport’s runaway was expanded and built to standard. Also the Greater Port Harcourt city was borne. Amaechi introduced the culture of saving away the sum of 1 billion naira every month from the state’s share of federal allocation.
Since he became minister of transport in 2015, I am not particularly surprised that he had devoted more attention to reinventing the train system. For those who understood the transport sector; the train transport is a symbol of comfort, affordability and an answer to the masses’ cry for a safe and stress-free form of ferry.
This devotion to railway system of transport alone is sign that Amaechi is an advocate for the masses. We all know that for long, comfort has been excised from the public transportation system as motorists chased more profits to the detriment of passengers and the automobiles they used.
So for a minister whose ministry oversaw the maritime sector, the aviation sector as well as the road sectors, it is ingenious to find that Chibuike Amaechi was up and performing while not leaving any of these other sectors without proper attention.
His choice to give attention to the train sector showed that he understood how that affected the masses’ comfort. You only needed to take a train to Kaduna – for those who haven’t – in order to understand what our honorable minister has in stock for Nigerians! A man like this deserves more than a sincere approbation of his giant strides!
It is a reason for why he retains the ministry particularly if we realized the fact that even the president – who is also an advocate for the masses himself – knows this quintessential man of the people and his ever-burning love for putting the people first. The Eleme Flyover/Roundabout eased a lot of stress back in Rivers state; remember?
Last year, I got a call from a guy who accused me of seeking cheap publicity after I sent a New Year wish online; who knows what will come after I share this one. I am a lover and a fan of Rt. Hon. Amaechi for the simple reason that he constantly reminds me that politics is not a dirty game but a dress you wear just as you wished to be addressed!
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi is a man I have grown to not dismiss as one of those politicians because I know his heartbeat daily pounds for the masses and for how he could use his position to the benefit of the people. He’ll be 55 years tomorrow. And I know that he’ll love to read this.
I may not have the capacity of renting a page or two from the dailies to express my wish but through which ever means it gets to you; be rest assured it is coming from the heart of love. Your life is indeed an inspiration and a great gift to the good people of Rivers state and Nigeria. You are not just a visionary with great foresights but also a mentor with a strong influence.
As you become a year older, I wish you God’s blessings. I wish you good health and strength. I wish you a stronger passion for the job at hand and above all I wish you the benefit of finding and working with people you can trust and depend on. This is wishing you a happy birthday.
Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Mmoh; an advocate for attitudinal change writes from Abuja. 08062577718.
