A valuable human society depends upon the right for development given to
it. We must ever urge for this sincere and honest and positive inherent
urge for spreading out and growth. Mahatma Gandhi would say that constant
development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his
dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.
Without such demolition as we are experiencing in certain areas of Rivers
State, the Europe-like development many people want to see in Africa will
be a tall dream. In earnest, development is very good but it all depends on
how we are developing and who is developing us. This is why everybody must
commend Governor Chibuike Amaechi of the state in his efforts to seeing
that people are relieved of a life of shacks and squalor.
Without mincing words, as the number one person in Rivers State, people
should advise the governor on the kind of job to do at the affected areas,
and not to drag him to the mud. Most people are opposed to even the genuine
position of the state government. Why? Whether we are opposition or
critics, we must have a conscience to praise Amaechi where he is getting it
right and admonish him where he may be going astray. This does not make one
a double-speaker. We must understand that things must change for people to
also change. Whether Amaechi has “moral justification to embark on further
demolition of structures in the state” as was a speculation or not, at
least, everybody knows that he has the supporting justification, which
gives him the power to duty. Can he also be asked if he has the democratic
justification?
However, this demolition should not be seen as disruption of the affected
residents if we must go by the land Decree of 1978. Does the government no
longer own the land and can use it as at when wished? What we must tell
Aamechi is to caution those he always assigns most of the contracts to,
because some of them do very poor jobs. And this is giving him a worst name
and reputation. Observations without being bias will attest that Amaechi is
really out to make a difference but certain persons or groups only collect
money and abandon the reason the money was meant. So, accusing Amaechi of
gross misappropriation of the resources at his disposal is a high-talk. But
he needs to be cautioned because it seemed that he was not cautioning his
lieutenants.
Notwithstanding, Amaechi should caution himself. He should avoid a
situation where he is now seen as a governor with many works without
motion. He was once vibrant and people applauded him in respect to that
except on certain areas where critics admonished him and the opposition was
opposed to him.
It is rational to continue with the demolition works as far as they meet
the rights of the occupants of the affected areas. He should also not allow
contactors to abandon work in the areas after a strenuous demolition. He
should meet works and words with action. Amaechi should create avenues
where the demolitions will not affect the economic activities and social
life of the people. We would use this opportunity to say that he should be
much concerned with road constructions especially in Oyigbo. There are
roads there, but no pliable ones. Amaechi should in a nutshell listen to
Barack Obama: This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open
markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been
a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able
to sustain this growth if it favors the few, and not the many.
