As governor, i stayed awake for Rivers people to sleep, says Amaechi

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi

Former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has listed security of lives and property of Rivers people and human capital development were his key achievements while in office between 2007 and 2015.

Amaechi also said as governor, he did not sleep, while tackling insecurity, so that the people could sleep with their two eyes closed.

Speaking yesterday with newsmen yesterday in his Abuja residence, the minister recalled that at the time he assumed office in 2007, the security situation in the state was so bad and terrible that residents lived in palpable fear of their lives, despite heavy military presence, which forced people to raise their hands while walking on the streets of Port Harcourt.

He stated: “There was curfew. I had to make sure that the curfew ended. Killings, kidnappings and all forms of criminality were everywhere in the state.

“I took away the soldiers from the streets, because I provided social and physical security. I enhanced the wage bill of the Police Force by paying them allowances and all that was to protect the citizens, and I created opportunities for people to get employed.

“I confronted those insecurity challenges and brought back hope and sanity to the state. I worked tirelessly with the security agencies and ensured that people could move freely and do their businesses without fear or molestation.

“Businesses started springing up again in all parts of the state and people could go to night clubs and live free, peaceful lives.

“I stayed awake and fought insecurity to a standstill for Rivers people to sleep.”

He added: “I also focused on what I call social security, including creating employment for the people, as the responsibility of government is to provide legitimate economy. The day you don’t provide legitimate economy for the people, they will provide for themselves illegitimate economy.

“What is illegitimate economy? Armed robbery, kidnapping, theft, etc.”

The minister said the present security situation in the state has worsened under Governor Nyesom Wike, as people were now been kidnapped on a daily basis, as against the successes achieved by his administration.