Passion for humanity, unrelenting drive for development and imaginative leadership have been identified as the hallmarks of the man Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State as he clocks 54.

 

Two Commissioners who served in his administration, George Tolofari and Chamberlain Peterside told Kristina Reports that they have no regrets serving with him and would repeat same if the opportunity presents itself.

 

Amaechi became Governor of Rivers State in 2007 after a long drawn battle to reclaim his mandate gotten through his party’s governorship primary which he won. His eight years in office was characterized by massive developmental strides cutting across every sector.

 

Rivers State government under him scaled up social impact by building over 250 primary healthcare centres and over 500 model primary schools across the State.

The administration also boosted the human capital development of the State by sponsoring over 10,000 indigent students overseas to study in the best schools abroad for undergraduate and post graduate courses.

 

George Tolofari, who was Commissioner for Transport then, told Kristina Reports that Amaechi good-naturedness is legendary but he is generally misunderstood, noting that his sterling virtues remain selflessness and forthrightness.

Hear him: “Amaechi is a nice person but mostly misunderstood by a lot of people because of his outspokenness. But again, that is who Amaechi is, he likes to court controversies. If you really know him or are close to him you will see a selfless individual that means well for the Nigerian State”.

 

“I’ve been friends with him even before we found ourselves in politics and government. I seconded his nomination for Speaker. We were very close allies while in the Assembly”.

 

 

On his part, Chamberlain Peterside, the then Commissioner for Finance, identified Amaechi’s unrelenting zeal and passion and creativity as the key features that characterized his leadership style.

“First experience was the unrelenting zeal and drive to get things done – when Amaechi wants something done he wants it now. Second, is the passion to do a lot on different fronts – including several investments on infrastructure, education, healthcare and security – within the short tenure of office. Wasting time is repulsive to him.”

 

Tolofari, who managed the conceptualization and construction of the Rivers monorail project, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given him by the erstwhile Governor to serve his State.

 

“When he became Governor of Rivers State, he graciously appointed me Commissioner of Transport and mooted the idea of a Rivers monorail project which we funded 100 per cent from the coffers of the State Government.”

 

“Unfortunately, we were unable to complete that project before we exited government. My only regret remains that we were unable to complete the monorail project. If we were to relive our times in office, we’ll definitely do things differently today by involving foreign investors to partner with us in such humongous projects.”

 

He maintained that “I support him then, I support him now and will continue to support him after now because he means well for Nigeria”.

 

Peterside equally declared that he had no regrets working with Amaechi.

 

“Absolutely, no regrets, as I have always maintained in my several rebuttals to frivolous allegations of financial malfeasance because governance is a continuum”.

 

He advised successive administrations to consolidate on the achievements of Amaechi and focus on the wellbeing of Rivers people.

 

“My only wish is for the successive government to continue from where Amaechi stopped in the greater good of Rivers people”.

 

The Amaechi led administration saw to the upgrade of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency with a mandate to drive development through human capital development, agriculture, poverty eradication, rural development.

 

The RSSDA, aside managing in sync with the State Scholarship Board under the erudite literary icon, Elechi Amadi, also developed the DADTCO Farm, Etche LGA, Songhai Farm, Bunu-Tai, Gokana LGA, Banana Farm in Tai LGA, amongst others. These farms provided jobs for over 10,000 people from across the State.

In terms of job creation, the Amaechi administration employed in one fell swoop 13,000 teachers to improve the teaching staff across the State, among other achievements in human capital development.