His words: “There is no country in the world that there are three federating units; there are only two all over the world. Why should you say that there must be third federating unit in Nigeria?”
The governor stated emphatically that autonomy for the local governments should not be a constitutional issue.
He said: “Of course yes, let a state governor or let the states create as many local governments as they want to create. Don’t put it there as a constitutional issue. For instance you are accusing some governors of mismanaging resources, how? I have given example in Rivers State where not only do they (local governments) collect their money directly, they collect my N2 billion monthly as extra fund. Ask them. I pay the salaries of all their teachers and that is N2 billion per month if you take away that one, my wage bill will come down to N6 billion per month. I can’t beat that.”
Amaechi also denied accusation that the state governors are frustrating the ongoing constitution review.
Senator Smart Adeyemi had accused the state governors of frustrating the constitution review.
But the governor described this as untrue.
Amaechi said: “You want me to reply to all what people say on all subjects? No. The NGF is too big to begin to reply everybody. If this person says this, then we reply, another person says something again. We won’t dignify these people with a response.
“Just tell me one role the governors are playing in the process. Are they legislative arm of government? That question does not require an answer because what he is saying is that the governors have constituted themselves into state Assemblies and the National Assembly too.”
When told that the governors have overbearing influence on the legislators to frustrate the constitution review, Amaechi fired back: “We have absolutely no influence on the legislators. Did you watch 2012 budget presentation of Rivers State to the House of Assembly? My Speaker blasted me openly and as he finished, we sat in the Government House and ate food together. Many people were shocked seeing us eating together. I said there was no quarrel that he was only playing his role as a Speaker.
“He blasted me, saying that ‘you are doing well, you have so many projects that you are doing but you are not completing them; you have to complete them and consolidate them and stop this expansion of projects. I said thank you sir, I came home and rested. If I controlled the House would he have said that?”
Source: OgoniNews
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