Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has been commended for coming up with a realistic budget for the 2014 fiscal year and for its successful presentation before the State House of Assembly yesterday in Port Harcourt.

Interim Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief (Dr.) Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, made the commendation in a statement issued this afternoon in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Ikanya described the budget estimate of N485.5 billion as one of realism and a good example to the Federal Government and other State Governors since there is no need deceiving the public by making unrealistic promises.

“The 2014 budget is 0.98 per cent lower than the 2013 budget of N490.32 billion, which shows a lot of wisdom in view of the reality of steadily declining revenue to the state due to the wicked ceding of some of the oil wells of Rivers State to neighbouring states of Baylesa, Abia and Akwa Ibom by the Public Deceiving PDP led Federal Government and mismanagement of the oil sector by the Federal Government and the massive corruption that has drastically cut what is available to be shared by the federating states,” he said.

Dr. Ikanya also commended the decision by the Amaechi administration to focus on completing of ongoing projects rather than embarking on new projects that may never be completed due to unavailability of resources. He at the same time praised the administration’s decision to give priority attention to Health, Education, Roads, Transport, Power, Water, Agriculture and other critical infrastructure, noting that these are areas of critical importance to the people of the state.

The State APC Interim Chairman extended the party’s appreciation to Speaker Otelemaba Dan-Amachree and other members of the State House of Assembly for their decision to temporarily relocate the sitting of the Assembly to the old Auditorium of Government House in view of the barricading of the Assembly Complex by the police acting on orders from Abuja.

“This is another demonstration of the doctrine of necessity for which the lawmakers should be commended. While we look forward to the reopening of the Assembly Complex presently under siege, it would be wrong to bring governance to a halt because, in the final analysis, it is the masses who will suffer for it and not Governor Amaechi as an individual,” Ikanya stated.

He commended the lawmakers for speedily debating and passing the budget into law as this will enable the wheel of government run without undue encumbrances.

Dr. Ikanya lambasted the Felix Obuah-led PDP in Rivers State for condemning the budget presentation and threatening to frustrate the implementation of the budget. He described Rivers PDP as a “bunch of ignoramuses who exposes their total ignorance of lawmaking shamelessly,” saying: “With the stand of Rivers State PDP on the budget presentation, it once again exposes their hatred for the development of Rivers State, knowing very well that without budget the Government can’t finance most of its projects or pay salaries,” Ikanya said.

“What these ignoramuses and undemocratic fellows in PDP do not understand is that first it is the speaker that designates where the house sits as far as the mace, which is the symbol of authority is present. Otelemaba Amachree as the Head of Legislature in Rivers State designated the venue of sitting in line with his powers. In other words, based on the fact the Rivers State House of Assembly is under siege coupled with the fact it is still under renovation, the House did the proper thing besides the House has powers under the rules and with necessary quorum and number to designate any place as its chambers as in this case,” the Rivers APC Interim Chairman added.

•Photo shows Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (middle), flanked (right) by the Speaker Otelemaba Dan-Amaechree in group photograph with members of Rivers State House of Assembly, and other top government officials.

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