…Frightened of a Transportation Ministry without Amaechi***
Some truths in the overall interest of fairness should be false! For, if it actually turns out to be true, that our Minister of Transportation, the dynamic God fearer, Rotimi Amaechi could be changed or replaced in the post 2019 Presidential Election euphoria, wouldn’t it be rather saddening eye-opening development?!
I love the Minister, not only because he is truly stunningly handsome, but for his bold, gregarious disposition to life! He is not afraid to make mistakes; and of course he committed several blunder. But the most Wonderful thing about him is that one is never in doubt about knowing where he stands on any issue!
Did he say the Maritime University, Okerenkoko would be guilotined and permanently snuffed out? They said he did. He was widely quoted as saying so, neither his Ministry, nor the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) denied it; until the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo indicated otherwise; because there was need to pacify the Niger Delta youths whose uncanny penchant for cannibalizing the strategic petroleum pipelines was beginning to adversely affect output!
He said he would not allowed the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF) to be disbursed. Even for a reason as lame as a similar bailout fund disbursed to stakeholders in the Aviation Sector was abused!
Till date, under various rationalization theories, the Cabotage fund, well over $150 million had not been disbursed. Several companies who should have benefited from the funds have died, throwing poor Nigerians into the labour market! Even though the funds unlike the abused one in the Aviation Sector was not a bailout, but an ‘esusu’ directly contributed by the Shipowners remained in the locker.
STATED by Amaechi at the 2017 Shipowners dinner in Lagos: “The issue is that I will not release that fund even if I would be removed tomorrow as the Minister of Transportation.
“Why should I release the fund? We gave over N300 billion to owners and business men in Aviation industry; some took N32 billion, N35 billion, and they disappeared!
“Some took the money to go and build a bank, in Ghana and Sao Tome; and nothing has happened! Nothing!” the Minister indicated,
My genuine fear now? What will happen if another ‘less careful’ Minister turns up tomorrow, opens up Amaechi’s locked strongrooms and pour out the CVFF funds??
Of course, he would naturally also poach away the current Minister’s glory?
Solution? Open till today, review modalities today, and disburse the CVFF without further delay. Even if that may still fail to fully pacify those already sacked; it would at least stop further drifts into the labour market!
I love Amaechi! Yet, for two reasons, I may not readily forgive him: First, he inaugurated the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) cadets training scheme, seriously raised the hopes of the Nigerian youths; and thereafter took to politics. Perhaps, he saw the scheme as SOAN’s headache. Too bad.
Secondly, based on his prompting that he was opened to genuine advice that could grow the industry, a crew of the Maritime First swooped on Port Harcourt and identified a body of professionals, crack ship builders, already building single and double hull barges and tugs and on which Nigeria could have coordinated to create its future ship building industry. A comprehensive report was made; the Minister was called and the issue was discussed. Amaechi asked that the details be forwarded after the discussion into his email. Pronto, the details were emailed, few minutes later. Amaechi neither acknowledged nor did anything about it.
The prospect and future of the APC as a party would definitely have been different, if Amaechi had a strong, robust and enterprising group like the Port Harcourt Ship Building Group coordinated by the Minister to challenge Governor Wike during the February 23rd and March 9th 2019 Elections in River State.
Anyway, why cry over spilt milk??
In the meantime, would the Presidency kindly appeal to the Ministers, majority of which have grounded their dynamism and government initiatives over fear and pursuits of being reappointed, instead of being dropped in Buhari’s Second Coming, after May 29th.
Suddenly, the passion and vigour by which issues of electricity Pre-paid Metres were pursued before elections had wane?
Does that mean that until a Minister is reappointed, he stops being one, all because an election was held?
Do we still have anyone holding the portfolio of the Minister of Communication? Is anyone still doing anything in respect of the pledge to enable Ibadan people use the Chinese fast train to come to Lagos and go back same day?
We need to increase our fervent prayers for Nigeria, if this is the best that our Minister, once after Elections their very own party won, could offer President Muhammadu Buhari!
What audacity? Does the tenure of a Minister expire once an election is over? We thought they were all honest, selfless Souls, selected to deliver on a given pledge?
Meanwhile, let’s continue to pray for Nigeria!
May the President live forever!!
