Governor
Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday said Nigeria is gradually sliding back
to the era of dictatorship and praised the country’s media for remaining “the
ray of hope in a dark era.”
Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday said Nigeria is gradually sliding back
to the era of dictatorship and praised the country’s media for remaining “the
ray of hope in a dark era.”
In the
preliminary comments he made before reading his speech at the grand event at
the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel in Lagos, where he was given the Vanguard
Personality of the Year Award, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum,
who has of late been involved in a war of words with President Goodluck Jonathan’s
men, explained that unlike his usual style of speaking extemporally, he decided
to read a prepared speech, because “I am becoming more careful, given that we
are gradually going back to the era of dictatorship in this country.”
preliminary comments he made before reading his speech at the grand event at
the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel in Lagos, where he was given the Vanguard
Personality of the Year Award, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum,
who has of late been involved in a war of words with President Goodluck Jonathan’s
men, explained that unlike his usual style of speaking extemporally, he decided
to read a prepared speech, because “I am becoming more careful, given that we
are gradually going back to the era of dictatorship in this country.”
While
Amaechi was formally presented as Vanguard’s Personality of the Year, 2012, at
the event, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Managing Director of Access Bank,
was also honoured as the runner up.
Amaechi was formally presented as Vanguard’s Personality of the Year, 2012, at
the event, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Managing Director of Access Bank,
was also honoured as the runner up.
According
to an earlier report by Vanguard, the event was designed to highlight Amaechi’s
achievements in the last one year, stating that his “feat in Rivers State has
been lauded by eminent personalities.”
to an earlier report by Vanguard, the event was designed to highlight Amaechi’s
achievements in the last one year, stating that his “feat in Rivers State has
been lauded by eminent personalities.”
The
report also said “he is being honoured for his widely acknowledged
developmental strides which have seen noteworthy improvements in infrastructure
and the impartation of governance on all sectors of the society in Rivers
State.”
report also said “he is being honoured for his widely acknowledged
developmental strides which have seen noteworthy improvements in infrastructure
and the impartation of governance on all sectors of the society in Rivers
State.”
But
responding to praises of his achievements, Amaechi, who dedicated the award to
the people of Rivers State said, “I am just an errand boy. Our understanding of
political power is that power belongs to the voters.”
responding to praises of his achievements, Amaechi, who dedicated the award to
the people of Rivers State said, “I am just an errand boy. Our understanding of
political power is that power belongs to the voters.”
In his
speech, the Chairman of the event, former Military President, General Ibrahim
Babangida, recalled, with passion his friendly relationship with the publisher
of Vanguard, Sam Amuka, pointing out that even during the military era, when
one of the military governors in his regime shut down Vanguard, their
relationship was not destroyed.
speech, the Chairman of the event, former Military President, General Ibrahim
Babangida, recalled, with passion his friendly relationship with the publisher
of Vanguard, Sam Amuka, pointing out that even during the military era, when
one of the military governors in his regime shut down Vanguard, their
relationship was not destroyed.
The
event was a grand party. Nigeria’s pop diva, Omawumi Megbele, Timi Dakolo, Temi
Sax and ace-comedian, Gordons led other top artistes to entertain the audience
made-up of Nigeria’s creme de la creme, including top political leaders like
the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, many state
governors and business leaders like Alhaji Aliyu Dangote.
event was a grand party. Nigeria’s pop diva, Omawumi Megbele, Timi Dakolo, Temi
Sax and ace-comedian, Gordons led other top artistes to entertain the audience
made-up of Nigeria’s creme de la creme, including top political leaders like
the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, many state
governors and business leaders like Alhaji Aliyu Dangote.
Source: The Nation
