The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State chapter says it receives the report of Governor Amaechi’s directive to the managements of some State- owned tertiary institutions to collect equal amount of school fees from both indigenes and non-indigene students as politically motivated and another ruse.
The PDP believes that while there is nothing wrong with giving all citizens of the country equal consideration and privileges, particularly where one stays and offers his or her constitutional obligations, the Party is worried about the timing and palpable failure in the execution of the decision as it is obvious that the Governor only made such statement to win the non- indigene students and their parents’ support for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It is also evident that Amaechi, in his usual characteristic, was playing to the gallery, and will never translate such decision into action as he deliberately gave the directive when the affected students have paid their respective fees for this academic semester. Why didn’t he take such decision at the time the students were under pressure to register to pay their fees?
Again, Governor Amaechi had been in office for over seven years. The issue of privileges and special considerations for native students over non indigene students had been there all these years he has been Governor and Visitor to the various institutions in the State. Our concern therefore, is that if he (Amaechi) is that magnanimous and genuine in his latest action, why must he wait until now that political campaign has started, when he and his APC folks, whose actions frustrated them from the Peoples Democratic Party, now employ all antics and gimmicks in trying to coax the people in joining them?
In like manner, considering the fact that Amaechi will certainly vacate his seat in May 2015 when the students of the affected schools are expected to register again for the commencement of their second semester in June 2015, and when the policy is also to take effect, is it not the incoming Governor that will actually carry out such government policy? Can one therefore say Amaechi, who took such decision meant to execute it himself? The meaning of this is that Governor Amaechi has only taken a decision that would be implemented by the incoming government, not his. That is the ruse of an insincere man who claims to be a saint.
The PDP therefore, challenges Governor Amaechi to demonstrably commit himself to his latest decision on students’ fees by refunding all monies paid by the affected students. In our view, the refunds should take effect from the first year he (Amaechi) resumed as Governor of the State. Otherwise, the Party and the people will continue to treat him as a loosed-canon, a dishonest man and deceptive fellow.
The Party also advises the students not to believe Governor Amaechi’s promise, as it will amount to nothing as long as he is still in-charge as Governor, assuring that the incoming PDP government will address their plight and bring normalcy to the various academic institutions in the State.
Signed:
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser, on Media to
State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah
Wednesday, November 26, 2014.
