Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor and state coordinator of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Dr. Tex Wariboko, has said Governor Rotimi Amaechi's commitment to good governance was the reason why he has been scored high by world renowned credit rating agencies.
Wariboko in a statement said: “Rivers State has been rated high in the past couple of years by Standard & Poors and Fitch Rating Agency (two of the foremost world renowned credit rating agencies) primarily as a result of Governor Amaechi's leadership and governance approach.”
He stated that the governor has exhibited the tents of good governance-transparency, accountability, openness, fiscal responsibility, equity and rule of law, “which incidentally satisfy the African union-Good Governance initiative under the New Partnership for Africa's Development.”
According to him, “Governor Amaechi has performed at a premium level. In addition to the significant development strides in education, healthcare, power, transport, road and bridges, water, energy, environment, etc, the governor has embarked on poverty reduction strategies in compliance with the United Nations and African Union strategic frame works.
“Indeed, no state can experience real development without good governance practices. The Amaechi administration is transforming Rivers State by bringing about positive change which is evident in the nooks and crannies of the state and bound to improve the general welfare and quality of lives of the people.”
Wariboko said Amaechi has been able to run a responsible and responsive government in Rivers because of the legal frameworks and mechanisms that he put in place, citing the procurement and the fiscal responsibility bills that he caused the state legislature to pass into laws.
He said the governor had created opportunities for members of the public to scrutinise him on issues of financial accountability, explaining that he has been holding town hall meetings where every official of government is made to account.
According to him, “Governor Amaechi has really exhibited the principles and qualities that NEPAD helped to promulgate and so in good governance area, I know people compare governor to governor all the time and I don't want to sound biased but in area of good governance, I don't really think there is any other governor in the whole of the federation that has done that much.
“Even the fact that he goes to Town Hall meetings and give account. He makes sure that he calls his commissioners, his representatives, government agents to account and tell the people the truth. He allows the communities to have an input.”