Imoke Flayed For Buying N13 Billion Aircraft

Chika Otuchikere15 October 2011
The Civic Duties Awareness Initiative (CIDAI), has condemned the Cross River State government over the purchase of a N13 billion 'dead' aircraft from the Rivers State government.

CIDAI's executive director, Mr. Emmanuel Ulayi, also accused the governor of and insensitivity in the face of dire poverty and massive suffering of Cross Riverians, especially following heavy flooding in some parts of the state.

Ulayi bemoaned the wasting of over N13billion in buying a 'Tokunbo', scrappy aircraft from the Rivers State government when social services was ground to a halt with rising unemployment.

Gov. Rotimi Amaechi had in an interview Tuesday, disclosed that he had sold one of his three aircraft to Imoke for N13billion and was using the money to build a minimum of 10 primary schools in his state.

According to the statement, at a time other state governors were thinking of how to empower their people economically and educationally, Imoke was more concerned with his personal comfort and that of his family.

He also expressed fears that with the revelation by Amaechi that the smallness of the plane was dangerous to fly in given climatic factors, "it would not be out of place to state that

Gov. Imoke was on a mission of group suicide and place unnecessary burden on the state's finances."

The executive director further lamented that the Imoke government is the only state to abandon its citizens to their fate in Borno with many of them losing all their sources of livelihood and turned into beggers in Abuja with no tangible assistance from the state government.

He added that the plight of the Borno escapees was further worsened by the fact that the state liaison office-operational.

Speaking further, Ulayi criticised the governor for not making strong argument for more ministerial slots for the state despite the fact that Cross River state was the first state to support President Goodluck Jonathan.

http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201110160092.html

, jet wahala, whos the fool here?

I think there's a serious problem with the judgement capability of some of these politicians masquerading as leaders in Nigeria.

This is the same man that is asking for subsidy to be removed so that govt can have more money, maybe the man is eyeing some of gadaffi's properties this time

tunde300us:

This is the same man that is asking for subsidy to be removed so that govt can have more money, maybe the man is eyeing some of gadaffi's properties this time

If na fashola or Aregbesola buy plane,heaven for don fall by now.Useless pdp governor !

Amaechi is going to use 13 billion naira to build 10 primary schools? Haba, that is 130million Naira per school, kilode, let him take it easy now.

because we despise d rubbish happenin in d country doesn't mean evryone shd close our eyes to falsehood;Imoke can never buy an aircraft wt N13b frm anoda state govt in nigerian,its not in d nature of nigerian politics,he wud rather av bought it abroad;to gv further lie to d story;Amaechi is reported to hav sed d aircraft he supposedly sold to a sister state is not airworthy in certain climactic conditions,haba.

He should buy all of Ameachi's airplanes and turn it into Calabar Airlines to get tourists from China, Japan, Korea, Europe, South America, Africa and Americas to visit Tinapa. THis can be a big business plan and gain the city lots of money and employment. He shouldn't use it for his personal self.

My arithmetic was even wrong, it is 1.3 billion naira per school, o ga o.

Of what use is the plane to the state at this stage of our nationhood ? Dis guy behaves like someone who lives in the moon sometimes.

In general, how do Cross Rivers folk feel about Imoke's tenure?

hercules07:

My arithmetic was even wrong, it is 1.3 billion naira per school, o ga o.

What if those primary schools have airconditioned buses to ferry the students to and from school and are also ultra-modern and equipped with computers? Many of you will continue to mope, gawk and make uninformed noises while the ND states morph into a paradise. Levels don change, bro.

Not surprised.
Can't be surprised , anymore

why are u people condenming the man. . .can't a governor fly to the rest of the 35 states 2 see wht's going on in one day?

I no longer think that there is light at the end of this tunnel called Nigeria

Beaf:

What if those primary schools have airconditioned buses to ferry the students to and from school and are also ultra-modern and equipped with computers? Many of you will continue to mope, gawk and make uninformed noises while the ND states morph into a paradise. Levels don change, bro.

No wonder they call you "Accursed". N1.3BN per school and you see nothing wrong in it. Air conditioned buses? Jeez! where are you from, so that is our priority now ? Even if they buy bullet proof buses per school, will they expend that much on a school? You are part of problem.

Beaf:

What if those primary schools have airconditioned buses to ferry the students to and from school and are also ultra-modern and equipped with computers? Many of you will continue to mope, gawk and make uninformed noises while the ND states morph into a paradise. Levels don change, bro.

u need help, Why dont u include ultra modern toilets in these schools. where robots will have to UnCloth u to shit. Or d buses u mentioned are going to be powered by diamond fuel?

gentlegg:

I no longer think that there is light at the end of this tunnel called Nigeria

nigeria is in a pit and der is no light at d end of a pit

llbhuds:

u need help,  Why dont u include ultra modern toilets in these schools. where robots will have to UnCloth u to poo. Or d buses u mentioned are going to be powered by diamond fuel?

1stCitizen:

No wonder they call you "Accursed". N1.3BN per school and you see nothing wrong in it. Air conditioned buses? Jeez! where are you from, so that is our priority now ? Even if they buy bullet proof buses per school, will they expend that much on a school? You are part of problem.

You only display your unfortunate morals when you go personal and avoid issues. Make an argument backed by facts or shut up. I'm quite tired of the sentimental nutcases that are streaming into NL these days.

llbhuds:

u need help,  Why dont u include ultra modern toilets in these schools. where robots will have to UnCloth u to poo. Or d buses u mentioned are going to be powered by diamond fuel?

lmao

Optimus Prime will wipe the yansh of every student pooing in these schools:

Beaf:

You only display your unfortunate morals when you go personal and avoid issues. Make an argument backed by facts or shut up. I'm quite tired of the sentimental nutcases that are streaming into NL these days.

Accursed,

Make an argument you say? True talk, the only problem is when doing so you direct it at sane people.Unfortunately your comment does not depict you as one.

Beaf:

You only display your unfortunate morals when you go personal and avoid issues. Make an argument backed by facts or shut up. I'm quite tired of the sentimental nutcases that are streaming into NL these days.

does saying d truth makes one sentimental dis days?
no come dey blow grammar without knowin d meaning here joor
is he going to build any schl better dan the ones built by speb those days?

Amechi must be wicked to have sold a scrap jet @ that price.The buyer Gov. is worst.

llbhuds:

does saying d truth makes one sentimental dis days?
no come dey blow grammar without knowin d meaning here joor
is he going to build any schl better dan the ones built by speb those days?

When did sentiment become the truth? Ol' boy go and school yourself.

All I see here is rampant foolishness, jealousy and sentiment in place of logic.
Nobody is questioning the fact that Rivers state can afford 3 of such aircraft (one of which has been sold); I guess it is because most states produce nothing aside what they can beg off the FG, also many of us do not travel so we think our dismal local realities extend across the all of the country. It isn't so, poverty levels are relative from state to state and regardless of what you think (aside Bayelsa), poverty levels in the SS are about the lowest in the country.

Go ahead, derail the thread as usual, yes you I am refering to you!!!

Like I rightly said, U need help. Case closed

I wonder why some folk wouldn't ask themselves the more pertinent question about what wealth their own home states generate and why they cannot afford to buy a single aircraft? The answer will go a long way to solving every last issue that is stalling Nigeria's development.

insensitive governor. why private jet?

$8.2 million dollars/ Naira 1.3 Billion for a school? I mean it makes sense if you are building a really modern campus (include hostels, mess halls, etc). But I doubt the plan in this case is anywhere close to that.

[size=14pt]Ultra-modern UBE school projects in Rivers inspire other state governments[/size]
On March 3, 2011 · In Education
By Dayo Adesulu


Dame Alice Lawren Nemi, Commissioner For Education

The maiden quarterly summit involving the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) from all over the country, which recently held in Port Harcourt, turned out to be an eye-opener for most state governments in the country.

During the four-day meeting, the visiting SUBEB Chairmen had the golden opportunity of seeing for themselves the ultra-modern primary and junior secondary schools that earned the award of the best SUBEB in the South-South geo-political zone for Rivers State last year.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, who led his management team on the inspection tour of some of the project sites in the state was particularly fascinated by the modern school buildings which are equipped with state-of –the-art facilities, describing the State Model Primary School, Elekahia, State Model Primary Schools in Ebubu, Eelme as well as the UBE Model Primary Schools at Orominike, Ndele, Evekwu and in many other communities across the state as amongst the best in the world.

Equally commended by the UBEC boss is the modern UBE Model Secondary School, Rumuopraeli which has hostel facility where only two students are accommodated in a room. This impressed him so much that he asked the Rivers SUBEB to showcase these infrastructure to the world through a documentary, asking other SUBEB Chairmen to take a cue from the sundry accomplishments of their host.

The quarterly meeting between the management team of UBEC and SUBEBs, which is to be rotated among the states of the federation, is to enable UBEC have an on the spot assessment of UBE projects of states as well as to see the challenges facing the SUBEBs rather than rely alone on the reports of officers specially designated to monitor and evaluate UBE programmes in the country. It is also meant to provide a platform for Executive Chairman of SUBEBs to compare strategic and tactical notes on the management of UBE programme, to constantly review progress in basic education delivery in order to do justice to the UBE mandate as well as to deal with other issues of interest that could ensure improved performance in basic education delivery by SUBEBS, Local Government Education Authorities and Schools.

While making his welcome remarks, the Executive Chairman of Rivers SUBEB Sir Alli Oruitemeka said the state has adopted a Total School Concept that involves the construction of 750 Model 14 Classroom Block schools equipped with state-of-the-art. Information and Technology as well as laboratory equipment. He added that as at October last year, the construction of 125 Model Schools had been completed while another 350 are close to completion, the totality of which will provide accommodation for more than 250,00 pupils at 30 pupils per classroom.

Oruitemeka, whose Board was inaugurated on July 24, 2009, gave kudos to Governor Rotimi Amaechi for declaring a state of emergency in the state’s education sector in 2007 shortly after he was sworn in, adding that the near total collapse of the school system caused by dilapidated infrastructure, low personnel morale and lack of commitment by pupils goaded the governor to take that step.

The state SUBEB boss commended Governor Amaechi for releasing to UBEC last year the counterpart funds for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 which enabled the state government to access Federal Government intervention funds from UBEC, explaining that these funds are now being utilized for the construction and equipping of additional 23 Model Schools of 14 classrooms all over the local government areas of the state. These schools, according to him, will be exact prototype of the Model Primary School at Elekahia, adding that Rivers State may be considered a model of the UBE programme.

Apart from the payment of the state’s counterpart funds and the construction of modern school buildings, says Oruitemeka, the other emergency measures taken by the governor which have turned around the state’s education sector include the taking over of payment of salaries and allowances of teaching and non-teaching staff at the basic level, liquidation of salary arrears and leave bonuses and the provision of durable and comfortable pupils’ and teachers’ furniture.

He says further: “In order to give effect to the goal of free education for all at the basic education level Governor Amaechi in October last year also instituted a programme of providing free school uniforms, sandals and books to pupils. On the part of the Board, we have intensified monitoring and evaluation of teaching and learning, restructured and merged schools for greater efficiency, carried out needs based training programmes for both teaching and non-teaching staff; provided teaching aids and consumables in schools and executed achievement tests for pupils”. Speaking in the same vein, Hon.

Lucky Worluh, a Permanent Member 1 of Rivers SUBEB, the Board did not only concentrate on equipping the schools with textbooks and instructional materials but also carried out a merger of the schools to ensure that they are efficiently and effectively run. Thus, from the 1,077 schools which it inherited in 2009 from its predecessor, the Board reduced them to a manageable 868 schools.

As part of restructuring of basic schools and their operations in the state, Worluh said that the appointment of head teachers, principals and their deputies was streamlined using standards of justice and fairness based on seniority, explaining that this was followed by numerous workshops for building the capacity of the personnel.

These workshops, says the Board Member 1, include that of effective teaching of English Language, Introductory Technology, Mathematics and Science; workshop on role of school-based management committee on self-help projects/JSS systems; workshop on basic computer training for primary school teachers; enhancing pedagogical skills for Jss1-3 teachers and that of professional development workshop for primary school teachers.

Training workshop for JSS teachers of English based on the new curriculum for JSS 1-3, two workshops on the Millennium Development Goals, workshop for newly appointed supervisors covering innovative methodology in quality curriculum delivery and effective record keeping and scheduled quarterly supervision of schools were also organized by the Board in the last 18 months with the state Ministry of Education under the commissionership of Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi complementing the Board’s capacity training program by forging a deal with the British Council on the training of teachers and managers of education in the state.

Within six months of its inauguration, the headquarters of the state’s Board was similarly restructured into various departments including Academic Services, Quality Assurance, Social Mobilization, Planning, Research and Statistics, Special Projects, Finance and Accounts, Junior Secondary, Primary, Early Child Care Development Education and Administration and Supplies.

The restructuring of the Board, according to Oruitemeka¸ is to position it to achieve its objectives of managing primary and junior secondary schools in the state, provide guidelines and estimates on the establishment of new schools and capital projects, liaise with other bodies and co-ordinate the implementation of UBE related activities in the state amongst others.

Worluh also revealed that the Board gives priority attention to building teachers’ capacity, especially to empower them in the area of implementation of the 9-year Basic Education Curriculum, he says, while over 2,000 others have undergone training organized by the National Teachers Institute.

Speaking at the event which held at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Amaechi said his government spent about N70 billion on education alone last year, saying that the expenditure is expected to increase this year. He reiterated his administration’s determination to provide free, qualitative education for Rivers indigents.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/ultra-modern-ube-school-projects-in-rivers-inspire-other-state-governments/

so easy 2 blame d north 4 dia under development and lootin dia oyel money. Until u hold ur governors truly accountable, they wil continue dia blame game of lackin true federalism and resource control

Anyone live in Cross River to confirm that any of these model schools have been completed, and probably get us some pictures of these MODERN WONDERS? I read that there are 250 already completed as of October last year, so it is safe to say these schools are not hiding in some bushes in that state.


Calling all Cross State State residents, get your cameras out and announce these model schools to the world by clicking and posting them online for all to see.