Amaechi Tells Off Okonjo-Iweala For Undermining Health Of Rivers State People

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has called on the House of Representatives to summon the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to seek clarification on the seizure of the World Bank and African Development Bank (ADB) loans approved by the National Assembly for the provision of potable drinking water for Rivers.
Amaechi said this during a meeting with the House Committee on Water Resources and Executive Directors of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Amaechi stated that “the people who are dying and deprived of the potable drinking water are Rivers people who don’t have water in their homes.”
He noted that the Rivers Government fulfilled all requirements to receive and benefit from the loan scheme with the World Bank and ADB. Besides, he added, the National Assembly approved it, and the State is at the point of release of the funds for execution of the water projects.
But, according to the Govenor, Okonjo-Iweala has refused to allow the release of the funds.

"It is embarrassing, completely embarrassing for somebody who has been Managing Director of World Bank to neglect the impact water has on the citizenry," Amaechi said.

He stated that his administration was ready to allow the Minister of Finance award the contract to any person of her choice to provide potable drinking water for the citizenry in the state.

"Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is using her position to undermine the safety and health of the people of Rivers State. I can’t afford to give all Rivers people bottled water, but all I can assure you is to ensure the provision of potable drinking water, and the Minister of Finance has refused to release it and I think, I should put that before you [House Committee on Water Resources]. They want Rivers people to die. We can do an assessment of people who have been infected of water borne diseases if she wants to do that, so she can see what she is doing to Rivers people," Amaechi noted.

In turn, the State Chief Executive explained the potential dangerous implications behind the seizure of the funds by the Minister of Finance
Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aliyu Ahman Pategi, said the Committee is in the State as part of its over-sight functions to verify the execution of various water projects.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53432.html