George Onah
18 June 2008
Lagos — Governor Rotimi Amaech of Rivers State has told militants and criminals that have committed atrocities in the state that they would not be forgiven or pardoned because it would amount to setting a precedent that people could perpetuate evil and get away with it.
Specifically, he said he would never negotiate with those who have created so much pain and heartache for residents of the state and that they would be made to account for every of their criminality. Announcing the position of the government on the societal misfits in Port Harcourt , yesterday, he was of the view that "Rivers children will think it is nice to do what the criminals are doing and tomorrow seek for pardon".
"There is no way the state government would sit down and talk to criminals who are sabotaging the socio-economic growth of the state", he said. Amaechi who spoke at a cocktail and dinner party at the instance of Air France KLM at Le Meridian Ogeyi Place stated further that, "so I believe let everyone pay for his actions. Once everyone is accountable for his actgions the next man will know that if he does a similar thing, he will be punished." He then assured KLM, which celebrated its resumption of international flight from Port Harcourt, that the government would put all necessary security facilities in place to protect the business community.
Still on the security situation, he said "before I became governor, there were shootings on the streets of Port Harcourt , but I took steps on assumption of office and all that seized". He also revealed that prior to his administration; bunkering was very high, but that it has reduced drastically The reduction in bunkering, he explained, has resulted in Rivers State receiving a major increase in its allocation to the extent that the state got an all time high allocation of N37 billion last month. He praised Air France for not abandoning Rivers State , even when flight operations were suspended in Port Harcourt , and pledged the people's preparedness to partner with the airline at all times On his part, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jean-Michel Dumond, described the resumption of flight operations to Port Harcourt by Air France as a sign of confidence in the country, noting that the French Government has decided to build a strategic partnership with Nigeria in a bid to strengthen the co-operation between both countries.
Dumond gave kudos to Amaechi for the immeasurable assistance he had accorded the resumption of international flight operations from Port-Harcourt, pointing out that his positive attitude was a sign of confidence in the state, Niger Delta and Nigeria at large. The Ambassador reasoned that in spite of the economic recession in the Niger Delta, due largely to youth restiveness, the French economic interests in the area had increased, and assured that the bilateral ties between France and Nigeria will bring good tidings to the state. Also, the Vice President, Africa & Middle East of Air France, Mr. Etienne Rachou, commended Amaechi and other stakeholders in the aviation sector for making it possible for the airline to resume international flights from Port Harcourt . Describing Port Harcourt as a key destination world wide, Rachou expressed happiness that Air France was the first airline to identify the patronage of the destination, and has also become the first to resume international flight operating from Port Harcourt .
He expressed the wish of the organization to support the efforts of the civil aviation authorities to improve the facilities at the Port Harcourt Airport , adding that they were important for night operation.
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