Rotimi Amaechi

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has volunteered to assist in the education of school children who may be rescued by from the Boko Haram free of charge. In an interview with TheNEWS, he said: “As the Rivers State Governor, I am willing to assist to take any of the missing school children or as many as we can negotiate into our schools free of charge”. He however lamented that the Federal Government dropped his suggestions on how to end Boko Haram. In his words: “At one of the National Economic Council meetings, I remember suggesting that each state government across the country should contribute one per cent of monthly allocation that would be managed by a commission made up of incorruptible Nigerians drawn from the North. The fund would be ploughed into massive agriculture and education… The suggestion was approved but later dumped.”

He made other revelations on different issues. Samplers:

• For me, I have said over and over that the solution to Boko Haram does not rest in the military. It rests in education and agriculture.
• If we do not want them to eat us, then we must start now to utilise the available resources available to the state, to empower people, create opportunities for Nigerians
• I have nothing against the Protestants, the born-again churches. I support them. Even though people criticise them for the material tendencies that emanate from their preaching, you must realise that they are also avenues for employment.

Read full interview in the coming edition of TheNEWS Magazine