Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos and National leader of the All
Progressives Congress, APC on Thursday eulogized Rivers state Governor,
Rotimi Amaechi calling him a ‘General in the Common sense revolution’.
Tinubu delivered the eulogy during the launch of Amaechi’s book, ‘Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years’.
Read Full statement by Tinubu below:
”In the course of the historic campaigns for the 2015
Presidential election I was emphatic that the election itself was a
great opportunity to popularise and test the noble idea of a Common
Sense Revolution in Nigeria. Soon enough we found in the resonance of
the APC Change mantra with the electorate a confirmation that Nigeria
needed a Common Sense Revolution that is non-violent.
”Indeed there is a publication with that title authored by
me in which I argued that Nigeria was ripe for a change of leadership
and Nigerians must act in a Common Sense and rational way in choosing
their leaders. The results of the March Presidential elections and that
of April have demonstrated clearly the desire by Nigerians for change.
”Elections over, both the leaders and citizens must brace up
to meet the challenges required to built a better, more prosperous
nation. Indeed, even as we subscribe to the tenets of Common Sense
Revolution, we must retool ourselves the new leadership must embark on
policies that will improve the general well being of the mass of our
people.
”Permit me to recall here how I once attempted to encapsulate the idea of Common Sense Revolution: “…
”It is a positive one to rescue, repair and restructure the
nation and its institutions in ways that further collective prosperity
and well-being. The only violence that is to be done is to violence,
injustice and poverty themselves. At its essence, a common sense
revolution is a call to return to a level of decency in the relationship
between government and the governed, between each one of us and his
neighbor…” That was at commissioning of people-centred projects on March
23, 2015 in Kano under the leadership of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
”We are here today, because one of the generals in the
Common Sense Revolution Army, Rotimi Amaechi is bold and willing to show
the world what he has achieved in the task to chart the critical path
to total political and economic emancipation of the people whose mandate
he enjoyed for 8 years.
”In my view, our gathering to celebrate the landmark
achievements of my brother, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in Rivers State in
the last eight years is also another justifiable celebration of idea of
Common Sense Revolution for development. The publication of the book,
Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years is a timely service to history.
This occasion is all the more remarkable because of the huge challenges
Amaechi has been facing especially in his second term from an extremely
hostile federal government. His role as the chairman of the Governors’
Forum invariably brought him into a bitter collision with President
Goodluck Jonathan.
”Governor Amaechi and most of the governors want a properly
defined federalist relationship with the government at the centre. The
President would have none of that as in the notable example of the
management of the federation account. This is, therefore, another great
opportunity to salute Amaechi’s rare courage of conviction and sense of
purpose. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has every cause to be proud
of him.
”You can, therefore, imagine how much gratified I feel at
the immense intellectual efforts invested in the publication of Dynamics
of Change: The Amaechi Years. I salute the editors and authors of
essays in the book. It is thoughtful of them to document the legacy of
Amaechi in Rivers state. The high quality schools, hospitals, roads,
bridges, security and human capacity projects, among others, richly
documented in the book are a testimony that social democratic ideas can
indeed be implemented in this clime.
”It is our hope that the legacy of governance for genuine
development that Amaechi is leaving behind in Rivers would inspire state
governments to make the welfare and security of the people the focus of
governance. It is important to empahasise that security here includes
social security if the war against poverty must be won.
”The APC change agenda is anchored on the three Rs- Reform,
Relief, Relief, and Recovery. It is the Tripod upon which Nigeria must
operate in order to unleash her potentials.
”Rotimi will go on from here to continue to serve Nigeria in
key positions. He will not be alone. He will share the company of many
change agents and professionals who have cast their lots with the new
political order under the Leadership President elect, General Muhammadu
Buhari”.
Culled from nigeriana.org
