A SPEECH IN COMMEMORATION OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING OF THE INTER-ETHNIC NETWORK FOR CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI, INCRA.
THEME: CONSOLIDATING ON THE GAINS OF A FOCUSED LEADERSHIP.
"Revolutions are not born of chance but of necessity"
- Victor Hugo
On May 27, 2017, a citizens' movement called the Inter-ethnic Network for Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, INCRA, was birthed. As an organization of vibrant, enthusiastic, intelligent, patriotic and progressive citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it has demonstrated extraordinary vitality and productivity and is driven by the passion to rebuild our dear Rivers State, evolve a novel political thinking, build a political framework of sustainable ideals and values on which gainful political activities can thrive on for a more productive political leadership through the instrumentality of the All Progressives Congress, APC. But most importantly, INCRA emerged to vehemently resist and dispel emerging underhand plots disguised under different innocuous front to undermine the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Honourable Minister of Transportation and to speak out in public interest and on behalf of the individual Rivers citizen who do not have a voice.
It is no accident that INCRA was birthed in 2017. The time was ripe and people will remember this day in 2017 as a day when INCRA emerged as a revitalizing force in the social and political spheres. With extraordinary vigour and in bits, INCRA developed a more professional cutting edge. The aggressiveness and determination behind INCRA was clearly reflected in the public fight to defend the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, promote progressive ideals and speak out in public interest.
INCRA does not fit into any of the familiar political categories and this has led to bewilderment on the part of those who live by conventional categories. When we launched INCRA, it evoked profound skepticism, fear, threat and contempt. Observers of the political scenes felt it was one of the already too many organizations that pre-existed it. We were written off by many who were certain we would fail, we were blackmailed and despised, some persons went ahead to define our objectives and what we represented without having the slightest knowledge of what we signified. We knew that their fears and skepticisms were not groundless, especially, given the docile status of other sister groups. We knew that our call to action would produce mixed feelings and agitations, We were not naive, thus, we remained focused and determined to break new grounds and set new records.
Soon after, INCRA was launched, we made conscious and dedicated efforts towards ensuring we were not thrown into the "Multi-issue dilemma" what we observed to be the biggest bane of other groups which had existed before us. We carefully and painstakingly steered our ship towards our goal and turned blind eyes and deaf ears to distractions. We were held together and guided by an overpowering concern to solve a specific problem, viz: Defending the Integrity of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi against perceived internal and external attacks; Propagating Progressive values for advancement of the Society and Speaking out in public interest. Today, we have crystallized these specific issues into our fundamental objectives and guiding principle of operation.
Notwithstanding persistent reservations and criticisms about it, INCRA had at various points within a year of its existence, provided the framework for assessing the performance of sister groups and has contributed immensely toward political and social development through its constructive and expository articles on issues of public concerns. With over, 500 articles on topical burning issues in the political and social spheres, INCRA has without contention set the pace for other groups to follow. Despite its relatively young age it now ranks among the leading media groups Nationwide with vibrant, enthusiastic, reliable, formidable, and focused members.
From the outset, INCRA had a clearcut understanding of its destination, it knew where it was headed and boldly resisted the temptations of being tied to any interest group. It remained faithful to its cause which is clearly objectified in 3P's: Promote, Protect and Project Amaechi, which forms part of our core missions.
Our success secret is very simple. We selected a limited number of clearly defined targets and hit them hard. We did not engage in the diffusion of energy and resources over too many targets. We tackled concrete, tangible and achievable goals because we had the understanding that accomplishing significant changes required a clearcut target and a massing of energy and resources. In INCRA, we guard against aimless dissipation of energy by a simple operating philosophy: with rare exceptions, we do nothing but fight specific battles - social or political.
For us, this occasion serves to appreciate God Almighty for the success we have achieved so far and for keeping us firmly in our tracks, but also, it serves as stocktaking and an appraisal of our performance. The first thing to be said after twelve months of our existence is that INCRA has made its marks in the polity.
Through speaking out strongly against certain government policies and actions opposed to public interest and democratic usages, we have been able to redirect the government and made it sit up over its constitutional responsibilities. A quick rundown of a few of our achievements are as follows:
1. Through sheer determination and display of creativity, we have successfully shaped media narratives and opinions in our favour. It is well within the realm of truth to say that INCRA do not only dominate the media space but determines and greatly influences narratives and opinions in the public domain.
2. Within few months of our existence, we sufficiently and drastically reduced all forms of unprovoked internal and external attacks on the person and personality of our leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. We stood our ground fiercely in his defence and made it abundantly clear to all and sundry without any trace of ambiguity that we would not condone any form of attempt intended to malign, ridicule or undermine him. This, we have done commendably well and would continue to do.
Today, the Rivers State Government has refrained from making Amaechi its cardinal agenda.
3. The immediate reversal of the politically motivated carnage on the office of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State by the Governor following an SOS call by us. As a group that upholds the progress of the State, we were concerned about the debasing and unacceptable treatment meted out on the Deputy Governor and her staff as a result of slight disagreement with the Governor on principle. Thankfully, the situation has improved considerably after our outcry.
4. We succeeded in compelling the Wike-led government to make public the 2016 and 2017 budgets which were hitherto, not accessible to the public. Even though, the government failed to comply fully with our demands to make a comprehensive and detailed budget available to the public, we can boldly say that the situation is not the same way it was, especially, considering the fact that the Governor has shown to be autocratic and unfeeling towards the plight of the masses.
While we applaud our performance so far, we are not unconscious of the fact that we can do more and this, we are working so hard to achieve. The journey is not over, we are aware of this fact and that is why we must not be distracted by small victories, our focus is in ensuring that the senseless Wike-led government is ousted. Our resolve to reclaim the brick house is firm and subduing because it is inspired by our overriding desire to see a society where good governance holds sway.
As crusaders of social and political change, it would be improper for us to conclude this speech without making known our renewed zest towards the pursuit of the development of the society at large and Rivers State in particular. From the outset, we have strove to maintain an unbiased approach towards expressing our views on matters of public concern. At all time possible, we made sure that our positions on government policies, activities and other matters of critical concern are in alignment with popular will. We have provided invaluable constructive criticisms on government and its activities, thereby, giving life and vigor to the hopes of the common man and keeping the government on its toes.
At every point in time, we have not failed to canvass for accountability, transparency and responsiveness in governance. We have been deeply concerned with advancing the principles of good governance which is adequately lacking under the present Wike-led government in the State and this calls for grave concern because the inadequacies of government makes it impossible for citizens to be productive as they should; it smoothers them, dwarfs them and chews them up.
INCRA is committed to the progress of the Party and will assist it achieve its primal objective, which is to democratically seize power in Rivers state. We are not opposed to any group or individuals that promote and uphold the ideals of the APC, our pugnacity is only towards those who have transformed themselves into enemies of the Party. We believe firmly in the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and our allegiance is to him alone.
INCRA is all about building bridges that connect us and breaking barriers that separate us. It is a clarion call to liberate our dear Rivers State from the shackles of medial syndrome.
Perhaps, at a less critical time in our lives, we could tolerate such inadequacies and lack of direction by the government, but not now. Our State is in deep trouble and we can not continue to condone the dominance of mediocrity and the crass payoff. It is time for the citizens to stand up, it is time to redouble our efforts, it is time to speak up and say "Enough!" We must arise and put an end to this dominance of mediocrity and misrule. It is time to put our dear Rivers State into working order. It can be done and we count heavily on you.
Thank you.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
God bless Rivers State,
God bless INCRA!
May 27, 2018
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