Politics
APC Built Train Stations In PDP Chieftains’ Villages — Amaechi
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Sunday said that in the course of executing the Warri-Itakpe rail line project, stations were built in the villages of Peoples Democratic Party’s chieftains.
Amaechi disclosed this at the `Next Level Presentation’ at Presidential Villa Banquet Hall to signal the commencement of the campaign of the All Progressives Congress for the 2019 general elections.
The minister who made a presentation titled `What we are building,’ said that President Muhammadu Buhari, upon assumption of office, directed that old and abandoned projects be completed.
“The truth is that the country is compelled to make a choice between good and bad.
“When I was appointed the Minister for Transportation, the president warned me not to start new contracts, but to complete old ones.
“We met Itakpe-Warri rail line which had been in existence for 34 years uncompleted; it would have been the first standard gauge line in Africa if it was completed.
“Based on the president’s instruction, I did a memo; I thought we will borrow money from China; but the president refused. He said we should use our internal funds to execute the project.
“People saw me on social media on train service from Warri to Itakpe. I got to Warri 8pm because I was going from one station to the other — almost all the villages and most prominent members of PDP made sure that train stations were in their villages.
“So, I am compelled to do those stations in villages of members of PDP I is okay; it is the instruction of the president that you must go and finish the old work.’’
He said that the tradition in the past was that once one was elected, one left the old things for the old people and awarded new contracts.
According to Amaechi, the ministry will start commercial service from Itakpe to Warri.
On PDP’s argument that it started the projects, Amaechi said that Buhari made it clear on commissioning the Abuja-Kaduna rail project that the project was started by the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We completed it; but two things are remarkable — we borrowed $500m to start that project at the time oil was selling at $114 per barrel.
“We should not have borrowed; you mean this country could not have afforded $500m?
“I will show that we can. When I wrote a memo to the president and to the cabinet requesting that he should allow me borrow $500m from China to buy locomotives and coaches for Lagos-Ibadan, the cabinet under the directive of the president refused.
“He (the president) said $500m; we can get from here and we are funding it from here; so we did and completed Kaduna to Abuja quickly.’’
The event also witnessed the unveiling of Buhari-Osinbajo 2019 — A Basic Guide-The Campaign Manual in Brief.
(NAN)
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Fool
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 3:04 pm
So the country is now divided by party?
No wonder nothing has been done in the south east, the 5% region. This talk sounds so kindergarten! Upon the quality education acquired by Amaechi he descended so low to utter this word? Nigerian politics makes reasonable people unreasonable.
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 11:24 am
So it’s all about party and about the Nation
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 10:08 am
Petty politicking APC style
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 9:47 am
Hahahaha… Dat will nt stop Atiku from becoming our next president!!!!
#OURMUMUDONDOABEG.
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 9:06 am
Truly this man is not a politician
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 9:04 am
Is it your money u use to build it.
Is he not a nigerian
Dats y nigeria is not working
Make una divide dis country make person go rest
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 8:31 am
Fact any dog angry about it should go and die sai Baba
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 8:28 am
So wht a you trying to say mumu? Foolish goats in power.
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 8:02 am
Stupid man
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 7:52 am
Stupid talk, if it is the shortest route to take, will you construct it using a longer route which will cost more? Train route all over the world is constructed using shorter routes and reducing bends and curves so as to travel faster, so if by chance the route goes through a PDP chieftain’s village what is the big deal? The surveyors know why and what they are doing before routing the rail tracks through his village. Stop fooling yourself.
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 7:33 am
These man is a learned idiot.
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 7:32 am
Amechi Sorry.
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 7:31 am
Is he not a Nigerian? Did you build it as his private station. Why is Amechi talking like a baby. Is this an issue. Chai Amaechi be wise naw.
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 7:28 am
U are a fool
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 7:13 am
It’s propaganda, mention one, that method will not sail again, our eyes are wide open now
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 7:11 am
Oga our problem now is your pot belly. It has consumed too much of our common wealth and has confused u now u want to.confuse Nigerians.chaii. Amaechi
Anonymous
November 19, 2018 at 7:11 am
Mad man