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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Permit
me to recall here how I once attempted to encapsulate the idea of
Common Sense Revolution: “… This revolution is not a violent one to tear
things down it is a revolution to rescue us from violence, injustice
and poverty.
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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10.
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.
Once more, I congratulate Governor Amaechi as he leaves behind this proud legacy in Rivers State.
I thank you for listening.
(A Statement Made By Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu as Special Guest of Honour at the Public Presentation of
Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years in Lagos on May 14, 2015).
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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