By JIMITOTA       ONOYUME
PORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has called for the enthronement of  true federalism in the country, saying it would enable all states and local governments to develop at their own pace.

The governor spoke at the 2013 Physicians Week organised by the state chapter of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday.
He said the exclusive legislative list placed so much restrictions on states.

He said: “Part of the problem of Nigeria today is beyond corruption and is the totalitarianism whereby one man is in Abuja and decides whether you will feed or not and we are saying no, it’s wrong. A substantial part of the problem in Rivers State today is the fact that the police commissioner is being manipulated from Abuja.
“But in a true federalism, a state is supposed to have its own police. When I went to Kenya, I saw county police in Kenya. Africa has left us behind. Before, we used to lead Africa, we were referred to as giant of Africa. Nigeria is not a giant and can never be a giant until we have good leadership.”

While assuring that his administration would continue to give priority attention to health care in the state, the governor appealed to doctors to always do their best.
“Please be committed.  If you want to be a good doctor you have to show commitment, sympathy or empathy. We are saying you have a contract with us, we have fulfilled our own part of the bargain, if you refuse to fulfil your own, are you being fair? Rivers State Government doctors should please go to work because many patients will die because you are not at work”, he said.

Earlier, Chairman of the state chapter of NMA, Dr. Ibitrokoemi Korubo, had said that the essence of the programme was for doctors to see how they could improve on their performance in the coming year and commended Amaechi for his performance so far in the health sector