Date Published: 10/25/10

PH Rivers warns PDP on Amaechi

RURAL communities in Rivers State, one of the richest oil and gas states in Nigeria, appear to be rallying behind Governor Chibuike Amaechi as a person regardless of his party affiliation. As a demonstration of this, they have pledged to follow Amaechi to whatever political party he chooses in the event of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) refusing to field him as a governorship candidate in 2011.

This game plan came into the open on Monday at Emuoha, an Ikwerre local local government area neatr Port Harcourt, the state capital. PDP foot soldiers in the area told our correspondent that the emerging issue in Rivers politics was no longer party affiliation, but Amaechi because of ''the wonderful development efforts we have seen in less than four years''.

Okeh Azubuike, a grassroots PDP activist said, ''my brother, no true Rivers man or woman go tell you say him never see better for we state since October when Governor Amaechi come in. The thinking at the grassroota be say wherever him the governor go, na there we go as far this coming election dey o''.

A prominent opinion leader, Dr. Fortune Obinna, said the electorate in Emohua Council area are happy with Governor Amaechi for his people oriented projects, which had been extended to the area, adding that what he has achieved in three years shows him as a visionary leader.

Chairman of the South-South Parliamentary Caucus and member representing Ikwerre-Emohua Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives, Andrew Uchendu, said the governor has proven to be a good Manager of human and material resources in three years of governing the state.

Uncendu stated this on Saturday while responding on behalf of Special Award Winners of the Emohua Local Government Council, as part of activities marking the 19th anniversary of the creation of the Council area, at the council secretariat.

The federal lawmaker said several Ikwerre sons had earlier aspired to govern the state without success but God used Amaechi to realize it by becoming the first

Ikwerre man to govern the state.

According to him, “Ikwerre people longed for a governor but it was fulfilled in you, and within three years of your administration, you have proven beyond doubt, through your performances, that God placed you in the position to develop the state”.

Also speaking, Governor Amaechi, lauded the people of Emohua Local Government Area for coming together to mark the 19th anniversary of the local council area, and to honour outstanding indigenes of the area as well.

Amaechi who noted that although he is an Ikwerre man, explained that as governor, the entire state is his constituency, and he must ensure that development gets to all parts of the state.

On his simple style of doing things, Governor Amaechi explained that his simplicity was born out of the fact that a governor should not see himself as an emperor, but rather someone that can be reached by majority of the citizenry.

He used the occasion to remind the people of Emohua local government to register in the forth coming voters registration exercise, as it was the process of voting for candidates of their choice during 2011 elections because votes would count.

He also intimated the people on the need to pay the social services levy to enable the state government run the free education and free health care programmes, emphasizing that only those children whose parents provide voters card would benefit from the scheme.

The governor equally used the occasion to highlight some of the achievements of the present administration within three years, and advised the people to exercise patience as the state government is determined to complete all projects it embarked on to better the lives of the people.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chukwuemeka Woke, said the celebration of 19th anniversary of the council is aimed at rewriting the history of the area from the perception of being seen as violent people, to peaceful people and achievers in different fields of human endeavour.

Woke said the 18 indigenes honoured had excelled in their chosen areas.

Highlight of the occasion was the commissioning of some projects undertaken by the Emohua Local Government by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, including a Divisional Police State, Ultra Modern Market, Cottage Hospital and a town hall.