Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has urged Nigerians to vote cautiously in the
country’s forthcoming presidential elections in order to shape their
future.
He said that is their only power to transform both the country and its
leadership and appealed to the people to vote for the APC presidential
candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Amaechi spoke at the 27th convocation ceremony of the Rivers State
University of Science and Technology in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
According to him, Nigerians would be faced with the reality of voting on
March 28 in the country’s Presidential election.
“Today, you are confronted with one reality, the reality of Nigeria, that
reality begins from 28th of March, the reality to choose between good and
bad and the reality to choose between peace and corruption and those who
want to change your life, the reality of the fact that after now, most of
you will be unemployed, the reality of the fact that I sit here as
governor and students are fighting over electric fan, compared with the
reality of the fact that in other universities outside this country,
convocation arenas are built with air- conditioners so students don’t
fight over fan, that reality is what confronts you today.”
“It is the reality of asking your lecturers, what are their
qualifications, why don’t we have enough lecturers in each faculty. When
I was at the University of Port Harcourt, I had enough lecturers in my
faculty and I’m proud to say that I graduated from that university knowing
my lecturers were those who could defend their degrees outside.
“That reality confronts you on the 28th (of March) to choose between our
brother who’s a failure or success, to choose between Christianity and
God. You will ask me why I say Christianity and God. Not all Christians
worship God. I’m a Catholic, let them tell us their religion. I’m a
Catholic and will never be found in a traditional place where people will
point their tools on me because I want to win election. I’m a Christian
and I worship God.”
He bemoaned the corruption menace in the country, promising that there
would be stringent measures against corruption when Buhari is elected
president. He urged Nigerians to vote for Buhari and dissociate themselves
from the current failure of the PDP-led federal government.
“It is your choice. Why did I say it is your choice? At the University
of Port Harcourt, we were out demonstrating against government. Nobody
will steal $10.8 billion and go free. Nobody will steal $20 billion and
go free. Nigerian students will be found outside. Today, Nigerian
students have convoys like governors, driving and telling you ‘this is my
PA (Personal Assistant), this is my SA (Special Assistant)’. It is a
choice to worship God and to choose the right leaders or to choose to
remain where you are and choose failure. It is your choice, that choice
is on the 28th (of March)”.
Amaechi also lamented the insecurity across the country, saying that lives
were no longer safe. He recalled that there was insecurity in Rivers
State at the time he became governor but that he worked hard to restore
normalcy and security.
“Lives are no longer safe. You have forgotten what life was like in 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, you’ve forgotten what it was until we came, until
we chased them away, today, they’ve been brought back. Rivers people,
you’ve forgotten suddenly that there were no roads. You’ve forgotten that
the road from Education Bus stop up to Rumuokoro, that the road was bad,
you’ve forgotten that it took time and planning to fix those roads”.
He said Nigerians should vote for only those who would protect their
interests.
“I believe that one day this community of Rivers people will remember me
for all the achievements we have done. I believe that the children we
sent to UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, as they begin to return, we’ll
remember that we paid their school fees from the pocket of Rivers State”.
He reiterated that the state had not benefited from the federal government
under Jonathan, urging the people to vote without consideration to tribe
or religion.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor the University, Prof. B. B. Fakae had commended
Governor Amaechi for his huge support to the university. He said the
university was graduating 5,600 first degree graduands, 216 Master’s and
26 PhD degree holders, describing RSUST as foremost e-university with
various achievements.
Also speaking, Pro-Chancellor of RSUST, Justice Karibi Whyte (rtd) lauded
Chibuike Amaechi for giving the university new lease of life and sense of
direction. He congratulated the graduating students and wished them well,
saying they should become good ambassadors.