Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation and
leader of Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has
commended Dr. Henry Itotenaan Ogiri, former Executive Director, Admin and
Finance of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for decamping
from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All progressives Congress
(APC).
Speaking at a grand reception in honour of Ogiri at County State School
field in Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Amaechi who was represented by
Senator Magnus Abe, APC candidate for Rivers South East Senatorial
District in the legislative re-run elections, stated that Ogiri has
demonstrated foresight in the interest of Rivers people and Abua/Odual in
particular for joining APC.
He urged other Rivers people who had been tied to PDP because of former
President Jonathan for being in power should now feel free to embrace APC
as Rivers people because of their history had never been in opposition.
“Dr. Ogiri is an old friend and an old member of our political family. We
know why some of the Rivers men and leaders stayed in the PDP. They felt
that because of Dr. Jonathan was from the South-South and Niger Delta,
they should not leave him at that time. That was the reason why some
decent Rivers men and women on that principle decided to stay in the PDP.
They did not stay in the PDP because of Nyesom Wike”.
He told Rivers people that they should take advantage of this opportunity
to get themselves at the centre as PDP had nothing to offer Rivers people
and indeed Niger Delta.
He stated that the APC led Federal government were working on the
Calabar-Lagos rail line and airports all across the Niger Delta.
This, he said, would provide employment, business opportunities and
infrastructural development that would enhance the lives of the people of
the region.
He appealed to true Rivers men to leave the PDP sinking boat, pointing out
that if Nigeria is in recession that Rivers State was already in a
depression as many companies had left the state.
He lamented that no investment had been coming into the state yet the
governor was not bothered about this development because of politics.
He said the governor for the interest of politics could jeopardize Rivers
interest without caring a hoot.
He reminded the governor that the essence of politics was to have a better
life for the people and advised him to always protect Rivers interest
without partisan consideration.
Furthermore, Amaechi said with the defection of Ogiri that the politics of
Abua/Odual LGA has changed for good in the interest of APC.
Earlier, Dr. Ogiri had said that he decamped from PDP to enable Rivers
people align with the Federal government in order to bring development and
progress to Rivers State.
He said that he decamped with more than 5000 members of PDP, assuring that
his entrance into APC would change the political equation of Abua/Odual
LGA and Rivers State in general.
The former PDP chieftain and other decampees were formally received by the
State Chairman of the party, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
Among top APC chieftains that were present at the occasion include; Dr.
Dakuku Adol Peterside, Director General, NIMASA and APC governorship
candidate in the 2015 elections, Elder Chidi Wiyorka, Engr. Sampson
Ngeregbara Dr. Ipalibo Harry, Chief Emeka Beke, APC State Secretary, Hon.
Augustine Paul Ngo, Hon. Raphael Muzan Ekpelu and Hon. Gift Igoma Loveday.