Still on the wonder boy. Kennedy Friday AMAECHI URGES RIVERS PEOPLE TO RESIST IMPOSITION OF AN IKWERRE GOVERNOR RIVERS State Governor Chibuike Amaechi has urged the people of the state to resist any attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to foist any Ikwerre man on the state as the next governor. Considering the ethnic diversity of the state, the governor emphasised the importance of rotational governorship. He said apart from his Ikwerre ethnic nationality, any other ethnic group in the state could contest next year’s election. Amaechi said it would be unfair for another Ikwerre son or daughter to aspire to become governor next year since he has been in power since 2007. The governor was ostensibly referring to the endorsement of the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, his kinsman and a chieftain of the PDP, to contest the election. He spoke when chiefs and elders of Ogu/Bolo paid him a solidarity visit in Government House, Port Harcourt, Friday. He described Ikwerre persons warming up for the election as “desperate politicians” and called on the people to vote out the PDP. He said: “I will not, by law, be allowed to be governor again. I have served my two terms, so from next month; we just have 12 months to hand over. “I am now fighting to give the Okirika man, the Ogu/Bolo man, a voice after we leave office, and I can tell you why I say so. “If PDP is bringing an Ikwerre man to run for governorship when an Ikwerre man has run for eight years, it means that what PDP is trying to do is to make the Ikwerre dominate the governorship of the state.” Amaechi noted that if the people of the state allow Wike to succeed him, then their children would be forever dominated. He stressed that people of other ethnic nationalities would never be governor again, because all it would take is when Wike finishes, another Ikwerre man would say he wants to run. “We must show justice and ensure that it is equitably distributed. Even if you are one ethnic group of 20, 000 persons, you have a right to the governorship of the state. “So, Ikwerre people have had their turn. I am an Ikwerre son; my mother is Ikwerre, my father is Ikwerre, I have no blood from any other relationship, so Ikwerre people cannot say I am not Ikwerre,” he added. According to him, even the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state would toe the line of justice and fairplay by not fielding any Ikwerre for the governorship election. “I will not support the governorship to go to Ikwerre in APC, but as the governor of Rivers State and a frontline member of APC, if I help to ensure that we don’t allow an Ikwerre candidate in APC to allow others to take it, it means that the way to protect yourselves and your children is to vote for that candidate and not for the candidate they are bringing in PDP, because Ikwerre cannot govern for another eight years,” he said. The governor assured that the access road to Ogu/Bolo would be completed very soon, promising to mobilise local contractors next week to complete the project and other ongoing projects in the state. He also pledged to build a new model secondary school in Ogu/Bolo to advance education. High Chief Jonah Tamuno, on behalf of Ogu/Bolo chiefs and elders, commended Amaechi for his inspirational and courageous leadership. He also lauded the governor for demonstrating high level of liberality in providing democratic dividends for all Rivers people. Along with Tamuno, Chiefs Frederick Anga and Marshall Oforibo Kakaka, assured the governor, on behalf of the people of Ogu/Bolo, of their firmly support of his administration and leadership direction, especially as next year’s election approaches. “We congratulate you on your laudable and tireless efforts to enshrine good governance, not only in Rivers State, but also in Nigeria through transparency, accountability, respect for rule of law, due process and the strengthening of our public institutions. “We quite appreciate your dogged implementation of your administration’s blueprint for the overall development of the state and the well-being of the present generation and the next to come. “We want to seize this medium to express our profound gratitude to you for your kindness and altruistic gesture even as we register our admiration in your uncommon leadership qualities that make your supporters believe that you are indeed a true born leader with vision, mission and the raw courage to bring it to pass on planet earth. “We, therefore, pledge our unflinching loyalty and support to your purpose-driven administration,” he said. They described Amaechi as gifted in the combined attributes of a liberal and progressive political icon. They noted that the governor have since inception protected Rivers in ways and methods that have not only advanced its fame and nobility, but also transformed the socio-economic and political fortunes of Rivers people. theguardianmobile/readNewsItem1.php?nid=25245 Amaechi Urges Rivers People To Resist Imposition Of An Ikwerre Governor theguardianmobile
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 07:41:25 +0000