The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship flag-bearer and Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chief Chibuike Amaechi has advised those inciting the people to re-awaken the moribund upland/riverine dichotomy to abandon the fruitless campaign and face the reality of a modern state.
Chief Amaechi gave the advice Wednesday at the PDP secretariat during the formal inauguration of the seven-man state PDP campaign committee.
The committee, which has Mr. Lolo Ibieneye as chairman, has the mandate to organise the campaigns for the forthcoming general elections.
According to Amaechi, “it means that those clamouring for riverine governorship does not want others to exist, and it implies that when they get into power, it will not be for Rivers State, they want it for only one section of the state, I\'m not part of it,” he stated.
The PDP state flag-bearer, urged the people of the state not to mind those clamouring for riverine governor as the present state administration under Dr. Peter Odili has done much to wipe out upland/riverine dichotomy and other divisive elements in the system.
He used the opportunity to alley the fears being created in some quarters by disgruntled persons, and assures that the PDP government in the state will govern a untied Rivers State, and solicited the support of all Rivers people towards the consolidation of the gains already achieved.
“I assure you that by the grace of God, we will not run either a riverine, sea, sky or land government; we will run a Rivers-people-based government, all we seek is the mandate of the people to deliver on the dividends of democracy,” he said, and enjoined the people to hold it against him if he tilted to one section, emphasisng that his words are his bond.
The speaker noted that, “there is no where that you can have a land and riverine governor as there is only one person that can be governor at one time, the person can come from anywhere in Rivers State, and will be protected”, he declared.
Chief Amaechi explained that it has always been the intention of the present state Governor, Dr. Odili, to see the state as a united entity and has done much to keep it, pointing out that having followed him closely since 1987, he knows what Odili wanted to do, what he has done, where his target is, and promised to conclude the targets.
He disclosed that one of Dr. Odili\'s greatest targets, which he has almost concluded, was the indivisible entity of Rivers people, whether the person comes from Ikwerre, Kalabari, Andoni or Etche but to realise themselves as one people, affirming that if he becomes the governor in May, he will continue with the wonderful programmes that the PDP government has been doing.
He, however, urged the people of the state to avail themselves of the present opportunity to register to vote for the forthcoming general elections, as the votes are the people\'s strength and grounds for negotiation with the party at the national level.
In his remarks, at the short ceremony, the National Vice Chairman of PDP, South-South zone, Chief Godpower Ake congratulated Prince Uche Secondus on his appointment to coordinate the party campaign in the zone, noting that with the antecedents of those to execute the campaigns, he was confident of the party\'s victory.
Speaking while inaugurating the state campaign committee, the state Chairman of PDP and Coordinator of South-South Campaign, Prince Uche Secondus, said that after the convention, activities of the party slowed down because the PDP, a law-abiding party, waited for further directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on guidelines for campaigns.
Prince Secondus explained that with the inauguration of the national campaign team, and that of the state, the party was ready to move to all parts of the state to canvass for votes, reminding PDP members that their governorship candidate was the best speaker and chairman of Speakers\' Conference in the Federation.
He described Chief Amaechi as a man of integrity, humble disposition and a grassroots politician, who had carried out his assignments with dedication, and called on party members, stakeholders, especially those that had contested election in the party primaries, to sink their differences and work together for victory of the party while urging the committee members to work assiduously to ensure total victory.
