The candidature of Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial flag-bearer for Rivers State in the 2007 general elections has received another boost with Conference of Speakers backing him in a letter to the president.
In a letter of appreciation to President Olusegun Obasanjo on the emergence of Hon. Amaechi, the Rivers Speaker and Chairman Conference of Speakers of State Legislators of Nigeria, the speakers also thanked all others who contributed to his victory.
According to a release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Assembly, Mr. Tonye Ekong the speakers described the mandate “ as unprecedented as Hon. Amaechi becomes the first serving state legislator to win a guber ticket,” stressing that “it is a recognition of the significant contributions of state legislators and their speakers to the success” of the current democracy.
To this end, the speakers thanked Mr. President, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anerih, the Rivers State Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus and delegates to the party’s congress for making Amaechi’s victory possible.
The chief lawmakers averred that “given the vision and evident leadership qualities of Hon. Amaechi, his strength of character,” they “were in no doubt that he takes Rivers State to greater heights if elected.”
Meanwhile, the Conference of Speakers has paid tribute to the contributions of one of its members who died late last year, Hon. Usman Jikantoro, former speaker of Niger State House of Assembly.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the family of the late speaker, the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislators in Nigeria, Hon. C.R. Amaechi, described him as a resource legislator whose death was greatly felt by his colleagues.
Chief Amaechi prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The late Jikantoro died in a motor accident on 24th of December last year on the Kaduna-Minna Road. He has since been buried, according to Muslim rites.
