GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding last Friday’s Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) election, saying he defeated his challenger, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State.
He also told Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and others against his re-election to have a rethink in the interest of the country’s democracy.
Speaking on Sunday at an Interdenominational Church Service at Corpus Christi Cathedral in Port Harcourt to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration which also coincided with his (Amaechi) 48th birthday, he said: “Let me say to you. I am the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum. That we are not talking is because we have decided not to talk. They voted, we voted and we won. If they had won, I would have congratulated them,” he said.
Amaechi also assured children of the state of his administration’s desire to provide good governance and quality education. He also said government was on track to provide adequate security all over the state.
“I want to assure the children that this country has no future without you. We owe you nothing but good leadership, good governance and to ensure we provide good education. I also assure you as a government that security is a priority to us, we should not play politics with the lives of our people,” he said.
Earlier, the officiating Priest, the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Reverend Camillus Etukudoh, congratulated Amaechi, assuring him that the church will continue to pray for him and the State.
Also speaking at the St. Nicholas Anglican church Woji, Amaechi assured that the Trans-Woji bridge linking the Peter Odili road will be completed in July.
He said the Trans-Woji bridge under construction by the state government will, upon completion, decongest the traffic challenge on Aba road.
“Before September, most of you will not be driving on Aba road again. In the next one month, they will fill up the Trans Woji bridge. I am told by the contractor that by the end of June/July, they will fill up the bridge,” he said.
He equally promised to build two more primary schools at Woji to enable those living in the area to have access to his administration’s free education programme.
Also, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, has joined other Nigerians to congratulate Amaechi on his re-election.
Speaking to Government House correspondents in Port Harcourt, Okocha said the victory was well deserved and urged Rivers people to join Amaechi to give God the glory for the victory.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) and Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter (ALGON) Chimbiko Akarolo, described Amaechis’s re-election as NGF Chairman as victory for Democracy, Nigerians and future leaders of the country.
“I believe that if we have true leaders of this nature in all the 36 states across the federation, then, Nigeria will actually become the giant of Africa, what we were before now,” Akarolo said.
He also condemned the closure of the Obio/Akpor council, stating that the crisis in the council has caused untold hardship to workers and those doing business with the council, calling the Federal Government to intervene and ensure workers return to work.
