PORT HARCOURT (Sundiata Post) – In an effort to bring traditional rulers and chiefs of Andoni Kingdom up to speed with political developments in Nigeria, the chairman, Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya, himself an Andoni chief, has met his colleagues ahead of next month’s election. Ikanya, who was accompanied on the solidarity visit by Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, spoke extensively on matters of development, candidates for the election, parties and Nigeria’s two critical elections slated for 14 and 28 February.
Ikanya, who took off on a very sober note, described the last six years of Nigeria under the watch of a fellow Ijaw and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as horrifying for the people of Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general.
According to the APC chieftain, the highpoints of the ignoble era included the criminal deregulation of petroleum products, the nine months strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the worsening unemployment situation, the immigration scam that shook the nation, the seizure of Rivers State oil wells, the intimidation and subjugation of government and people of Rivers State by Abuja and other infractions that characterised the last six years under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.
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“But I have good news for you. God, in His infinite mercy has brought APC to save us from these mindless leaders who do not care about us and our future.
What exactly did we do to them? If they were quarrelling with Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi were they also quarrelling with the entire people of Rivers State? See how the man who lived here paid us back!
“Apart from the intimidation, it also got to a time when we all agreed that our next governor must come from another part of Rivers State in the principle of rotation. But our brother joined hands with our oppressors to frustrate our Riverine aspiration and to deny us our heritage. But God gave us Peterside to console us. I want to say right away that a good friend is better than a bad brother. So we must support General Muhammadu Buhari because he has promised to assuage our pain”.
Ikanya, who described Peterside as a candidate of liberation, both for the Andoni and the people of Rivers State, warned his people to reject Jonathan and the PDP because even the South-South region were Jonathan hails from is worse off today than it was in 2009.
On his part, Peterside promised to create wealth and jobs for the unemployed, not only in Andoni Local Government but across Rivers State. He also promised to establish cooperatives, encourage deep fishing and address erosion issues, among other things.
A total of 54 Andoni Chiefs attended the session. Andoni chiefs prayed for and blessed Dr Peterside describing him as a worthy brother and dependable representative.