PORT HARCOURT (Sundiata Post) – Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has described his superb performance in education, health care, agriculture, human capital development and provision of first-rate infrastructure as the issues that will shape the gubernatorial election in Rivers State come February 28.
According to the governor, the search for his successor will be based strictly on his achievements as governor and the ability of the individual candidates in the parties. Amaechi who said his accomplishment is also the success of the APC, his party, however described Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the APC as the most educated, the most competent and the most acceptable of all the candidates. He said it is clear in his mind that Peterside will surpass his record in performance.
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But Amaechi also declared that the performance of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a South-South president and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will also influence the choice of many voters in the oil-rich region who are today poorer than they were in 2009 when their son took over government at the centre. The governor who spoke at State School ground, Okehi, Etche Local Government Area asked the people of the state to join the growing voices of Nigerians calling for the rejection of Jonathan and PDP on grounds of incompetence and lethargy.
“Yes, this election is all about me and my performance. It is also about President Goodluck Jonathan and our small friend, Nyesome Wike. I built schools, I employed teachers, I built health centres and we took on some federal roads and worked on them. When I started Igbo Etche Road, the Federal Government stopped me. Now I will be stubborn, I will start the road again because Igbo Etche is very important to us.
“Let the president show us one small project in Etche Local Government. All the federal government projects that are in Rivers State were initiated by Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani presidents. The Bodo Bonny Road project for instance was started by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Jonathan does not like us. I had to start a battle with them before East-West Road was started again. He did not attract anything here: Onne Sea Port, Eleme Petrochemical, the refinery, all of them. Our so-called brother has spent six years. Why does he say he loves us? He only loves our votes but this time around, we are going to reject him. Etche oil well has been taken to Abia, yet they want our votes”.
Governor Amaechi enjoined Rivers people not to vote based on sentiments but on performance and character. He said Nigeria now more than ever needs a new direction and new leadership.