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Jonathan Okays Amaechi for Re-Election …No Vacancy In Brick House Till 2015 – Anenih …Imoke, Ajumogobia, Others Show Support
General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo (right) welcoming the chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Opobo/Nkoro LGA chapter, Dr Sofiri Peterside, who paid a courtesy visit to the GM’s office in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged the people of Rivers State to vote massively for the re-election of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, describing him as a man deserving of a second term in office.
President Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo said this Wednesday at the declaration ceremony of Governor Amaechi for the governorship race in 2011 at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt.
The President noted that Rivers people had made a wise choice by their massive support for the candidature of Governor Amaechi for a second term in office, saying that he deserves the honour for his hard work.
According to him, Governor Amaechi has carried out a lot of transformative projects that are of international standard especially in the areas of education, health, power, road, transportation among others.
President Jonathan, who reaffirmed his endorsement of the Rivers State Governor, said he endorsed him because he wants him to continue with the good work he is doing in the state.
Making his declaration, Governor Amaechi said he would focus his second tenure on education, health and power, as well as improve the quality of lives of the people.
He also said he would continue the fight against poverty and insecurity, noting that appreciable progress has been made in the area of security as people can now move freely even at odd hours.
The State Chief Executive, who said that candidates should be judged by their performances, assured that government would ensure that people chose their leaders through free, fair and credible elections.
In his good will message, the Governor of Cross Rivers State, Senator Liyel Imoke, said what he had seen proved what he had heard about the Governor of Rivers State and he was not surprised that Amaechi had made a difference in the state, knowing how he became governor.
Senator Imoke noted that the performance of the governor speaks volumes of his leadership, adding that, “by this show of support today, I am sure that all those who bought forms to become governor of Rivers State would return them, because the whole state is here supporting Amaechi.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, Dr. Ombo Isokariari, State NLC Chairman, Chief Chris Oruge, IYC President Miabiye Kuromiema, Chief Emma Anyanwu and Chief Bebe Okpabi in their separate messages said the Governor had done well and deserved to have a second term in office.
Meanwhile, Cross River State Governor and South-South Coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan/Sambo campaign, Senator Liyel Imoke, says Governor Chibuike Amaechi is divinely ordained and therefore should be given maximum support for his second term to complete the transformation programme in the state.
Imoke made the assertion during the public declaration of Governor Amaechi for second term in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Senator Imoke said, “Rotimi Amaechi is making a difference and I therefore urge all Rivers people to make sure he returns.”
The same view was re-echoed by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), who described Governor’s Amaechi’s declaration as a formality since the people had already endorsed him.
In his words, “the schools are declaring, the infrastructure are declaring and things are getting better in Rivers State.”
Pledging the support of Rivers West senatorial district, Chief Ombo Isokariari, said the senatorial district had witnessed tremendous improvement courtesy of Amaechi’s developmental strides.
The same view was expressed by Prince Emma Anyanwu of the Rivers East senatorial District, who pledged the unalloyed support of the senatorial district for Amaechi’s second term bid.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state has declared its support for Governor Amaechi’s second term bid.
Chairman of NLC in the state, Chief Chris Oruge, while speaking during Governor Amaechi’s second term bid declaration asserted that the governor was among the first governors that agreed to pay the new minimum wage package.
“After the era of Diete-Spiff, we have never had a governor like Amaechi,” Oruge said, assuring that the state would vote for him based on the one man, one vote principle.”
Also, apparently foreclosing plan by any aspirant to vie for Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s office in Rivers State, former chairman, Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih has advised other governorship aspirants on the platform of the party to wait as there is no vacancy in Brick House till 2015.
Anenih said this during the formal declaration of the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for a second term in office.
Anenih who was chairman at the occasion described the large turnout of Rivers people during the historical event as a sign of the acceptance of the Amaechi for a second term in office.
Beyond showing acceptance of Amaechi, the PDP BOT member said the large turn out also signalled the approval of Rivers people on the performance or score card of the governor.
He used the occasion to call on Rivers people to continue with their massive support for the governor and the PDP.The Director-General of the Amaechi Campaign Organisation, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike explained that the declaration was meant to secure the people’s mandate for Amaechi’s second term in office.
Wike who described Amaechi as an epitome of good governance, said that since no government had demonstrated the commitment to accountability like the Amaechi government had done.
The Director-General expressed happiness over the transformational phase of the state, describing it as a golden era of re-construction and regeneration of infrastructure.
According to him, Amaechi has shown that no developmental goals is impossible to achieve.
In her speech, the member representing Abua/Odual Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Betty Apiafi, said Governor Amaechi had no opposition in the state.
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.