I’ll expose those fighting against me, says Rivers governor

In Port Harcourt, Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) spoke on his political battle, saying he is not running for Vice-President, as being speculated.

Amaechi said whenever he opens up; people would no longer respect any of the persons fighting him. He did not name them.

The Committee of Concerned Clergies for Peace in the Niger Delta, through its National Coordinator, Pastor Richard Ihunwo, and the National Secretary, Pastor Gabriel Adat, yesterday called for quick resolution of the PDP crisis.

The representative of Port Harcourt III Constituency in the House of Assembly, Victor Ihunwo, also yesterday raised the alarm on a plan by the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers to suspend him and four others for not supporting the governor .

The others are Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo) and Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I), with the five of them loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike.

Ihunwo said he and the four others were insisting that there was no petition against the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Loclal Government, Timothy Nsirim, who was on April 22 suspended along with his deputy, Solomon Eke, and all the 17 councillors.

Amaechi spoke while receiving a delegation of clerics, led by the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion and Diocese of Niger Delta North, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Amaechi said: “I will speak to the state; not now. When I speak to the state, you will not respect any of these people, because I am now determined to open up. I am not running for any other position that they would say ‘okay, you must manage information, so that people can trust you’.

“ I need to quote the law and tell you what the issues are, which most people do not know. I need to tell you and ask that now, you must become your own soldiers; you must become your own policemen.

“Nobody realises how much effort we have put in place, for people to walk on the streets. Nobody realises how much money we have put in place, to make people walk on the streets. All they are interested in is how they would bring down those efforts. So, as men of God, you must stand for the truth and preach the truth.

“We need to be able to grow the economy. We need to be able to say to our people, ‘this is a state which we are proud of’. We have numerous projects that we have put in place. Before the end of the year, a lot of projects will be completed that you will see for yourselves.

“We intend to complete the Conference Centre that we are building at Chief G. U. Ake Road and the Agbani Darego Cultural Centre that is in Town; the new School of Nursing, which is at the old University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

“When you go to the old UPTH, there are three projects going on simultaneously. One is the School of Nursing that now has the capacity to admit 500 nursing students. The one you have in Mile Four, Port Harcourt can take only 100 and everyday we struggle with approval with the agency that is supposed to give approval, because of poor equipment and poor environmental condition.

“Now, we are building a better one in a better place. Then, you have a primary school that is under construction there and the Heart Hospital being built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). That is what we have converted that place to be.

“We have so many of the fish farms. We have one in Buguma, that is nearing completion. We have six of the new secondary schools to be completed by the end of the year. We have completed a lot of the power distribution substations.”

Kattey had earlier grieved over the political situation in Rivers, lamenting that it could set back the state.

The Archbishop prayed that God would grant the NGF chairman the grace, strength and wisdom to continually perform and overcome any challenge.

He said: “Your Excellency’s administration has made landmark achievements in all sectors of our economy. Rivers State came first in the country in malaria eradication and control. The siting of the biolaviocide production factory by ECOWAS in the state is also a significant milestone. This speaks volume of your government in funding the health sector.

“We congratulate Your Excellency for making Rivers people proud once again, by winning the Vanguard Man of the Year Award for 2012. We are proud of your humble achievements.

“We wish to thank Your Excellency for the various ways God has used you to assist the church in our time. We admire your zeal, courage and commend you. You have often displayed non-denominational approach in your goodwill to the Church of God.”

Kattey informed the governor of his elevation to the of Dean of the Church of Nigeria, which is second to the Primate and of the upcoming Synod of the church in Port Harcourt in May, while lauding Amaechi for his continued support to the church.

The Committee of Concerned Clergies for Peace in the Niger Delta also urged the Federal Government to consider Option B while granting amnesty to members of the Boko Haram and to ensure that the main actors do not remain faceless.

They also condemned “in very strong words”, the ambushing and killing of 12 policemen in Bayelsa State, urging the Federal Government to consider introducing state police to stop the senseless killings.

source: The nation