Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state has made it clear that he is not in politics to serve the interest of his brother, President Goodluck Jonathan or even his father.
“For me,” he stressed, “politics is not about my brother or my father. Politics is about me and my interest. So, it is about you and your interest.”
Governor Amaechi who spoke at the thanksgiving celebration of former Council Chairman of Khana Local Government Area of the state, Gregory Nwidam, at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Bane said he no longer fear federal government-controlled police because there was nothing they have not done to him in the past.
“There is nothing new that the federal government has not done to me.
“There is no cell that they have not locked me up as a student leader. There is no amount of slapping and beating I have not passed through in those days.”
He urged the people in the state to fight for themselves with their vote in 2015, adding: “when you vote, you are not fighting for me, you are fighting for yourselves because, I have served as a Speaker for 8 years and also Governor for 8 years. What I need from God is long life. “You need to fight for yourselves and save Rivers State as well.”
He told the people that he defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) because of the failure of the PDP led federal government to implement the United Nations Environmental Protection Agency (UNEP) report on Ogoniland.
Amaechi said the PDP led federal government lacks the political will to implement the UNEP report to make the environment habitable for the people of Ogoni, including the provision of water and other infrastructural development.
“After the verification and recommendation by the Agency to the Federal Government, they have refused to release the sum of One million dollars for the clean-up and development of the area. As I am talking to you today, the Federal Government is doing nothing about the UNEP report. One million dollars is about 160 billion naira, but the Federal Government has been spending billions in other places. “But, you need to ask yourselves one question, what did Ogoni do against the federal government that they cannot release 160 billion naira to save your environment. That is the reason I left PDP for APC, because, our interest is not protected in PDP. So, when they cannot give the people of Ogoni 160 billion naira, which is not even enough for their kids to travel around America and London, if they cannot give to Ogoni people, why should you vote them?
“What you should do is to punish them with your votes by voting them out in 2015.
The governor urged the people of Khana and all Rivers people to register and identify with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.
“Let me assure you that APC will win in 2015 in Rivers State. You owe me a duty to get registered with APC. “Go and register during the voters’ registration and get your voters card. I want to thank the people of Bane community and Khana people for their support, especially the celebrant, Hon. Gregory Nwidam for his promise that the people of Khana LGA will ensure APC wins in Rivers State in 2015.”
The governor also advised supporters of the APC in the State to resist any attempt by the PDP to use police and the military to intimidate and manipulate the 2015 elections against the will of the electorates.
“The PDP said they will bring Police and Army. Let them bring them, but, you should know that they are also human beings. On that day of the election, I will be at the front.
“When you vote, seat down at the polling unit and let them count the votes and announce the results, so that they won’t rig us out. Don’t vote for PDP.
[myad]
