by Oke Efagene

The governor of Rivers state and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has called on the people of the state to prepare to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), come 2015.

Amaechi, also encouraged the supporters of the country’s main opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to prepare for the mobilization of the party and registration of members.

In his opinion, this should be done in order for the members of the APC  to achieve their desire of removing the PDP from the state during the next general elections.

According to Leadership report:

Amaechi spoke at Saakpenwa, headquarters of Tai local government area of the state, during the launching of 100 motorcycles for the commencement of the registration of APC members in the 10 political wards in the area, covering Sime, Nonwa, Koroma and Botem communities.

He said the non-implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoni by the federal government was one of the reasons responsible for his defection from the PDP to APC, saying that it was wrong for the federal government to deprive the people of Ogoni of their compensation, the privilege of enjoying a habitable environment, and potable water.

The governor said, “I have left PDP. When I was in PDP, UNEP report said $1billion should be spent to clean up the oil spill in Ogoni land and further pay compensation and also provide potable water for the Ogoni people. We can’t have a South-South President and allow the UNEP report to die a natural death.

“It shows that the federal government does not care about us. As governor of the state, I played a vital role in ensuring that potable water was provided for Eleme and Gokana people. Why must our people continue to suffer this neglect and deprivation despite several attempts to remind the federal government to effect the immediate implementation of the UNEP report?”

“On the day of the election in 2015, I want you to en masse, support the All Progressives Congress (APC) and vote out PDP, and you will get the implementation of the UNEP report.

“In the 2011 elections, you were among those who voted President Jonathan into office and we have nothing to show for it as dividends of democracy. The only way you can pay back PDP is to vote out the party.

“PDP has the police to intimidate us; but I tell you as a people, in a democracy, power belongs to the people to choose their leaders; so, you must protect the Rivers interest because we have suffered much in the hands of PDP. We all must, therefore, defend the interest of APC.”

In their remarks, member representing Oyigbo/Tai/Eleme Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Barry Mpigi and the member representing Tai Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mrs Felicia Taneeh, assured the governor that the APC will sweep the votes in all the 10 wards of Tai in the 2015 general elections.