The All Progressive Congress, Rivers State Chapter, says Governor Chibuike Amaechi has shamed his critics by presenting 16 completed world-class projects for commissioning by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his two-day visit (17th to 18th February, 2014) to Rivers State, the State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said.

Projects commissioned by General Obasanjo during the visit according to a press statement made available to NF-Reports by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, include the G.U. Ake road at Eliozu; Okporo road connecting Artillery and the East-West road; Elekahia-Rumuomasi road; Ken Saro-Wiwa road; Ambassador Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School at Ebube, Eleme; a Health Centre at Akpajo; Songhai Farm, Bunu Tai off Afam Road; Tai Model Primary School; and Banana Plantation Project, Afam Power Station, 2×60 MV/132/33 KVA – Elelenwo Sub-Injection Station. Others include No. 1 Field (Mini Football Stadium); No. 2 Field (Basketball Indoor Hall and Athletes Hostel); No. 5 Field (Tennis Court/Volleyball Court and Spectators Stands); St. Andrew’s Primary School, Mile 1, Diobu; Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Emenike Street, Mile 1, Diobu; and Buguma Modern Fish Farm, Asari Toru LGA.

Hailing Governor Amaechi for his administration’s developmental strides, Chief Olusegun stated: “I came to see developments and I have seen developments and I will confess developments! What I have seen is worth declaring! The area of health, education, Agriculture, Sports and road infrastructure is worth declaring. When I see development I earmark, eye mark and mouthmark.”

The APC commended Obasanjo for summoning the courage to undertake the trip despite what it dubbed “concerted efforts” by Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and some other mischievous members of his party, PDP, to discourage him from going ahead with the visit. “This act shows his love and care for Rivers State. General Obasanjo can see that contrary to Chief Nyesom Wike’s assertion that all the projects executed by Gov. Amaechi are sited in Port Harcourt to the detriment of other local government areas, 75% of the projects commissioned are in other LGAs of the State. We are grateful to former President Obasanjo for accepting the invitation to come and commission these high-class and people-oriented projects executed by the Chibuike Amaechi administration, just as we congratulate Governor Amaechi for putting his critics, who have been accusing him of under-performance and favouritism to shame,” the State APC Interim Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya said.

He disclosed that the APC leadership in the State has consequently resolved to declare Governor Amaechi “Rivers State Emancipator and Development Pillar.”

Dr. Ikanya berated the PDP-led Federal Government over its refusal to approve the signing of the necessary documents that would have made Rivers State a manufacturer of syringes and thus grant the State extra resources while creating employment and empowerment opportunities for the teeming youths of the State. The State APC Interim Chairman also lambasted the Federal Government for refusing to approve for use the two security surveillance helicopters that cost the State about $30m, thus costing Rivers State a huge amount of money in demurrage monthly. Dr. Ikanya similarly condemned the refusal of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to sign the necessary documents that would have assisted the State to obtain an African Development Bank loan to provide pipe-borne water for the State and save people of the State from dying from diseases related water borne diseases. All these, he said, was in addition to ceding Rivers oil wells to neighbouring states and ensuring that no project is sited in Rivers State since President Jonathan came into power.

APC Rivers commended Governor Amaechi for soldiering on in spite of the odds and delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of River. “We assure PDP and President Jonathan that they will pay dearly for this wickedness during the 2015 elections as we are mobilizing the people to ensure that PDP is thoroughly beaten in Rivers State in future elections,” Dr. Ikanya concluded.