Nearly eight months to the expiration of his term in office, the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Chibuike Amaechi, has called on Rivers people to choose a credible successor that will take over from him on May 29, 2015.
Mr. Amaechi stated this, Sunday, during an Inter-Denominational Church Service marking the 54th Independence Day Anniversary held at the St. Cyprians Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
He maintained that the era of imposition of candidates on the people is over and advised Rivers people to choose wisely by embracing democratic values and actively participating in the electoral process.
According to him, “Rivers people have a right to choose who will lead them in 2015, in a free and fair election, they have the mandate to do so.”
He also used the opportunity to thank God for creating the enabling environment for him (Amaechi) to keep his vow, which he said, was a commitment to serve God and the poor.
Governor Amaechi, however, decried the consistent 0qdwindling of Federal allocations to the state from N25 billion naira to N12 billion, a development which he announced has slowed down the pace of some on-going projects embarked upon by his administration.
“The situation we find ourselves now is really critical. We have started owing salaries of workers and nobody knows when this will end. Rivers people should know that Rivers State Government now receives N12billion instead of the usual N25 billion as monthly allocation. This has grossly affected our projects and work has stopped in some on-going projects in the state.
I am still looking for funds to pay some of the contractors and salaries. Things are no longer the same. Things are getting worse. I am not the problem, it is from the Federal government”, Mr. Amaechi stated.
Also speaking, the chairman of CAN in Rivers State, Zilly Aggrey, called on Rivers people and residents to play an active role in ensuring peaceful co-existence in the state.
Represented by the Vice-Chairman of CAN, Ibim Anabraba, Mr. Aggrey enjoined Rivers people to use the period of the 54th Independence Anniversary celebration to pray for the unity of the nation, and Rivers State in particular.
He also thanked Governor Amaechi for dedicating the state to God during his administration and for playing a major role in the rapid development of the state since he assumed office in 2007.
In his sermon titled ‘God is with Nigeria,’ the Lord Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Ralph Ebirien, urged Christian faithful to emulate the sacrifices of brave nationalists who fought relentlessly for the independence of Nigeria in 1960.
Press Unit
Government House, PH.
PremiumTimes
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