Rivers State Governor,  Chibuike Amaechi has called on the people of Etche to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party will ensure the return of their lost oil wells, and deliver more infrastructure in the area.
Speaking during the APC guber rally at Okehi, headquarters of Etche Local Government Area yesterday, he reminded the people that the People Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government has failed to develop or site any project, in Etche and has denied them their resources by ceding their oil wells to Abia State.
Amaechi said, “I will tell you why President Jonathan dislike the Etche people. You can see that the road from Igwuruta to Abia State is a federal road, and the road from Omerelu to Omuma also belongs to the Federal Government, but none of these roads have been reconstructed”.
Amaechi held that on assumption of office in 2007, he embarked on massive transformation of the area, and assured that before he exits office on May 29th, work on the Igbo-Etche Road would commence.
On the request by the PDP to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for its presidential campaign, he said, “we will not release the newly built Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium to the PDP for their campaigns. This is because the PDP denied the APC from using the Eagle Square in Abuja for their campaigns. There must be law and order in this state, where Iam the governor. The PDP should go and use the Elekahia Stadium”.
He also dispelled claims over the authenticity of APC Presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari’s school certificate, accusing the PDP of diversionary tactics in addressing corruption. The Peoples Democratic Party should tell Nigerians why they have refused to eradicate corruption in President Jonathan’s administration. Our economy is so bad that the PDP-led government could not account for the missing N2.3 billion.
“And so far, on Buhari’s certificate, he has produced the certificates he obtained in Provincial College, Katsina”.
Amaechi, who is also the Director-General of Gen. Buhari Campaign Organisation challenged the PDP guber candidate in the state to an accountability contest, expressing fear that the resources of the state will not be safe if he is elected governor.
The governor said, the APC candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside remains the best choice for Rivers people in order to sustain development, peace and unity in the state, adding that Peterside is known for prudent management of resources under his care.
On his part, the APC candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside  urged people of Etche to come out enmasse to vote for its presidential and other candidates during next months’ elections.
Peterside said, “the people of Etche know the difference between light and darkness. We shall complete all projects embarked upon by Governor Amaechi, we will do more in Etche. I promise to bring zero-tolerance to violence in Etche. We will support small scale farmers and lift people out of poverty”.
The Eli 1 of Okehi Kingdom in Etche, His Royal Majesty, Eze  S.E. Ukaegbu prayed for  peaceful polls next month,  and later conferred the chieftaincy title of Ogumba 1 of Etche Kingdom on Governor Amaechi.
Meanwhile, Pensioners in Rivers State have been assured of receiving their entitlements before the end of February.
The state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi gave the assurance when he appeared live on a local radio station yesterday in Port Harcourt.
He blamed the backlog of stipends owed to the senior citizens on the dwindling state allocation, stating that the current wage bill of civil servants stands at N9.2 billion monthly.
Amaechi said “the pensioners are suffering but we will try and assuage their sufferings.”
The governor blamed the Federal Government for the dwindling state allocation, stating that unless the level of corruption at the centre is curtailed, the country will continue to suffer economic woes.
Amaechi used the medium to comment on the recent outbreak of Cholera in Andoni Local Government Area and the bird flu in some parts of the state, noting that he has directed that all affected birds be slaughtered in the affected farms.
Reacting to the Cholera outbreak, the governor remarked, ”our water scheme is robust in Andoni, but we have not been able to go to all the villages.”
Hinting of plans to construct boreholes in some of the villages, Amaechi assured of government’s readiness to curb the menace.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has picked holes in the recent slash in fuel pump price from N97 to N87 by the Federal Government last weekend.
In his view, the price needs to be further slashed to reflect the slump in the price of crude oil in the international market.
He maintained that the price of fuel is supposed to hover between N40 and N50, and therefore, called on the citizenry to demand accountability from the government.
The governor further urged the people to vote out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government in order to rescue the national economy from worsening.

R-L: Vice President Namadi Sambo, Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar, PDP National Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uche Secondus, Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Engr. Seyi Sijuwade during the official commissioning of Nigeria Railway Corporation at Port Harcourt Station recently. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson