State Creation ’ll Favour Rivers, Says Ake

L-R:Minister of Information and Communications, Prof Dora Akunyili, Rivers State Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Mr Gbenga Adefaye, President Nigerian Guild of Editors, at the opening ceremony of the sixth NGE conference held at Hotel Presidential, yesterday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

The age-long dream of Rivers people to split Rivers State may well be a reality as soon as the on-going constitution amendment is concluded by the National Assembly.

The Senator representing Rivers West District, Senator Wilson Ake said that every effort is being made to ensure that as an economically viable area, the state is given more opportunities for development through the creation of another state out of it.

Speaking to The Tide correspondent at the  Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Senator Ake hinted that a group of Senators supporting state creation has been formed in National Assembly, pointing out that Rivers State has all it takes to have another state carved out of it.

According to him, Ahoada State instead of Orashi is top on the number of memorandum submitted for consideration as well as those from Bonny, Kalabari and Ogoni axis of the state.

“Many states are demanding for state creation and Rivers State is one of those that will definitely be considered because it is economically viable”, he stressed.

Creation of more states, Senator Ake said, would pave way for development,  citing Yenagoa, Bayelsa  State headquarters as a typical example of the benefit of state creation.

“There wouldn’t have been such infrastructural development in Yenagoa if Bayelsa State was not created out of Rivers State”.

The Senator stated, adding that all the senators representing states demanding for new ones are vigorously pursuing the cause.

Senator Ake called on Nigerians to support and keep faith with President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as  there will be changes in governance.

Shedie Okpara