‘2 Million-Man March, A Voluntary Affair’

L-R: Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development, Barrister Osima Ginah, member of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Hope Ikiriko and Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor On Statistics, Strategic Planning, Okey N. Okirie, during a roundtable chat between the Two Million-Man-March Committee and The Tide Editorial Board, in Port Harcourt, on Monday. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

L-R: Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development, Barrister Osima Ginah, member of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Hope Ikiriko and Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor On Statistics, Strategic Planning, Okey N. Okirie, during a roundtable chat between the Two Million-Man-March Committee and The Tide Editorial Board, in Port Harcourt, on Monday. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

Rivers people have been urged to see the December 10, two million-man march planned for the endorsement of Governor Chibuike Amaechi for a second term in 2011, beyond party affiliation, as the programme was not a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) affair.

Deputy Leader, Rivers State House of Assembly and member of the Central Working Committee (CWC), Hon Hope Ikiriko told the editorial board of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation in its Roundtable media chat Monday, that the event was not also sponsored by the Rivers State Government.

According to him, voluntary appeals from teeming supporters of Amaechi were the strongest link in the chain to encourage him to re-contest in 2011.

He said the event “is broad-based and completely independent of the PDP campaign machinery.”

Describing Governor Amaechi as a man that has showcased integrity and accountability in the state, Hon Ikiriko said Amaechi deserves a high sense of gratitude from Rivers people and this can only be done through a massive support for him in 2011, to consolidate on his people-oriented projects in Rivers State.

He explained that the event was targeted at the youths, who are the active population of the state, and expressed optimism of an unprecedented turn-out.

The state Commissioner for Urban Development, facilitator for the two million-man march, Barrister Osimah Ginah, noted that apart from having a constitutional right to run for a second term, Governor Amaechi had performed exceedingly well in project delivery and should be encouraged to run for a second tenure to bring more developmental projects for the state.”

Ginah noted that the planned march was a strategic measure to mobilise Rivers people to turn-out en-masse for the forthcoming voters’ registration exercise, to enable them fully exercise their franchise.

The chairman, the Central Working Committee of the two million-man march programme, Hon Okey Okirie, expressed satisfaction over Amaechi’s style of leadership, which he said was evident in his numerous policies in human empowerment, education, infrastructure and healthcare delivery.

Also speaking, the President, Rivers Youths Movement, Engr Richard Alete, said the planned event was a fulfilment of RYM’s promise to Amaechi during a stakeholders forum in appreciation of his developmental strides in Rivers State. He, therefore, called on Rivers people and other residents in the state to turn out en mass and vote for Amaechi in the 2011 governorship election.

The Roundtable interaction session was also attended by the Special Adviser to Governor Amaechi on Pollution Control, Barrister Dickson Umunakwe, and the Grand Patron of RYM, Dr W. B. Weli.

Taneh Beemene