2011: Amaechi Declares, Wednesday

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left), his wife, Judith, receiving the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye at Government House, Port Harcouirt, recently. With them is a pastor of the church, Belema Ogbunge. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State will formally declare his intention to contest the 2011 governorship election on Wednesday.

The official declaration will put to rest speculations surrounding the governor’s second term bid, and it is expected to be attended by people from all walks of life including politicians and Rivers people who have expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Amaechi administration in the past three years.

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion while Chief Tony Anenih, a member of the Board of Trustees of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be the chairman.

The venue of the event is Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Governor Amaechi had recently told members of his campaign organisation to focus their electioneering campaigns on values and issues that promote development of the state, rather than join issues with opponents.

Speaking while formally inaugurating a 9-member campaign team in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi said he wanted his campaigns to be value-based.

“What should determine what you say should be issues of development of our people, not the insults from opponents,” he said, adding, “let’s try to win our opponents over by decent campaign.”

The governor who also urged them to set the agenda to transform the face of Rivers State, said they should enlighten the people on the various programmes of Governemnt, and shun the use of insultive or abusive words on other aspirants or candidates, but focus on issues that would bridge the gap between them and other candidates.

The state chief executive also enjoined them to prepare for the PDP primaries and work with the party to sell their candidates to the public.

“You must satisfy members of the party and make them accept us,” the governor noted, while reminding members of the organisation of the challenging task ahead of them.

The governor noted that it was important for them to start and end with God, for, according to him, no one can win an election without Him.

Responding on behalf of the campaign organization, the Director-General, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike thanked Governor Amaechi for the confidence reposed in them, and assured him that with God on their side, they would deliver at the end of the day.

Chief Wike, who is also the Chief of Staff of Government House, said already the team had gotten a campaign headquarters office.

Other members of the campaign organisation include Chief Ibe Eresia-Eke, Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Alamese Martyns Yellowe, Chief Clifford Oparaodu, Mr Charles Awortu, Mr Nnamdi Okere, Mr Chuma Chienye and Mr David Iyofor.

It would be recalled that youths of the state under the auspices of Rivers Youth Movement (RYM) had on December 10, 2010 organised a two-million man march in Port Harcourt calling on the governor to contest the governorship election in 2011 owing to the good works his administration has been doing in the state within the past three years.

It is heartwarming that the Amaechi administration has made remarkable strides in the health, education and power sectors among other sectors of the state.

The administration’s strides in road construction and infrastructural development have won the governor uncommon accolades.