2015: Choose Credible Gov, Amaechi Tells Rivers People …Says No Room For Charlatans In Brick House

In what appeared to be his last Independence anniversary church service speech, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has implored the state citizenry to choose a credible successor in next year’s governorship polls.
Speaking at the 54th Independence anniversary church service held at St Cyprain’s Anglican Church, Niger Delta Diocese, yesterday, Amaechi urged the people to avoid voting for corrupt individuals.
“For me, I have almost finished. But you have the right to protect yourselves from Buccaneers. You have the right to choose who will lead you in 2015. You Christians must rise up and choose the right leader”, Amaechi stressed.
The governor noted that so far, he could boast of achieving good landmarks in some areas since the inception of his administration in 2007, but averred that the people have the final judgement.
“My people say no dancer can see his back. But the Agama lizard, after falling from a high tree, looked both ways and nobody praised him, he shook his head, and said, I have tried.”
One area Amaechi said he could boast of is in education, where he said, “I made promises to God that I will serve the poor. Giving money will not serve the poor but building schools…Serving the poor for me is education first. Believe me, I know what poverty is”.
He, however, admitted that more needs to be done even within the few months before  his exit, as he hinted of plans to commence performance assessment.
Amaechi also implored the church to always pray for the administration, adding that, “please, we have not finished in office. Continue to remind us what we need to do.”
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has said that Nigeria has a bleak future if things continue in the manner it is going in the country.
“Things are becoming more difficult than Shehu Shagari and Sani Abacha put together”, he said.
For him, very few people have moved from poverty to wealth under the current dispensation, hence he called on the citizens to seek for change as a way of changing their fortune.
He warned that unless there is change, the country will continue to face economic and political challenges, stressing that, “by December, you will read more of states that are owing salaries…It is not caused by the state government but by the declining revenue allocation.”
Earlier in his sermon titled, “God Is With Nigeria”, Bishop of Niger Delta Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev. Ralph Ebirien submitted that God loves Nigeria, hence the reason the country is moving forward despite numerous challenges.
Ebirien urged Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation, as the country marks its 54th Independence anniversary.
Highlights of the church service included special thanksgiving and prayers offered for Nigeria, Rivers State and leaders.
Governor Amaechi read the first lesson, while his Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru the second lesson.
Meanwhile, Rivers state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has declared that Brick House has no vacancy for charlatans and  cultists.
Amaechi, who said this yesterday during a special prayer session organised by the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF) in Port Harcourt, also said that the Brick House is not for sale.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Sir Owene Wonodi, said that the next Governor of the state must be someone with a deep Christian  background.
He urged members of the foundation to continue to pray to God for His intervention as the state was passing through a difficult phase in its history.
In the meantime, the Rivers Leadership Advancement foundation (RIVLEAF), has canvassed for a riverine governor of Rivers South East extraction in 2015.
The National President of the Foundation, Sir Alex Wele, who said this during the special prayers, said that equity and justice demands that the governorship of the state be zoned to the riverine part of Rivers South East Senatorial Zone.
Wele said that, this has become necessary to ensure the unity of Rivers State.
He also said that time has come for politicians in the state to play by the rules of the game and give peace a chance, stressing that abusing a sitting governor is an act of disrespect to God and humanity.
Wele assured that the on-going search for a credible successor to the state governor will produce a good result, and urged the people to key into the programme.
He also pledged the readiness of the foundation to mobilize grassroots support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the prayer was to usher in peace in the state.

John Bibor

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi (2nd left), his Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru (2nd right),Bishop Niger Delta Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev Ralph Ebirien and other dignitaries, during the 2014 Independence Day church service at St Cyprians’s Anglican Church, yesterday