Governor Chibuike Amaechi has called on the people of the state to vote for  the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) if they want to continue enjoying the gains of the annual CARNIRIV festival.
Speaking after participating in the free style street parade on Saturday in Port Harcourt in company of APC gubernatorial candidate, Hon Dakuku Peterside and other top functionaries of government, Amaechi said, “I believe APC will win and will not allow what happened to old CARNIRIV to happen.
The governor who is from APC will sustain this tempo and will win and another APC governor will continue, because APC must produce that governor that understands the pains of the people.”
Amaechi expressed optimism that the programme has achieved the vision for which it was set up.
He said, the crowd excitement and participation shows that the people have embraced the festival and would want an incoming APC government to sustain the tempo, “the level of chanting, the level of support we get from the streets indicate that this is APC state. No matter what the PDP do or federal government bring, this is an APC state and we are waiting for the elections.”
He challenged those in the opposition to show their level of fitness to govern the state, “Am older than the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP let him take a walk like me. Let him take a walk of 10-15 kilometres. I took 10-15 kilometer of walk to the stadium to show them that I’am strong and fit and those emperors who are in PDP cannot do the things I do. They can’t dance, they can’t pop up the young men. If you see me and the young men you would not know I’am 49.”
The APC governorship candidate in the state, Hon Peterside promised to sustain the gains of the CARNIRIV. He noted that what was required is youthful zeal and energy, stating that the festival has huge potentials for the state.
Peterside said, “we are going to devote most of our time fighting poverty, creating wealth and conducive environment for our people to realize their potentials. Today we have shown that tourism is one pillar of that new order.”
The federal lawmaker representing Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency pointed out that so far, CARNIRIV has shown investors that there is peace in the state and that more of such investors will come in if a peaceful atmosphere is sustained.
Meanwhile, the Okrika Local Government Area has won the first prize in this years Rivers Cultural Canival (CANIRIV). The local government area won all the major prizes at the finals in Ekere competition, Boat Regettas and Heritage float.
In Ekere competition, Okrika beat Gokana LGA to the second position while Port Harcourt LGA came third.
In Boat Regetta, Okrika also beat  Bonny LGA to the second position while Andoni LGA came third.
Okrika LGA also won the first position in the Canival float ahead of Ogu/Bolo LGA which took second position while Ahoada East/Ahoada West Came third.
The Rivers State Cultural Carnival has been described as one legacy that will drive the economy of the state.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) guber standard bearer, Hon Dakuku Peterside made the assertion when he represented Governor Amaechi at the Local Government areas floats parade last Friday in Port Harcourt.
He said there was need to sustain the vision, in order to make the state the tourism hub of the country.
According to him, “The Rotimi Amaechi led administration re-initiated CARNIRIV some seven years ago “first is to promote our rich cultural heritage and indeed preserve our identity as unique, peace loving people. People who can co-exist in diversity. The second reason is to boost our tourism potentials and prove to the world that Rivers State is the  preferred tourism destination.”
He said, “looking back after seven years the government of Rivers State can beat its chest and say indeed we have accomplished the reason for starting CARNIRIV seven years ago.”
The legislator representing Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency promised that the APC government will work for the betterment of the people and bring about a prosperous state.

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi Performing the foundation stone laying of the Akpor Traditional Centre at Ozuoba in Obio -Akpor, weekend