Amaechi Pledges Support For Widows Of Dead Soldiers

Campaign activities dominated activities in Govern
ment House last week, only on Thursday did the governor observe a break to honour the nation’s fallen heroes when he participated in the Armed Forces, Remembrance Day Celebrations.
Early in the week, Governor Chibuike Amaechi and other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign train visited Owerri, capital of Imo State.
The penultimate week, the Buhari Presidential campaign had visited Enugu and Ebonyi states. But as at last weekend, the campaign had covered Edo and Anambra states.
Governor  Amaechi returned to the state on Thursday to participate in the closing ceremony of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. The Governor, his deputy, Tele Ikuru, security chiefs and chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Giniwa, were among those that laid wreath at the cenotaph of the unknown soldier, at Boro Park in Port Harcourt.
After the ceremony, the governor through the Secretary to the State Governor, Mr George Feyii addressed Legionnaires in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said the State Government deeply appreciated the sacrifice made by members of the armed forces, saying the freedom and unity being enjoyed today in the country was as a result of hardwork and effort of the armed forces.
Amaechi, therefore, pledged to address the plight of widows and relatives of dead soldiers, while assuring that requests made by the state chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col (Rtd) Philemon Chinda for loans and pilgrimage slots to members would be addressed.
On his part, Col. Philemon Chinda thanked the state government for its assistance and support, while using the occasion to seek for the construction of a permanent secretariat for the body.
Chairperson, widows of Ex-Servicemen in the state, Mrs Anidima Pepple challenged government to come to their aid. She pleaded that the State Government should provide loans, scholarships and other assistance to reduce the plight of relatives of ex-servicemen.
Shortly after addressing ex-servicemen as part of activities making the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the governor headed straight to the State House of Assembly to present the state’s 2015 budget.
According to Governor Amaechi, the State is to expend about N335 billion, about 30 per cent less than that  of 2014. He used the occasion to enumerate the achievements recorded in last year’s budget, which included increased employment, better infrastructure, better educational and health facilities.
A breakdown of the budget indicates that among the sectors, the economic sector got the largest chunk of N31.77 billion, social sector had N17.69 billion.
Among the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Works had the largest allocation of N20.3 billion, followed by Education, N10 billion, Rivers Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), N10 billion.
The governor stated that the monorail project will be pursued to aid transportation in the city and further promised that the administration will not leave financial burden, as the budget will complete ongoing projects.