The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has called on the people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality to join forces with Rivers people to resist plan by the Federal Government to intimidate and influence the votes through the use of police to harass innocent citizens during 2015 elections.
Governor Amaechi made the assertion while addressing the people of Ikwerre during he 199th convention of the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization worldwide at Ahai Ogbakiri in Emohua local government area of Rivers State.
Governor Amaechi who recalled several efforts by the Federal Government to intimidate and prevent him from saying the truth on the abnormalities in the nation as well as protecting the interest of Rivers people, expressed optimism that his administration will survive the federal might.
According to him the only way to survive it is to mobilize our people, “we must prepare now to chase away those against our people”, the president said he is an Ijaw man, he cannot take away our oil wells that belong to Kalabari.
Gov. Amaechi also promised to remain detribalize leader until his tenure expires in 2015.
Gov. Amaechi who is also from Ikwerre extraction hinted the roles he played in the appointment of Barr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike as the Minister of Education and Chief Rt. Hon Austin Opara as the deputy speaker of the Federal House of Representative.
Amaechi who lamented despite his contributions to give the Ikwerre ethnic nationality a face-lift and give it a pride of place in Rivers State and on the nation stage, he has been betrayed by his brothers and are conniving with outsiders to fight him for their personal interest.
“When you see Nyesom Wike tell him I nominated him to be a minister, have one witness sitting here today, Chief Sampson Agbaru is my witness, he leads other prominent sons and daughters of Ikwerre to see president Goodluck Jonathan and President Jonathan said he did not know from Adam that when Amaechi brought Wike’s name he (Jonathan) opposed the former Chief of Staff, I begged President Jonathan severally and consistently because I wanted Wike to be a minister but today Nyesom Wike has betrayed me for selfish reason”.
And also by the grace of God, I made Austin Opara the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, God used me, prominent politicians came to me and told me to be the captains in one boat if I make Austin Opara deputy speaker, I might not be the political leader of Ikwerre, but I said I want my people to benefit and I picked Austin Opara’s name and we battled to make him the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
According to him, among those I also helped was Professor Simon Chituru Achinewhu to be the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology who also flew abroad when he was seriously sick but how he is among those accusing me and writing against me on the pages of the newspapers.
Earlier in his address the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization worldwide, Professor Augustine Onyeozu described the current waves of politicking in the state as alarming pointing out that such can cause permanent injuries to individuals and communities.
According to him, bitterness in politics can result to hatred among friends and relations. It can also bring conflict, divisions and destructions.
He urged Ikwerre sons and daughters to come out in their numbers to fight against violence in Port Harcourt, “because any violence in Port Harcourt is violence in Ikwerre land”. ###
