In light of the recent attacks and external forces against the Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the State, the Rivers Caucus in the Federal House of Representatives in the National Assembly have pledged their solidarity and support for Governor Amaechi for putting smiles on the faces of Rivers people through his people-oriented projects and for successfully managing the affairs of the state in the past five years and four months.
Leader of the caucus, Honourable Asita, the Federal lawmaker representing Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency spoke on behalf of other members on Monday during a solidarity visit to the Governor at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Other Rivers Caucus Federal Lawmakers in the delegation include: Hon Sokonte Davies representing Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency; Hon Betty Apiafi representing Abua/Ahoada-East Federal Constituency; Chief Andrew Uchendu representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency; Hon. Dakuku Peterside representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency; Ogbonna Nwuke representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency; Hon. Pronem Morris representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency; Hon. Blessing Nsiegbe representing Port Harcourt City Federal Constituency II; Hon. Ken Chikere representing Port Harcourt City Federal Constituency I; Hon. Gogo Bright representing Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency; Hon. Dawari George representing Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency and Hon Barry Mpigi representing Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency.
While expressing satisfaction with the level of projects implementation in the state, the Rivers Caucus congratulated Governor Amaechi for his courage in giving the state its face-lift and speedy development.
“We are here to express and declare our support and appreciation to you, on how you have successfully and wonderfully managed the affairs of the state. In the past five years and four months, we are satisfied with the level of implementation and vision that you have shown, we are satisfied and indeed thankful to God for giving you to our state at such a time as this, and wish to congratulate you for the show of uncommon courage and statesmanship in the face of uncovered hostilities towards your person as Governor”, Asita said.
Speaking on the issue of PDP leadership in Rivers State, the Rivers Caucus stated that it cannot be silent in the face of obvious injustice, saying that they were among delegates who participated in the state congress organized by eminent and notable honourable leaders from the National Secretariat of the party to elect the Chief Godspower Ake led State Executive.
“Your Excellency, at trying times such as this, it is expected that as elected National Assembly representatives of Rivers people our positions are known for history and posterity concerning the various issues of mutual concern of which in recent times has taken a life of their own. We cannot be silent in the face of an obvious injustice, and wish to state that we were all delegates who participated with other delegates at the state congress organized by PDP eminent and notable honourable leaders from the National Secretariat of the Party, and at the end of that congress, the Chief Godspower Ake led State Executive was duely and properly elected”, Asita explained. It would be recalled that a handful of PDP members in the State, purportedly backed by some so-called powerful individuals in Abuja, have taken the G.U Ake led State PDP executive to court, challenging the election of the Ake led PDP executive in the State.
The Rivers Caucus Federal Lawmakers also thanked Governor Amaechi for fearlessly defending their collective mandate and assured him that they would join him in the fight against immorality and impunity against the will of Rivers people.
On issues concerning the East-West road construction, Hon. Asita said, as primary beneficiaries of the road traversing the state and their different constituencies, the Rivers Caucus should be seen as stakeholders and interested parties in the execution of the project which should be taken seriously.
“At different times Your Excellency, notable personalities in this region have expressed fear and concern over the slow and unserious nature of the execution of the East-West road construction project, we are happy that you agree no less with us, and challenge detractors of the Niger Delta people who suffered so much loss on this road to show proof to the contrary, but we are still worried that the road is still very deplorable and nothing significant has been done before and after you made those harmless rather patriotic comments that attracted unnecessary political interpretations”, Asita said.
The Rivers Caucus further maintained that they will continue to deploy the instrumentality of the National Assembly to focus on East-West road construction project with the expectation that the road when completed will enhance the economy of the Niger Delta region.
The delegation equally urged Governor Amaechi to challenge the unwholesome attempt to cede Rivers territory to other states, and also thank him for taking steps to defend the territory that make up the different constituencies which he (Amaechi) declared to protect on assumption of office as Governor of Rivers State.
“We encourage you to be steadfast, especially at times like this, so that one does not go to bed as citizen of Rives State, and wake up the following morning, as citizen of another state, or have our land ceded because of oil, we join all other well-meaning indigenes of the state to say no resources should be spared in this pursuit”, Asita said.
On his part, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi thanked the show of support by the Rivers State Caucus in the House of Representatives, saying that he will continue to discharge his responsibilities and also defend the Rivers territory which has a geographical location in the country’s constitution.
“We must as a people work together, your responsibilities as Federal Lawmakers is to watch out for those issues that will tamper with our resources, so that you can speak out”, Amaechi
said.
Meanwhile the Action Congress of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter has condemned in very strong terms, the recent solidarity visit to Governor Rotimi Amaechi by members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State.
The party in a statement issued and signed by its publicity secretary, Jerry Needam said such visit as far as it is concerned, is uncalled for, unnecessary, sycophantic, and ill motivated.
The party said it was dismayed to note that the Lawmakers are obsessed with positioning themselves in home matters but are unconcerned about bringing federal presence to their various constituencies in the state.
The ACN image maker, Jerry Needam said they view this latest activity of members of the National Assembly, who are mainly PDP members as act of showmanship, lack of vision and understanding of what their responsibilities are, and a demonstration that they have failed to march up with their colleagues in Abuja.
Instead of making laws and engaging in development projects like roads, electricity, water supply etc that would transform the lives of the common man and the electorate, Jerry Needam regretted that all the Lawmakers are doing is to invest their energy and resources into defending the governor who they believe holds the key to their political life and survival.
“It would be foolish however of any right thinking person to believe that the Lawmakers solidarity visit was genuine as it is a known fact that most of them, while in Abuja, drink and dine with opponents of the governor but come to the state to romance with the same man they work against in Abuja”, Jerry Needam pointed out.
He challenged the law makers to show Rivers people any project they have carried out in their area since they got the peoples mandate, demanding to know between the people and Amaechi who deserves the representatives’ solidarity?
The ACN publicity secretary, Jerry Needam therefore called on all those who were in the solidarity team to tender an unreserved apology to Rivers people, whom they have failed to represent well in the National Assembly, “Otherwise, we would initiate the process of their being recalled back home.
