Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that elections in Rivers State should be about equity, peaceful co existence as a people and about encouraging those who aspire to office to work in the interest of the people.
The governor who stated this in his pre-election broadcast to the people of the state, however urge those who may have been offended by his actions or inactions to forgive him.
Amaechi said that he was optimistic that “these elections will be historic for us now that the whole world is watching and waiting to see the outcome.
“As a Nation, we have already set a good example for the whole of Africa in showing that we can decide our affairs devoid of rancour and violence. I am therefore confident that as a State, we can follow this trend as we head to the polls on Saturday for the gubernatorial elections.
“As a government, we have worked with you to make history in our state. We believe firmly in the resilient power of the people to determine what is best for them. Over the past 8 years, we have worked hard to make this possible. On April 11, we have a choice to continue this progress or endanger it.
The governor said that despite the marginalization of millions of Rivers people at the Saturday presidential and national assembly elections, the state cannot loose faith in the country or in democracy.
He said that the frontline contenders for presidency in the March 28th elections have taught Nigerians this much: our President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded the elections and congratulated the President Elect, Muhammadu Buhari, and the President Elect who commended the statesmanship of President Jonathan.
“Indeed as good leaders, they have left us a great example and their conduct should define ours in the coming days.
“With the largely successful elections of Saturday, March 28th, Rivers state cannot afford to be an exception, as we go to vote on Saturday, April 11th, 2015.
“As we prepare for that election, we have a little time to reflect on the issues at stake. It must be about Rivers state. It must be about its progress and the prosperity of all who live here and are from here. It must be about development, good governance, peace and security. We need to stand firm as a people for what we believe in.
“When that day breaks, I encourage you all to come out with your Permanent Voters Cards, walk to the polling station to get accredited, even if it rains, stand to be counted.”
Amaechi said that as its administration is finally winding down to the finish line. “I want to use this opportunity to thank you all for standing by me and our administration in the past eight years through many trying moments. But for your great company and incredible support, it would have been a much more difficult journey.
The governor however said that, in the days ahead, “we must continue to close our ranks for even more battles. We should never be deterred because the battles are not ours alone. God is on our side and victory will always be His.
“You will recall that a few months ago, we embarked on a journey to seek a new direction not just for our state but also for our country. That journey culminated in a general election; the first part took place on March 28th; the second part will take place on 11 April.
“It is with great pleasure therefore that I address you today as we set our eyes on the governorship elections, scheduled for Saturday, April 11 2015, to elect the administration to complete the job we started.
“Our vision when we came into government was clear. It was to provide our people with all the things that would enable them live in a pleasurable, peaceful and harmonious society.
“Understanding the challenges of poverty and want, we worked to ensure a level ground for all our children to have access to free and qualitative education and for all our people to enjoy free health.
“We worked to improve our infrastructure and made our environment more business friendly. All of these were geared to return our state to its pride of place – and we made significant progress.
“Sadly this progress began to deteriorate as Rivers state faced numerous denials especially the loss of our oil wells. For years, we tried to persuade the government at the centre to be fair to our people and return their revenue and rights to enable us use them for our peoples’ ultimate good but this was denied them.
“With dwindling federal revenue as a result of questionable fiscal management and more recently dwindling oil prices, all states around the country found it difficult to meet their obligations to the people.
“The case wasn’t any different in Rivers State. I was indeed pained when on a visit to Igwuruta town, I met a woman who complained that her children couldn’t go to school because they couldn’t pay the examination fees introduced by head teachers to address some of their funding issues.
With regards to security, Amaechi said that the state government had battled all those who plunged our state into insecurity and “we were winning the security battle with the support of the security agencies.
“Again our gains in this area were badly eroded as political battles caused some persons to take our state back to those inglorious days of crime and criminality.
“Unperturbed by the result of encouraging crime, they worked assiduously to compromise our security agencies, destroy the security system and give impetus to persons who hitherto had found criminality no longer profitable.
Amaechi said that his government will do its best to stem this drift and expressed the hope that the government that takes over from him will do even more.
“With a new government at the centre, the need to perform to justify the confidence of Nigerians would be stronger now than ever before. Rivers state will therefore be well positioned to benefit from this new dawn.
“If we appreciate the need for free education, free health, improved infrastructure and agriculture programmes that create jobs, then it makes sense for us to go out on April 11 and vote for a government that has the integrity and impetus to deliver on all of these.
The governor used the spirit of the Easter to appeal to all those who may have been offended by his actions or inactions to forgive him.
“As your governor, elected to serve you, we have always meant well, and will always mean well. As our administration winds down, we wish to guarantee you that we will do everything to ensure that we fulfill our promises to you and give you good reason to be glad that you are Rivers people, proud, resilient and greater together.”
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