Nigeria’s main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has continued its nationwide campaign for more members with a rally in Rivers State, Nigeria’s South-South region.

Top APC members, including the interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, and former Lagos State Governor, Chief Bola Tinubu, joined the host, Governor Chibuike Amaechi at the Save Rivers Movement Sensitization rally held at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, at the rally gave reasons for leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Amaechi said he joined the APC to protect the interests of Rivers State which had been neglected by the PDP led federal government.

He said the state suffers neglect and victimization, absence of federal government projects in the state and the ceding of oil wells in the state to neighbouring states.

Amaechi hinted on the reply of President Jonathan to former President Olusegun obasanjo where the former asked Obasanjo to show proof of those feeding him with information.

Governor Amaechi emphasized that he was one of the people that gave Obasanjo information, adding that he did so to save the country from impending collapse.

He urged people of the state to be politically conscious and become agents of progressive change to vote out the ruling PDP at the federal level.

Amaechi said APC holds the light to the country’s rapid development and would reduce general impoverishment in the country.

He said one of the reasons for his disagreement with the Federal Government was over the Soku oil wells in Rivers State, which were ceded to Bayelsa State and which the Rivers State government contested in court.

He emphasized that if the President returns the oil wells to Rivers State, he will not hesitate to return to the PDP.

“Legally, we have not lost Soku (oil wells). We have just lost Soku to the fact that the President is from Bayelsa. When a President that is not from Bayelsa comes, he will look at the facts and the facts are there. The Federal Government in writing the court said to court, ‘sorry, court, we made a mistake, we will correct the mistake’ and we have told Federal Government, ‘don’t call us for a meeting, go and correct that mistake.

“How could you people wake up in 2011, suddenly changed the map of Nigeria and take Soku into Bayelsa State!”

“That road to Bonny was awarded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. They started, they’ve done just one bridge. The road has been abandoned. Yar’Adua tried to restart it but he stopped. President Goodluck Jonathan has forgotten about that road completely despite the fact that part of the money that feeds the Nigerian economy comes from that place, Bonny. That’s where you have the natural gas plant”.

On his government’s bid to secure loan to provide potable water for Rivers people, Amaechi said the loan was being held up because of the challenge posed by the minister of finance who had not signed off on the loan.

He said President Jonathan’s letter failed to make reference to the World Bank, urging the President to stop playing politics of calumny.

“I will start from water, we got African Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank to give us a loan for which we will pay 0.4 per cent for 40 years which is a wonderful loan and we decided to give Port Harcourt people water first.



“If everybody in Rivers State is drinking (potable) water, that will reduce the number of patients that go to Braithwaite Memorial Hospital or any other hospital. World Bank agreed, Federal Government agreed, ADB agreed, they said, go and do due process. We have finished due process. What is remaining is for Minister of Finance to just sign off”.

He reiterated that his decision to join the APC was not for his personal interests but for the state and urged the people to discourage politics based on tribe or region and play politics for the collective interests of the people.

“It is not about Ijaw, it is not about South- South, because the first question I will ask myself is ‘what have I benefitted in the government of President Goodluck Jonathan? We gave him 2.1 million votes. What have we gotten? What has the federal government done for Rivers people?”

Amaechi said his critics in the state had been annoyed with him for his refusal to be corrupt, adding that the state police commissioner is influenced in his actions by the presidency.

He said that ahead of the 2015 elections, the people must be ready to defend their votes, and that he would be at the fore-front, as sacrifices would have to be made.

The APC leaders were thankful of the support of the Rivers people, and asked them to continue to throw their weight behind the party in its quest to entrench democratic principles in the polity.

They took turns to express their joy about the decision of the state governor to join the party, referring to their previous visit, during which they formally invited him to join the party.

On his part, the interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande commended Governor Amaechi for taking the bold step of leaving the PDP.

Akande described Amaechi as an asset any government will like to have in their fold.

Speaking to the large crowd of supporters, former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu said that the APC was determined to save Nigeria from the high level of corruption, intimidation and “oppression of liars”.

According to him, “if a president is just still writing about the evaluation of basic necessity of water project for Rivers State people, tell him shame”.

Tinubu applauded Rivers people for coming out en-mass to show solidarity to their Governor.

Tinubu stated that it was long overdue for Amaechi to dump the PDP, describing him as a progressive governor that needed to be in a progressive party.

He assured the people of Rivers State that they would not be disappointed with their new choice of party and admonished to look through the score card of APC in Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Nassarawa, among others.

General Buhari assured the people that the APC was about securing the country and managing it properly and the way they intend to achieve that was by getting a stronger representation in the states and at the National Assembly.

Former Head of state, General Buhari in his usual manner said APC would bring change to Rivers State.

He assured that the antecedents of Governor Amaechi spoke volume in the country.

Highlight of the event was the formal recognition of APC members in Rivers State, which saw Governor Amaechi as the number 1 member followed by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru.

Other dignitaries at the rally include South-south Chairman of the APC, Chief Tom Ikimi, Lai Mohammed, former speaker of the House of Reps. Aminu Bello Maisari, Magnus Abe, Andrew Uchendu, Dakuku Peterside, members of the State Executive council, the 23 Local Government Area chairmen, among others.
http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/12/24/amaechi-dares-jonathan-says-hes-part-obasanjos-informants/

Picture of rally

Rotimi Amaechi is a big fooool

Personally speaking don't think any party in Nigeria is worth joining but come 2015 i would prefer an APC candidate winning cause the fear of losing the next election would motivate them to work.

Rad1cal: Rotimi Amaechi is a big fooool

This Amaechi is the real deal. I have been following his interviews lately and for what its worth i see him as pragmatic.I am not from Rivers but on a national scale i will stick with this brother anytime.Have you been to port harcourt lately?

Thank you, Governor Amaechi for your bravity and for taking the better lead to provide Rivers people a good choice of leadership. I wish the totality of Rivers people would set out to verify these facts you have presented here.
With men like you, Nigeria is set for greatness.

What's your point?
You wish Gov. Amaechi stick with his supposed brother even when the said brother of his is taking the Oil Wells of Rivers State and awarding them to his cronies of Beyalsa and Akwa-Ibom States

fajoren: This Amaechi is the real deal. I have been following his interviews lately and for what its worth i see him as pragmatic.I am not from Rivers but on a national scale i will stick with this brother anytime.Have you been to port harcourt lately?

Amaechi has got the gut by openly expressing himself,if not for anything,I love his bravery.
I believe next election would be interesting,but my fear is the way APC is recruiting just anybody to its boat. Much like old wine,new bottle.

Ameachi now u are talking so its all about oil wells and money? So APC promise to get u oil well and u jst jumped into a ship of Thieves SMH for these progressives indeed

Amaechi is a two edged saw,if Apc dont honour the agreement he will turn and call them names.wayo master.

Our politicians are not honourable at all!

Shm....Amechi! Amechi!! Amechi!!! Hehehehe, dnt u rather watch ur tongue?......GEJ dnt tok much bt his a secret n slow achiever.(slow poison?)..i pity u shaa

I didnt see or hear Amaechi complaining when oil wells from Akwa Ibom were given to Rivers state. Soku people have always identified themselves as Nembe and NEVER as Kalabari, this is a Supreme court judgement so OBEY the court rulings bro after all they have mostly benefitted you, feel the other side.

This is what you get when a governor instead of investing the huge resources of the state on his people, he elects to invest it on champagne and cocaine. Too much of everything is bad.

This man now talks out of turn. Fani-kayode looks saner than Amaechi these days.

win win win. Go bring us the victory we seek in 2015.

NO COMPLAINANT SAYS THE TRUTH !!!

So this whole NONSENSE was all about Soku oil wall and loan not sign by the FG (finance minister)

So if FG return back the oil wall to Rvers state, Ameachi will return to PDP - the same political party he's insulted, called names, downgrade, etc................

So Soku oil wall and water are the best or only interest of Rivers people that's responsible for the underdevelopment of the state and the late crisis

Are these the only interest of Rivers people that need to be protected

So what happens if APC loses the 2015 presidential election wherein he's been promised "the come-back-of-Soku-oil-wall"

Would Ameachi not do same if he is the sitting president
FOLLOW NAIRALANDERS,
Do you know that the monthly Federal allocation to Rivers state (is about 20, 23, to 24 billion naira), and their internal generated revenues (next to Lagos state) alone can fund one Northern state budget for a whole year

AS FOR APC,
Is it about taking power from PDP or what your programs are and what you will do with the power if given ?? Has anyone asked what the manifestos of APC are ?? What are the caliber of persons in the APC (apart from the ACN governors and legislators)?? Are they AGGRIEVED POLITICIANS CONGRESS?? If so, can anything good come out of an aggressive or aggrieved mind?? Psychologically, is frustration causing this aggression or aggressive move, behavior and approach in righting the many wrongs in the Nigeria society??

Am just asking, no insult intended pls

People very close to the corridor of power keeps giving out information that are critical to our existence and GEJ just shy away.Inasmuch as I think OBJ and Amaechi aint saint but the alleged accusations by these people against Jonathan looks too real to be untrue.I think it is high time Jonathan started fixing things ahead of the next election.

D lion'sheart:
NO COMPLAINANT SAYS THE TRUTH !!!

So this whole NONSENSE was all about Soku oil wall and loan not sign by the FG (finance minister)

So if FG return back the oil wall to Rvers state, Ameachi will return to PDP - the same political party he's insulted, called names, downgrade, etc................

So Soku oil wall and water are the best or only interest of Rivers people that's responsible for the underdevelopment of the state and the late crisis

Are these the only interest of Rivers people that need to be protected

So what happens if APC loses the 2015 presidential election wherein he's been promised "the come-back-of-Soku-oil-wall"

Would Ameachi not do same if he is the sitting president
FOLLOW NAIRALANDERS,
Do you know that the monthly Federal allocation to Rivers state (of about 20, 23, to 24 billion naira), and their internal generated revenues (next to Lagos state) alone can fund one Northern state budget for a whole year

AS FOR APC,
Is it about taking power from PDP or what your programs are and what you will do with the power if given ?? Has anyone asked what the manifestos of APC are ?? What are the caliber of persons in the APC (apart from the ACN governors and legislators)?? Are they AGGRIEVED POLITICIANS CONGRESS?? If so, can anything good come out of an aggressive or aggrieved mind?? Psychologically, is frustration causing this aggression or aggressive move, behavior and approach in righting the many wrongs in the Nigeria society??

Am just asking, no insult intended pls

What else would it be about except Oil Money a whole Super Power Shock and Awe another devloped small country in the name of Oil+Money = Greedy Corrupt Poltheiftians, all over the world that is how it goes, so I am not surprised at all the antics.

You've captured the APC perfectly and the slickness Amaechi has portrayed in taking us away from the debate of Projects completed and his own state generated funds from the Awaka Ibom Oil. The FG has cut off his funding, but he is covering up funding he received to buy a state/personal jet that flys him around the world to complain and seek attention in western media, wasting tax payers of a River State on useless crys of abuse to people that could not help us.

Hmmmm. APC now equals PDP minus GEJ. Same set of corrupt minds coming together against the ruling party. I just wonder who will be their presidential candidate come 2015.

#teamShineYourEyes#

Rad1cal: Rotimi Amaechi is a big fooool

ur name says who you are. So am not suprised by your comment

iamtheprincipal: Thank you, Governor Amaechi for your bravity and for taking the better lead to provide Rivers people a good choice of leadership. I wish the totality of Rivers people would set out to verify these facts you have presented here.
With men like you, Nigeria is set for greatness.

What is bravity?

Rad1cal: Rotimi Amaechi is a big fooool

na ur papa mate

Rad1cal: Rotimi Amaechi is a big fooool

well, i will jst say, 'it takes a bigger one to knw a smaller'...

If amaechi is a big fool, then its only the biggest fool that will discern that. The small ones can't.

Lemme give u an example:

Jonathan, they say is clueless. But me i dnt knw o.

But av seen some comments on NL by people like sincere 9gerian which people termed as sensless. Well, i was forced to agree because majority carries the vote.

So, if the supporters of jonathan are clueless, and they say jonathan is also clueless, but the supporters dnt knw, by that theory, it means the supporters are lesser fools while Jonathan is the bigger.

And jonathan paying them to support him only means he knws they are all lesser fools. Only they dnt knw he was more clueless.

*disclaimer*
i didn't say anybody is a fool o cos i can't recognise one. i'm only making my conclusion based on the FACT that it takes a bigger fool to knw one, and from the comments on NL.

Thank u and dnt quote me.

If he meant GEJ indeed neglected Rivers State then I can authoritatively confirm that GEJ is murdering Abia State in stages when I look at the depelated state of Federal Roads in Aba and Abia State at large.

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, at the rally gave reasons for leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Amaechi said he joined the APC to protect the interests of Rivers State which had been neglected by the PDP led federal government.

Amaechi pls what happened to the 150 million dollars mega specialist hospital you entered into with clinotech of Canada, abi you think say we don forget ? Oga the 318 million dollars loan you took for elephantiasis monorail nko ? Youre talking about Soku oil wells forgetting that you lost the case at the high court, skipped the appeal court and took Bayelsa state govt straight to the Supreme court, pls oga bear the consequences. But honestly why was there 0 allocation for water in the Rivers state 2013 budget ?

Politics i hate.

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Rad1cal: Rotimi Amaechi is a big fooool

Very very big fool. The hawks in APC have massaged his ego. Not because they want him as such; but because he is the weakest link in the south south political fortress. But they forget this is not a man of the people.

People around this guy (Amachi) should tie him, take him to any nearby Psychiatric Center asap, before his condition becomes more outrageous and irreversible.