Gentlemen of the press,
After a careful appraisal of the political developments in Rivers
State in the past two years, we have come to the conclusion that
certain issues require special mention and documentation for the
purpose of clear understanding, direction and benefit of posterity.
1. Political parties often operate open-door policy because the game
of politics is a game of numbers. In the Nigerian political milieu,
change of parties is common especially since the present democratic
journey that began in 1998. However, very recently we have seen
individuals from the opposition decamp and join our party, the APC.
While some of the persons have teamed up with us to add value to the
business of our party, a few have turned out to be moles in search of
pecuniary benefits. Disappointed that the APC operates on a high moral
ground where pecuniary interest has no place, some of these decampees
have beaten a retreat back to their original party. Unfortunately, in
doing so, they have tried to impress their new masters through planted
articles in newspapers and other malfeasance. We know that these
persons have notched up notoriety in lies and propaganda and pride
themselves so much in doing so. This time particularly, their exit
propaganda was to plant a highly noxious, obnoxious and vexatious
story in a national newspaper portraying the APC in Rivers State as
having broken into factions. The particular individual behind this
heinous contraption knows that we know him. He also knows that all his
life he has thrived on lies, brainless propaganda and worthless
betrayal of friends and associates including those he has now run back
to. We can only wish him and his co-travellers journey mercies to
their original company.
2. We note with shock a statement credited to a group that calls
itself Rivers Elders Consultative Council led by a certain Dr.
Granville Abiye Georgewill in which the said Dr. Georgewill disparaged
the person of our respected leader and mentor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi, Honourable Minister of Transportation for allegedly
facilitating a stakeholder meeting during the visit of Acting
President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to Rivers State recently.
While we are averse to joining issues with nebulous and highly
compromised individuals based on our highly principled stance in
politics, we can attest that the second stakeholders meeting
facilitated by the APC provided veritable platform for groups and
ethnic nationalities that were technically shut out from the meeting
held in Government House, Port Harcourt to make their presentations
for the restoration of peace and development of oil and gas bearing
communities in Rivers State. We believe that the public can attest to
this and indeed know better than the so-called Rivers Elders
Consultative Council can ever do. It is not for us to belabour this
matter than to leave it for posterity to judge.
It was the second meeting facilitated by the APC that provided
platform for the people of Etche, Oceania Communities, Ogoni, Okrika,
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Civil Society organizations, amongst others, to
make their presentations to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
However, we thank the Rivers Elders and Leaders Council led by Chief
Albert Horsfall for committing to identifying the root cause of
disunity and division in the state and pledging to find a lasting
solution to it for the benefit of Rivers people.
3. We are proud that our leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is
driving the complete modernisation and repositioning of the nation’s
transportation system especially the long neglected railways and
airports. We note with joy that his effort is already bearing fruit as
the transportation sector is being given a total turnaround to meet
present day expectations. We salute our leader’s vision, tenacity and
drive to secure the support of Mr. President and the National Assembly
in the building of Calabar – Port Harcourt – Lagos Coastal Rail Line
and the commencement of work at the long-abandoned Port Harcourt
International Airport. We believe these projects will bring about
life-changing impact on the people of Rivers State, the Niger Delta
and indeed Nigeria at large.
4. We unequivocally state that the APC Family in Rivers State under
the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi remains solidly
unified, cohesive and intact. We wish to warn that any person or
persons in the family that may lend themselves to the machinations of
the enemy will be doing a great disservice to the party. We urge the
party to watch out for such persons and take appropriate disciplinaru
actions in established cases. We re-iterate that the loyalty of each
and every member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers
State is to the party, under the able leadership of OUR GREAT LEADER,
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi CON.
Long live All Progressives Congress!
Long Live Rivers State!!
SIGNED
Chris Finebone APC PUBLICITY SECRETARY
RIVER STATE