Embattled Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has again traced his political persecution to his determination not to allow the ceding of oil wells in the state to neighbouring states in the South-south and South-east geo-political zones.
Amaechi spoke on Monday when the people of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, led by former Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Gabriel Toby, and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Mr. Dakuku Peterside, member representing Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency, paid him a solidarity visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Amaechi said: “This battle is not mine; it is the battle over our oil wells. They have handed over our oil wells to Akwa-Ibom; they handed over our oil wells to Abia; and now, they are fighting to hand over our oil wells to Bayelsa State. We need protection. This is our struggle for protection. In 2007, we were number one in oil and gas production in the region. By 2010, we were made number two and today; we are struggling to maintain that number two position.”
The governor, however, vowed to continue to protect the development programmes he had initiated in the state even as he disclosed that his administration had invested N500 billion on road projects alone between October 2007 and now.
He also promised to complete the ongoing Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road before the end of the year as well as complete the Opobo Fish Farm, in order to create job opportunities for youths from the area.
The governor appealed to people of the area to continue to remember him in their prayers and stand by him wherever he decides to go.
Ameachi you’re a liar,arrogant & irresponsible to be a governor.
@Ekerette Inokon you are the ingrate, Goodluck jonathan wants to steal from the River and give to the Bayelsa and you expect him to keep quite or until people start chopping themselves with machete.