Governor Amaechi at 50: Creator of Modern Rivers State and Lion of Niger Delta Politics - APC

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has been hailed as the creator of modern Rivers State only comparable to the creator of the old Rivers State, HRH Alfred Diete-Spiff.

“This is the inescapable conclusion when one takes time to study Amaechi’s feats in the infrastructure change and revolution taking place in Rivers State today that includes creating the new Port Harcourt Mega City that has one of the best modern stadiums and other edifices only obtainable in modern cities of Europe,” said the State Chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while congratulating Amaechi on the occasion of his 50th birthday held today, May 27, 2015 in Port Harcourt.

APC in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, described Amaechi as an the Lion of the Niger Delta politics who orchestrated the unseating of a seating PRESIDENT in his capacity as the Director General of an opposition political party that led the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the history of Nigerian Politics to dismantle the PDP structure during the 2015 polls.

Dr Ikanya further described Gov Amaechi as an ENIGMA of our time, an icon of our democracy, a role model, a dogged fighter and an embodiment of development whom President Jonathan and his cohorts tried to stop from contesting as Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum but went ahead to contest and won. They tried to impeach him with 5 Lawmakers and failed; they tried to nullify his election at the Supreme Court and failed; they suspended him from PDP and only succeeded to dig the grave of the party and they also tried to impose a Chief Judge through NJC against the same man and failed. Governor Chibuike Amaechi is a man who has never lost any political battle.

Gov Amaechi who was born in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, on May 27, 1965 has today against all predictions became a world beater, a force to reckon with in Nigeria’s political firmament even before his 50th birthday. He was named Chibuike, which means ‘God is all Powerful’ and Rotimi, an abridged version of Oluwadurotimi, meaning ‘the Lord stands by me’, while Amaechi means ‘who knows tomorrow?’ Remember the popular phrase, what is in a name? One does not need to be a sage to know that all the meanings embedded in his name are playing out in the acts and arts of politics in Amaechi’s life.

The party said: “For the records, not minding the current efforts by the present PDP Leadership to reintroduce militancy and insecurity in the State by empowering the militants to cause havocs to political opponents, Amaechi has succeeded before this time to rescue Rivers State from the hands of militants, whose activities made Port Harcourt to be described as the third most dangerous city in the world as at 2007 when Amaechi took over as Governor. He has since made the city an investors’ haven and has placed Port Harcourt prominently on the international map as the first African city to become the World Book Capital.

“We are happy that Amaechi survived all the intricate plots to remove him from office by enemies of democracy parading themselves as Abuja politicians and has, by so doing, become a pillar of Nigerian democracy.

“Governor Amaechi redefined the art of politics and governance in Nigeria when he introduced free education and free healthcare programmes in Rivers State and within a space of five years created over 50,000 jobs to reduce the menace of unemployment, poverty and insurgency in Nigeria. His administration started creating employment opportunities when he assumed office in 2007 by building over 140 Primary Health Centres, 23 model Secondary Schools that can compete with any modern university in Nigeria and over 300 Model Primary Schools which created job opportunities in the State. Each of these projects attracts about 100 workers. His government has created the Banana Farms that have created jobs for over 2,000 persons, revived Risonpalm, which was dead when he came in, and it has employed over 5,000 workers. The Songhai Farm has employed over 2,000 workers, while five Fish Farms in strategic locations have been completed.

“His administration has perfected measures to ensure 24 hours regular power supply in the state before the administration of President Jonathan messed up the whole plans. In this regard, the Amaechi Administration was able to build 88 sub-stations which are yet to be commissioned. Through the efforts of the Administration, the State is generating 545 megawatts of electricity, and also building facilities for another 180 megawatts. Before the end of this year, there will be 715 megawatts to ensure that Rivers State and her people have 24 hours uninterrupted power supply.

“We thank God for giving us a Governor like Amaechi, who has proved that he is a truly patriotic and committed leader who desires the emancipation and development of his people. He stands as the best product politically from Rivers State and can be crowned as the icon of democracy and embodiment of development as he has a lot to offer in building the type of Nigeria envisaged by the founding fathers of our nation. We wish Governor Amaechi many happy returns on this occasion of his 50th birthday and pray for God’s continued blessings on him as he expends himself in the service Nigeria from May 29th, 2015 in a new capacity.”