A statement by the Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State,
has condemned the position by Governor
Nyesom Wike that the Federal Government
under the watch of President Muhamamdu
Buhari has not done much for Rivers State
and the Niger Delta Region.
The APC Rivers state chapter chair, Davies
Ibiamu Ikanya, said Wike and critics forgot
that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a son of the
region in his six years as the President of
Nigeria “failed the region by not embarking
on any meaningful project in the region
apart from imposing Chief Nyesom Wike as
the Governor of Rivers State to promote
insecurity in the State and the region”.
It said in contrast, President Buhari has
proved within two years, that APC has the
best interest of the State and region at heart
by embarking on various interventions.
“In this regard, the party commends
President Muhammadu Buhari
Administration for the recent release of a
whopping sum of N900 billion owed the
Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC)
by previous federal administrations
including the administration of Dr. Jonathan.
“The party equally hails the APC-led Federal
Government for sustaining the Amnesty
programme, the successful kick-off of the
Ogoni Clean-up exercise, the Calabar–Lagos
Rail Line that cuts across the region, the
renovation and reconstruction of both
Enugu–Port Harcourt, Uyo–Calabar
Highways.
“The West-East Road, the renovation of the
Afam Power plant in Rivers State,
resumption of work on the Port Harcourt
International Airport, renovation and
reconstruction of the Enugu–Port Harcourt
Rail Line, among other projects”.
The party urged the NDDC Management to
ensure proper utilisation of the released
sum for the emancipation and development
of the region.
“With these bold interventions by the
Federal Government, we have no reason to
blame anybody or region for the
underdevelopment of our region if we fail to
make judicious use of the released sums,”
the party said.
Rivers APC also commended the Federal
Government for approving the release of
N2.7 trillion to the states to enable them
offset both the salary and pension arrears.
It pleaded with the State Governments and
relevant government agencies to cooperate
with the Federal Government and help to
ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians by
utilising the funds for the purposes for
which they are meant.
The party also hailed Acting President, Prof
Yemi Osinbajo on his visit and also
commended Minister of Transportation Rt.
Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for his work,
“The party commends Prof. Yemi Osibanjo
for not minding his busy schedules to
accept to inaugurate the world-class
fertilizer plant built by Indorama Eleme
Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, in Port
Harcourt.
“It is the world’s largest single-train Urea
plant, and one of the ambitious green field
projects of Indorama in Nigeria which has a
production capacity of 4000 metric tons
(MT) of nitrogenous fertilizers per day or 1.5
MT per annum.
“Besides making the fertilizer products
available at affordable cost, the plant will
boost employment, crop yield to farmers
and greatly help in minimizing the food
grain deficit in Nigeria.”
