Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has called on people of the state to choose a credible leader that will succeed him on May 29, 2015.
Amaechi made this call on Sunday during an Inter-Denominational Church Service marking the 54th Independence Day Anniversary held at St. Cyprians Anglican Church in Port Harcourt.
He stated that the era of imposition of candidates on the people was over and advised the people to choose wisely and participate actively in the electoral process.
According to him, “Rivers people have a right to choose who will lead them in 2015 in a free and fair election; they have the mandate to do so”.
The governor thanked God for creating the enabling environment for him (Amaechi) to keep fulfilling his promise to serve God and the poor.
The NGF Chairman, however, decried the consistent dwindling of Federal allocations to the state from N25bn naira to N12bn, adding that development had slowed down the completion of some ongoing projects embarked upon by his administration.
“The situation we find ourselves now is really critical. We have started owing salaries of workers and nobody knows when this will end. Rivers people should know that Rivers State Government now receives N12bn instead of the usual N25bn as monthly allocation.
“This has grossly affected our projects and work has stopped in some ongoing projects in the state. I am still looking for funds to pay some of the contractors and salaries. Things are no longer the same.
“Things are getting worse. I am not the problem, it is from the Federal government”, Amaechi stated.
Earlier, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Rivers State, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, called on the people and residents of the state to play an active role in ensuring a peaceful co-existence in the state.
Aggrey, who was represented by the Vice Chairman of CAN in the state, Reverend Ibim Anabraba, enjoined people of the state to use the period of the 54th Independence Anniversary celebration to pray for the unity of the nation, and Rivers state in particular.
He also thanked Governor Amaechi for dedicating the state to God during his administration and for playing a major role in the rapid development of the state since he assumed office in 2007.
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