Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the position by Governor Nyesom Wike that the Federal Government under the watch of President Buhari has not done much for Rivers State and the Niger Delta Region.
A statement by its Chairman, 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 to be available at affordable cost, the plant will boost employment, crop yield to farmers and greatly help in minimizing the food grain deficit in Nigeria.”
