Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has denied claims that he was using state resources to fund the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is as the APC governorship candidate in the state, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, called on the people of the state to vote for their destiny in 2015 by voting for his party.
Amaechi, while speaking at the Port Harcourt Local Government Area rally held to launch the campaign of Peterside at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, on Monday, maintained: “I don’t fund the APC.”. The Governor has been accused severally of single handed funding the opposition party and General Buhari which has earned him the name “APC ATM” in public.
He declared: “Rivers State Government has no money to fund the APC. They have been accusing me of using the state money to fund the APC. The APC is a big party, so it can fund its activities. I do not fund the APC with the state money. I challenge all those who have been accusing me of funding the APC to show just one account through which I fund the APC with monies belonging to the state.”
Amaechi pleaded with APC members in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area to endeavour to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote for General Muhammadu Buhari, (rtd) in February 14, 2015, presidential election, adding that: “Buhari can win the presidential election if you vote for him.”
He stressed: “Your vote can make the needed change in Nigeria. Buhari will make sure that the thieves among Nigerians do not steal your money again. He will then use the money he has saved from the thieves among Nigerians to build roads, and other infrastructure, fight poverty and create jobs for millions of Nigerians.”
Amaechi, while introducing the APC governorship candidate to the crowd as “my successor,” expressed dismay at the number of supporters who attended the rally.
“I want Port Harcourt Local Government Area to hold this rally again. This stadium has a capacity for 16,000 people. You promised us you were going to mobilise 20,000 supporters to the rally, but you could only mobilise 10,000 which is not good enough. Port Harcourt Local Government has over 106,000 registered APC members. So, you must repeat this rally.”
Addressing the rally, Peterside called on the people of the state to vote for their destiny and that of their children.
“The 2015 governorship election is not about ethnicity; it is not about our individual tribe; it is not about where you come from; it is about your destiny and the destiny of your children. It is about our collective future.”
He said his campaign and government would be predicated on four key policies. Security, respect for the rule of law; the regulation of infrastructural projects; the development of human capital and wealth creation.
Chairman of the APC in the state, Dr. Davis Ibiamu Ikayan, who thanked members of the party in the area for their support for Peterside, stated that the party would organise campaign rallies for its gubernatorial candidate in all the 23 local government areas in the state.
Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the spokesperson of the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, Sotonye. Dagogo, formally defected to the APC.
