Boastful Junior Minister of Federal Ministry of Education, Chief Nyesome Wike, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was today exposed as all noise and no substance as ‘Hurricane Amaechi’ blew across Wike’s place of origin and purported stronghold, Obio-Akpor Local Government in Rivers State. WIke’s loud boasts of being the political strongman of the area were exposed as tissues of lies by his own people as Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and State Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stormed the local government area as part of his ‘Meet the People’ tour.

Before the visit of Governor Amaechi to Obio-Akpor, his Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, and Hon. Lawrence Chukwu, the CTC Chairman, had for the past two months toured the area and prepared the people for the visit through several philanthropic activities that earned the Chief of Staff the nickname, Chief MKO Abiola of Rivers State.

Governor Amaechi was enthusiastically received at each of the Wards by an unprecedented crowd. It was more of a home coming for the Governor, who used the opportunity to throw more light on his government’s projects in each of the Wards. Women – both old and young – chiefs, elders, men, artistes, political leaders, non-indigenes, the handicapped, youths, masquerades and even children all gathered to pay homage to a son who has redefined politics as agent of change.

According to the speakers while addressing Amaechi in most of the communities, “Developmental strides shall continue to speak for you, even in 2015 and beyond. The network of roads, schools, hospitals and healthcare centres, human capacity developments, empowerment of Rivers people by the State and Local Government councils, all these communities are beneficiaries. You have broken the jinx of underdevelopment in most of the communities in Rivers State.”

The turnout of non-indigenes was something else and, according to Alh. Usman Lamido and Mr. Chris Omerulu, who spoke on behalf of the non-indigenes, “We have seen the developmental strides in Rivers State. What you have done in the state has compelled us to say we will support you anywhere you go. We will follow you anywhere you go. Sir, your people shall be our people and our people shall be your people. We will follow you because you have established yourself as a trailblazer, agent of change, patriotic and detribalised Nigerians that have given us hope in a vibrant and united Nigeria.”

Hon. Ike Chinwo, a one-time member of the Federal House of Representatives and a political heavyweight from Obio-Akpor, observed that Governor Amaechi’s visit can only be described as a political hurricane and uprooting of any structure Chief Wike may have had in Rivers State. He further stated: “I must congratulate and commend Chief Tony Okocha for not only demystifying Chief Wike in his Local Government to demonstrate to the entire world that Chief Wike is just deceiving President Jonathan and his cohorts that he is on ground politically while he is just an empty noise-maker.”

Reacting to the encomiums poured on him in most of the communities, Chief Tony Okocha stated: “I am happy that since I assumed office as the Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, I have erased indiscipline, corruption, criminal acquisition, insubordination to the Governor, arrogance, nepotism and have promoted acts of excellence in the affairs of governance in the government unlike when Wike held sway as the Chief of Staff when he runs the office in a very unholy manner where corruption and other evil vices were the hallmarks. Most importantly, I have sustained the vision and focussed governance by the Governor; at least he now sleeps with his two eyes closed than when a blackmailer, saboteur and backstabber was the Chief of Staff.”

Governor Amaechi, on his part, explained at each place he visited that the tour is not political as he is the Governor of Rivers State and political leader of all the political parties in the State, including APC, PDP and others. He thus explained that he did not embark on the tour to campaign for any political party but to showcase his feats in all parts of Rivers State that include quality roads, model health centres, model primary and secondary schools.

Addressing the people of Mgbuesilaru Community, where he upgraded and recognised the Nye-Weli Chieftaincy Stool of Eze Ejike Wali to second class chieftaincy stool, Amaechi explained the role he played in the political appointment of sons and daughters of Ikwerre land and notable politicians. “I shunned ethnic politics in the Assembly when I was Speaker, which paved way for the appointment of Justice Iche Ndu as Chief Judge. I also supported the move for the election of Hon. Austin Okpara as Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives,” he said.

Governor Amaechi called on eligible voters in every community he visited to participate in the upcoming voter registration exercise.

The communities visited were Mgbuesilaru, Rumuodara, Eliowhani, Iriebe, Elelenwo, Rumuokwurusi and Atali. Others were Woji, Rumurolu, Rumuogba, Rumuibekwe, Rumuomasi, and Rumuobiakani.

In almost all the communities, the people thanked Governor Amaechi for empowering the people of Obio/Akpor LGA through Sir Tony Okocha and the CTC Chairman, Dr. Lawrence Chukwu, in skills acquisition, provision of vehicles, payment of SURE-P, monetary assistance for business and trading purposes for widows and indigent persons in the communities.

•Photo shows Governor Amaechi acknowledging cheers from the crowd . . . yesterday at Obio-Akpor, Rivers State.

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