The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, yesterday declared the game over for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with regard to the February 2015 general elections. This followed the endorsement, earlier in the day, of APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), and the Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, by non-indigenes in the state.

The Rivers non-indigenes spoke through their various representatives during an epochal rally organised by the Non Indigenes Political Forum (NIPF) and attended by tens of thousands of non-indigenes at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the rally, Barr. Chuma Chinye, NIPF Leader and Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, declared: “No non-indigene in Rivers State will vote for PDP or any other political party as we are not ingrates considering all that Governor Chibuike Amaechi has done to improve our lot. Today, one of us – my humble self – is a member of the highest ranking governing body in Rivers State, the State Executive Council, while others such as Chief Ade Adeogun is the Chairman of the Sanitation and Environmental Company of the state, Mr. David Iyofor is the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, amongst other strategic positions of our people in government. Our kids are paying the same fees with indigenes at the various strata of education. We must appreciate all these by ensuring that we vote APC in all the elections to avoid those who have vowed to deal with us once they come to power.”

Chief (Dr.) Williams Ubeka spoke for the South-East, Chief Joseph Ijede for the South-South, Alhaji Ahmed Adisa for the South-West, Alhaji Sulaiman Hussaini for the North-Central and Alhaji Tanko Yusuf for the North, while Chief (Mrs.) Ijede spoke for the women. The speakers highlighted the good things non-indigenes have enjoyed under the administration of Governor Amaechi and contrasted it with what they called the evil and humiliations they suffered when Chief Nyesome Wike, the PDP governorship candidate, was Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government, “when he introduced various taxes to scare away non-indigenes.” They described Chief Wike as the Chief Tormentor of non-indigenes in Rivers State and promised to ensure that he does not win the February 28 governorship election.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Dakuku Peterside reassured the non-indigenes of the commitment of his administration once elected to continue the legacies of Governor Amaechi, “including empowering all Rivers State people which the non-indigenes are integral part through my Four-Point Agenda titled ‘Road Map to Prosperity’ for the people of Rivers State.”

He explained that the Four-Point Agenda aimed at taking Rivers State to the next level include Public Sector Accountability and Security of Lives and Properties; Employment Generation and Wealth Creation; Social and Human Capital Development and Empowerment; as well as Institutional and Physical infrastructure Development and Food Security. “I will sustain the policy initiated by my mentor and leader, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, to make the non-indigenes group the 24th Local Government Area of Rivers State. This unit is to cater for the welfare and interests of all non-indigenes in the State,” he said.

Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, the Rivers APC Chairman, described the event as unprecedented in the annals of electioneering in the state. “This large number of non-indigenes has never gathered to endorse a particular political party and candidates. With what I am seeing the 2015 general election is already lost by PDP and I expect Dr. Peterside to set in motion the shape of his government and prepare for his swearing in ceremony come May 29, 2015 as with the support of these great Nigerians APC in Rivers State is unstoppable on its way to Brick House,” Ikanya said. He described PDP as ‘Politically Dead Party (PDP)

Senator Magnus Abe, who spoke on behalf of other APC candidates, described Dr. Peterside as a symbol of unity, equity, continuity, progress and hope for not only Rivers State but for the future of the Nigerian nation. He urged the people of Rivers State to vote massively for General Buhari, Dr. Peterside and all the candidates of APC “and avoid those that promote violence as a way of life if we intend to have an egalitarian and progressive Rivers State.”

Other political heavyweights that graced the event include the Rivers State APC deputy gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Honourable Asita O Asita; Dr. Sam Jaja, a member of the Board of Trustees of APC; Chief Victor Giadom, Director General of Rivers APC Campaign Organisation; APC Senatorial Flag-bearer for Rivers East Senatorial District, Hon. Andrew Uchendu; House of Representatives and State House of Assembly candidates.

•Photo shows part of the crowd at the NIPF rally . . . yesterday in Port Harcourt.

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