It was a harvest of donations of skill acquisition materials to women of Rivers State as Chief Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in conjunction with the Caretaker Committee of Obio/Akpor Local Government donated materials worth millions of naira to over 250 women trained in baking, bead-making, hat-making and catering. The donated materials included over 1,000 wrappers, 150 gas cookers for the caterers, 27 hat-making materials, 30 bead-making machine and 32 cosmetology materials. The donations came barely weeks after Chief Okocha donated 17 cars and skill acquisition materials to the women of the area.

During the latest ceremony held Sunday at Obio/Akpor LG Headquarters, a Certificate of Participation was presented to each of the women, who had been trained in different skills and crafts for empowerment.

Speaking at the event, Governor Amaechi, Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, applauded Chief Okocha and Obio/Akpor CTC Chairman, Hon. Lawrence Chukwu, for the noble gesture. Amaechi, who was represented by his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi, urged other political leaders to emulate Okocha and Chukwu in touching the lives of the less privileged as that is the only way politics can be relevant to the masses.

His words: “I am pleased with these pragmatic efforts and performance in empowering women to be self-reliant and employers of labour. My administration will continue to encourage infrastructural and human capital development as well as empowerment of the citizenry as priority projects until the end of my administration in 2015. Rivers State must be developed in the interest of the citizens and our future generations. The legacy of this administration has shown Rivers people and indeed those who live and do business that there is a difference between a government called by God and that made by man. We are grateful to God that He has been behind this government since 2007. My problem with those in the opposition is nothing but the fact that they don’t know how to do good to our citizens; they don’t even know between evil and God. This government is planted on the foundation of God. My administration entered into gigantic projects men thought could not be finished but we are proud to say with God all things are possible.”

The Rivers Chief Executive advised Obio/Akpor women to see the developmental initiative as a step in the right direction, and to resist any attempt by the opposition to deceive them with material gifts and propaganda in the face of truth and reality. He urged the women to channel their energies towards the victory of APC in 2015. “I want the women of Obio/Akpor to refuse attempts by the devil and the opposition to deceive them with material things. Women in APC have to stand for the truth and reality because you trust in God Almighty and not in man. No matter the storm that will come your way, you need to be steadfast and be assured that with God, everything will stand still. That is the way to be the Ambassador of Christ. It is time for women to be responsible in governance and ensure the people experience and feel the dividends of democracy,” Amaechi stated.

In his remarks, Chief Okocha, who is also the Leader of APC in Obio/Akpor, stated: “The monthly empowerment in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area will be a continuous exercise calculated to improve the living standard of citizens in the area. It is good wisdom to help Governor Amaechi and the system to reach out to the seemingly downtrodden. We shall continue in this stride until all our people are so empowered to cater for themselves and families and avoid the stomach infrastructure in which those in PDP are specialists. I commend the CTC on their performance in bringing the people at the grassroots closer to government as I am satisfied with the locally made cakes, beads and other crafts by the women. I am hopeful that the empowerment will surely impact on them positively.”

Dr. Ibiamu Davies Ikanya, the Rivers State Chairman, who was represented by the State Party Secretary, Chief Emeka Bekee, described the event as heart-warming. “The people of Rivers State can by this event know the different between APC and other mushroom political parties in Rivers State. Chief Tony Okocha has by his empowerment of our women incarnated the personality of the late Chief Moshood K.O. Abiola, who was well noted for his political sagacity and philanthropy. For us winning convincingly, the need to win Obio/Akpor cannot be over-emphasised seeing that any party that wins Obio/Akpor has won the State considering the population and wards in the area. No amount of thuggery or impunity will stop APC from winning the elections in Rivers State,” Dr. Ikanya declared.

On his part, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Caretaker Committee, Hon. Lawrence Chukwu, said the council is in alliance with APC in the area to give the needed assistance to members so as to boost productivity and reduce the crowd of unemployed in the local government.

According to him, “It has become the routine of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council to empower as many women as possible, including youths. This administration will not cease to empower the citizens until all the unemployed are empowered. Obio/Akpor is for APC. Under the leadership of Chief Tony Okocha in this local government council of 17 wards and non-indigenes, we see no obstacles, confusion, acrimony or propaganda. We have bought 22 transformers that will be distributed to all the wards in Obio/Akpor LGA. We are also donating a Hilux vehicle and other security gadgets to the police to detect and fight crime. Protection of lives and property in Obio/Akpor is also our priority.”

Hon. Chukwu equally urged APC faithful, women and youths, to ensure active participation in the forthcoming INEC voter registration exercise, saying that it is the precondition to rout PDP in the 2015 elections.

The event was witnessed by the representative of the Governor, Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi, Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, members of the Rivers State Executive Council, Local Government CTC Chairmen, Hon. Ike Chinwo, former member of the Federal House of Representatives, elders and stakeholders of APC and traditional rulers amongst others.

•Photo shows a cross section of the crowd at the July 27 Obio-Akpor empowerment ceremony.