Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has said he is opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan because the South-south region where the president comes from has not benefitted from his administration.
He also listed the parlous state of the economy, the poverty rate and the poor infrastructure, especially the East-West Road, as some of the reasons he is opposed to Jonathan’s presidency.
Amaechi was reacting to comments by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on the nation's economy and the South-south’s support for Jonathan respectively.
Amaechi stated that the Nigerian economy is struggling to survive, contrary to the rosy picture painted by the finance minister.
According to him, the federal government was yet to fully pay the Rivers State allocation for July.
Amaechi spoke at a programme organised by the Rotary International, District 9140 for young future leaders at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Thursday, during which he engaged the audience in an interactive session and drew responses from participants.
On Uduaghan’s remarks that opposition to Jonathan should not come from the president’s South-south region, Amaechi stated that he considered Nigeria’s national interest far and above any other interest.
He bemoaned the fact that those fighting a just cause were being maligned on the altar of public criticism, pointing out that Nigerians usually suffered for not asking the relevant questions.
He said: “When you are principled in Nigeria and you stand on your principles, what do they call you?”
“Stubborn,” the audience chorused.
“They expect you to compromise at a point but when you refuse to compromise, you are a very stubborn man.
“They expect you to compromise at a point but when you refuse to compromise, you are a very stubborn man.
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