by Azubuike Azikiwe

President Goodluck Jonathan says Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s criticism of his government would prompt him to “do something” for the people of Rivers and Bayelsa states.

The president said he views as a chellenge Amaechi’s statement that he has not done anything for both states.

President Jonathan made the comments during the presidential rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (APC) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwuruta-Ali, Ikwerre Local Government of Rivers State, on Wednesday, January 28.

While promising to develop the South-south region if elected for a second term in office, Jonathan said the fact that there is a perception that he abandoned his people means that he had been fair and equitable in the development of all regions in the country.

The President said, “What I want to tell you and the rest of the country is that the director-general of the APC presidential campaign organisation, when he was in Yenagoa and when he was in Port Harcourt, mentioned clearly that the President had done nothing for the two states.

“Don’t worry. It is good news because people are saying that I concentrated development in the South-south. Bayelsa State was part of Rivers State. Then, if I don’t concentrate development in this state, that means there has not been development in Rivers and Bayelsa states.”

“The DG (Amaechi) is telling Nigerians that I have not done this. That means that I am a transparent person. I did not allocate positions to my people. The DG would have been the very first person to expose me to the rest of the world; not just Nigeria. He would have taken me to America, to South Africa, to France, to UK, but that shows clearly that we mean well for this country.”

“In our development, every part of Nigeria must be carried along. You will agree with me that when we looked at the university education, and we insisted that look, the Federal Government must make sure that all Nigerian youths must have opportunity for university education.”

“We did not divide North or South; we made sure that all the states that had no federal university got a federal university. I am not going to comment on development in Rivers State and Bayelsa states. I can reassure you that just work with us; vote for us on February 14, for me and Sambo and on February 28, for Wike and Ipalibo. Since we have been challenged that we have not done anything, we will do something.”