by Muyiwa Daropale
Speaking to journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport, the governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi revealed that he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to protect the overall interest to protect Rivers people.
Gov. Amaechi who is also the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, arrived from Abuja on Tuesday, after it was announced that six of the G-7 governors including him had officially left the People’s Democratic Party and embraced the opposition party.
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Gov. Amaechi said: “Rivers State must know that for me to have taken that decision, I had looked at the general interests of Rivers people. I was not elected to lead Nigeria, I was elected to lead Rivers State and I had looked at the interests of Rivers people and have seen that these interests were not protected in PDP. I have seen the fact that we are losing our oil wells in Etche, in the Kalabari areas and that the more they continue to pilfer these oil wells, the more we will continue to lose our wealth”.
In his tweets, Amaechi said he still holds the president in high esteem and has no personal quarrel with him despite his moving to another party.
Read Gov. Amaechi’s tweets:
…interests. And the interests of Rivers people are not protected in PDP. For instance, we are losing our oil wells in Etche…
— Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) November 27, 2013
…and his office but ultimately, I was elected and have the responsibility to lead Rivers State, to lead Rivers people and protect its…
— Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) November 27, 2013
…When he fell ill in London recently, I was on twitter praying for him and wished him well. He’s my President and I respect him…
— Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) November 27, 2013
I joined APC to protect Rivers interests. I have no personal quarrel with President Jonathan and its important we put that in perspective…
— Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) November 27, 2013
How is decamping to APC going to help u protect Rivers State wealth Gov. Amaechi?