THE Ogoni axis of Rivers State has been charged to vote the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of power in 2015 for the failure of the Federal Government to implement the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) report on the clean-up and remediation of their polluted environment.
The Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, gave the charge during a new year visit to launch 100 motorcycles to inaugurate registration of All Progressive Congress (APC) members in the 10 wards of Tai Local Government Area, including Sime, Nonwa, Koroma and Botem communities.
The governor also enjoined supporters of the APC in the local government area to prepare for the mobilisation and registration of party members in order to vote out the PDP in the state.
Addressing the party supporters in Tai, Governor Amaechi said non-implementation of the UNEP report by the Federal Government was one of the reasons for his defection from the PDP to APC, saying that it was wrong for the Federal Government to deprive the people of Ogoni from receiving their compensation, and also to enjoy a habitable environment, as well as provision of potable drinking water to Ogoni people.
“I have left PDP. When I was in PDP, UNEP report said $1 billion should be spent to clean-up the oil spill in Ogoniland and further pay compensation and also provide potable drinking water for the Ogoni people. We can’t have a South-South president and allow the UNEP report die a natural death. It shows that the Federal Government does not care about us.
“As a governor of the state, I played a vital role in ensuring that potable water was provided for Eleme and Gokana people. Why must our people continue to suffer this neglect and deprivation despite several attempts to remind the Federal Government to effect the immediate implementation of the UNEP report,” Amaechi said.
Amaechi added that “on the day of the election in 2015, I want you (the people of Tai) to, en mass, support the APC and vote out PDP, and you will get the implementation of the UNEP report. In the 2011 elections, (Tai people) were among those who voted President Jonathan into office and we have nothing to show for it as dividends of democracy….”
Source: Nigerian Tribune
