Amaechi Urges Dr Jonathan to Declare Intention

By Ministry of Information

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to declare his intention for the 2011 Presidential elections.

Speaking during the inauguration of the newly elected executive council of the Ijaw Youth Council at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi called on all Nigerians to support Dr Jonathan if he declares his intention to run as president in the forthcoming general elections.

Describing him as the best Presidential material the country has for now, Rt. Hon. Amaechi, represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru particularly urged the northerners to support the South-South in its effort in ensuring that Dr. Jonathan becomes President in 2011 as the South-South had always supported the north since 1963 for the Presidency of the country.

Regretting that the genuine struggle of the Ijaw people for resource control, justice, fairness and development of the Niger Delta region by the Federal Government was hijacked by criminal elements, he charged the people to clean up the name of the region from criminality, challenging Ijaw Youth Council to issue a statement that “we are not part of the kidnapping and armed robbery activities taking place in the region”.

The Governor warned criminals to stop hiding under the genuine struggle of the people to do evil.

Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass and first Governor of Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diete Spiff, represented by Chief I.J.O. Okonny disclosed that the Ijaw nation started the struggle that earned Nigeria her political independence, but lamented that the region has not got its fair share of the reward of its resources, calling on all stakeholders in the country to support Dr. Jonathan’s presidency.

In his speech, the royal father of the day, Chief Edwin Clark explained that power is better achieved through the use of dialogue instead of confrontation, stating that the free and fair election of Ijaw Youth Council was an indication that Nigeria’s 2011 elections would also be free and fair and that the idea of zoning was only used by PDP to appease the Yorubas because of the injustice of scuttling the June 12, 1993 elections won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

In his address, the new president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Miabiye Kuromkiema said, the struggle of the Ijaws for resource control and fairness had engendered much misrepresentation, calling on all Nigerians to join forces with President Jonathan to build a virile nation.

Also commenting, the National President of Arewa Youth Forum, Alhaji Gambo Gujjungu, represented by his Vice President, Engr. Ringim stated that the association was pleased to identify with the bridge of national unity which Ijaw Youth Council is building, calling on all Nigerians to make the election of Goodluck Jonathan as President in 2011 the easiest and fairest in the annals of elections in the country.

Other dignitaries at the occasion include: Mr. Braeyim Ekiye, Special Adviser to the President on Parastatals, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, His Royal Majesty, King Dandison Jaja, Amanyanabo of Opobo, Dr. Atuboyebia Obianime, President, Ijaw National Congress (INC) Mr. Oronto Douglas, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Documentation and Strategy, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Commissioner for Information and Communications among others.