APC Backs Rivers Assembly Over N30 Billion Reserve Fund

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Friday, February 14th, 2014

Ayo Balogun, Lagos

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed the State House of Assembly for passing the Rivers State Reserve Fund Law Amendment Bill 2014 to enable the State Government withdraw N30 billion from the N53 billion in the fund.

Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State

APC, in a statement signed by its Interim Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said “we commend the patriotism of the legislators for amending the Rivers State Reserve Fund Law without further delay. This timely intervention by the lawmakers, who have once more proved to be true representatives of the people, will enable the Governor Chibuike Amaechi Administration to proceed with its programmes and projects unhindered by the economic war being waged against the state by the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled Federal Government.

“Blinded by its hatred for Governor Amaechi and the good people of Rivers State, the PDP Government at the centre has done everything within its power to economically strangulate the State, by ceding oil wells belonging to Rivers to neighbouring states, thus subjecting Rivers to monthly revenue loss of over N7 billion, thus making it impossible for the Amaechi Administration to meet its obligations to workers and contractors and to fund ongoing projects.”

The party attacked the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for denouncing the action of the lawmakers, saying that “we are, however, not surprised by the position of Rivers PDP as made known by its Chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah, through his media aide, Mr. Jerry Needam, as PDP has never wished the State any good.”

APC said these misguided critics forgot that patriotic lawmakers adopted this step in order to save the lives of the teachers employed about five months ago without been paid, including some government agencies and some contractors that had deserted their sites because of lack fund from further hardship.

It added that some of these blind critics forgot so soon that it was Amaechi who initiated this bill to serve as an intervention fund during an emergency situation in the State, wondering therefore what excuse that will suit these blind critics to see that “we are in an emergency situation occasioned by the ceding of our oil wells by the PDP led Federal Government to other neighbouring States and that the Rivers State Government needs to intervene as a sound and responsible government that cares for the welfare of her citizenry.”