TheCable

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has made his own broadcast to the people of Rivers state, a day after the governor, Nyesom Wike, made his.

He faulted the two-day holiday declared by Wike, describing it as a proof that the governor “has no regard for the people of the state”.

He asked citizens of the state to turn out en masse for Saturday’s legislative election, saying the federal government has made adequate provision for security.

Amaechi also expressed confidence that his party would emerge victorious in the poll.

“The Rivers state government has declared a two-day ‘public holiday’, for Thursday and Friday. To this effect, the state government has directed non Rivers state government establishments and institutions such as banks, businesses and schools to ensure compliance,” he said in a broadcast.

“It is however sad to note that the state government is extending the public holidays to private institutions. This, from the constitutional point of view is an illegality, which clearly shows that the incumbent governor has no regard for the people nor care for their well being.

“This flows from the sudden declaration of a two-day public holiday without considering the attendant economic hardships and consequences it would inflict on the people and the state, respectively.”

Amaechi, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, accused the opposition party of fomenting trouble.

“You would recall that the last time the elections were held, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were brazenly, crudely and violently prevented from exercising their inalienable rights to elect those they wanted,” he said.

“Those same characters and forces that stole our votes by violently denying us the right to vote the last time, are at it again. In the months and weeks leading to this Saturday’s elections, they have employed the use of violence and threats to lives as tools of intimidation and harassment, all aimed at preventing us from coming out to vote.

“They have turned our hitherto peaceful state into a haven of brazen criminality, culminating in killings and maiming of innocent citizens.

“To this end, the reign of terror in some of our local government areas, leading to senseless killings will not be tolerated, as the security agencies have been directed to ensure the safety of all before, during and after the elections. I therefore, implore you all to come out to exercise your rights to vote.”