THE leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that the party will take over government at the federal level in 2015.
Chieftains of the party made this known at a mega rally held in Port Harcourt, on Saturday, to mark the seventh anniversary of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led administration in Rivers State.
APC national chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun, assured that the party would sail to victory in the 2015 elections, not only in Rivers, but also at the federal level.
He likened the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the dreaded Ebola disease, noting that Nigeria would be made free of what he said was the PDP virus in 2015, just like the war was won against Ebola in the country.
“During the PDP South-South campaign, he (President Goodluck Jonathan) told the whole nation that APC does not exist in Rivers State; that it is only a poster party. We were worried and we concerned. Your governor, a fantastic man, was challenged.
“So, today, he brought all of us here. The entire leadership of APC is lined up here today. I want to tell you that we have come. I want to tell you that we have seen; I want to tell you that we are convinced, that your great governor, Chubuike Amaechi, controls Rivers State; that APC is in charge of Rivers State.
“Finally, those of you who will work for and will make sure that we get a permanent voter card so that they can vote on that day so that we can make Nigeria PDP-free as Rivers is today Ebola-free, give me a great big o yeah”, he said.
Former military Head of State and an APC presidential aspirant in the 2015 elections, General Muhammadu Buhari, said the people of the state had been very lucky to have Amachi as their governor in the last seven years.
He also assured that APC would, from 2015, meet the yearlings and aspiration of Nigerians for adequate security and development.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakr, who is also contesting the presidential election, said Rivers had witnessed tremendous and unsurpassed growth and development under the Amaechi administration.
“Do you want the progress to continue? Do you want to feel the projects? Do you want to eradicate poverty? Do you want to go to good schools? Do you want good roads? Do you want power? Vote APC, vote APC, vote APC”, he added.
Another presidential hopeful, Givernor Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State, congratulated his Rivers State counterpart on his developmental strides in the state, assuring that other parts of the country would work together with Rivers for sustainable peace and growth.
Nda Isaiah, publisher of the Leadership newspaper and APC presidential aspirant, also attested to the developmental efforts of Governor Amaechi and warned that anybody that planned to rig the 2015 elections would have to contend with great resistance from the people.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, said APC represented the change Nigerians were yearning for and assured that the party would present a presidential candidate devoid of religious or tribal sentiments.
“Let me say to all of you, when John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness, he was saying to the PDP people, ‘repent, repent for APC is coming. PDP you came and gave my people poverty and disease. But this party coming after you which is called APC, shall provide the dividends of democracy”, he said.
Speaking earlier, Governor Amaechi called on the people of the state to punish PDP with their votes in 2015, alleging that President Jonathan hated the people by not executing any project in the state since the inception of his administration.
Faulting the claim that the Federal Government had neglected the state because of his quarrel with the president, he queried the alleged neglect of the federal road that link Akwa Ibom with Cross River, two PDP-controlled states.
Amaechi accused the Federal Government of frustrating efforts to distribute the 715 megawatts which he said his administration had developed, adding, “They don’t care for you; they want you to die of water-borne diseases. Punish them with your votes; punish PDP with your votes