The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has abolished the concept of non-indigenes, a policy that discriminates against Nigerians from other states, living in the state.
His APC counterpart, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto State, similarly abolished the policy in his state on 8 March.
Governor Amaechi announced his decision while welcoming a large crowd of non-indigenes in the State who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Amaechi told his guests, all members of the Non Indigenes Political Forum (NIPF), a support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State: “I don’t believe in ‘non-indigeneship’. As far as I am concerned, you are entitled to everything if you have lived in Rivers State for at least five years. We are all Rivers indigenes. If you go anywhere around this State and they are segregating against you, please, call my attention. The reason is that we are all Nigerians and we remain bonafide citizens of this country. The All Progressives Congress (APC) believes that there is need for change because the government in power does not want money to reach you. We need the bottom-top approach for our people to benefit and improve their standard of living.”
The Governor also announced the approval of a bus for the NIPF and 20 per cent scholarship for non-indigenes in the State amongst other largesse.
His announcement threw the thousands of visitors into frenzy. It was a challenging day for the security personnel at the Government House as they never envisaged such a crowd which was unprecedented in the history of solidarity visits to the Government House.
A chieftain of the Forum, High Chief Williams Samuel Ubaka, presented the delegation’s address on behalf of the Coordinator of the Forum, Chief Uchenna Okokoba.
He told Governor Amaechi: “We are particularly happy with the uncommon transformation of your administration, and especially, in the areas of good and accessible roads, healthcare services, education, particularly, the world-class model primary and secondary schools that have admitted our children on scholarship; we are most grateful.”
High Chief Ubaka also thanked Governor Amaechi for employing 20 per cent of non-indigenes during the last teachers’ recruitment exercise, and the appointment of their sons into political offices to pilot the affairs of the state.
The visitors made further demands, among them the provision of vehicles for the NIPF, pilgrimage slots for non-indigenes, implementation of employment and scholarship quota, empowerment and skill acquisitions, as well as reduction of burial fees at the Port Harcourt Cemetery and happily the Governor approved all the requests presented by the NIPF.
In his speech, Rives State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, applauded the Governor for carrying non-indigenes along in his administration of the State, saying that by so doing he has demonstrated to the entire nation that he is a true nationalist and a patriotic Nigerian whose love for all Nigerians is no longer in doubt.
Dr. Ikanya boasted that no other government in Nigeria has done for the non indigenes in any part of Nigeria what Gov. Amaechi has done for those residing in Rivers State.
Mallam Amaechi has opened the flood gate to invading islamists, whose quest is to touch the Occean with the quoran. God saves Rivers people.
He should go ahead and submit an executive bill in the state house of assembly making it a crime to discriminate against non indegienes then we know he is serious.
2015 gimmicks!!!
Too late, too small to turn things in favour of Amaechi and his APC in Rivers State!!!
The much noised about 13,000 teachers that Amaechi actually employed far less than (far below 10,000) has failed?! Amaechi is yet to pay them their 1st salary 6-8 months after they started work, so he has to think up another lie?!