Governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Major Lancelot Anyanya (Rtd) at the weekend declared that greatness is coming to the state through a process of rebirth that will affect the whole dimensions of human development. “We declared to you our people that greatness is the call of God to every man. Greatness is the cry of every man’s spirit. The Rivers State that we come to announce to you, that God is unveiling, is the Rivers State that will give every one that opportunity to be great. Wherever you choose to live, greatness is coming”, he said.
He spoke in Port Harcourt during a rally at his Campaign Office which was witnessed by various groups and organizations that took turns to endorse him for Governor.
Addressing a crowd of supporters, Anyanya, who expressed his love for education by telling his personal story of how he left the village to attend the Army Children’s School, GRA, Port Harcourt, for his First School Leaving Certificate, lamented the poor standard in education in the state and promised to change the situation.
“I grew up in Diobu. I came from a school in the village in Ataba. I came here in primary 5. It is a testament to the quality of education and teachers that we had, that from the first day I stepped into the Army Children’s School, I never felt intimidated. That is why my heart goes out that we have lost a generation to ignorance, to poor education system because I know that the only reason I can stand before you today and I’ve gone round the world by the grace of God is because somebody gave me a chance in life by allowing me to go to school”.
“That’s why every child in Rivers State deserves to go to school. Not just to go to school but to get an education that would make meaning in life”, he said.
He also promised to tackle the security challenge in the state, noting that it was part of his manifesto that has homeland security, education security, food security, health security, economic security, infrastructure security, socio-political security and environmental security as key components. According to him, ”we know that the pre-eminent challenge today in our state is security. Everyday we hear of all kinds of crimes and our people are dying needlessly. So we will address security so that you will live in this state and when you think of how it used to be and what it will be very soon, you will say, “was it ever possible”? but it will be because of God”.
Anyanya further assured the people on the provision of infrastructure and development of agriculture, regretting that a state with arable land still have the people struggling to feed themselves just as he decried the traffic jams in the state capital.
“We will deliver infrastructure that will deliver you from this hold-up that appears like the Wall of Jericho. Our city is growing everyday, yet you deal with hold-up like the Wall of Jericho but I’ve come to announce to you, the Wall of Jericho will fall down flat. “We will deal with food security because when you drive in most parts of Rivers State, you see land, land, land, yet our people are struggling to look for what to eat in the midst of plenty”, he said.
The aspirant who is an expert in security went on to harp on socio-political harmony and inclusiveness, stating the need for accommodation of one another and abhor division among the people in the state.
He noted: ”You know our leaders taught us many things. They taught us how to accommodate one another but you know the truth, that never in the history of this state have people tried to divide us like this. We would put a stop to that and we will give you the kind of government everyone will feel a sense of ownership”.
He also linked the challenges in environmental degradation to the health conditions of the people and offered to build a robust medi-care in the state, adding that as a result of the environmental situation in the state, many people are dealing with sicknesses they don’t understand and sometimes out of ignorance.
“We will deal with those issues by developing a health solution that will meet every need”, he said.
Charging the people to a sense of duty regarding the forthcoming elections in the state, Anyanya drew attention to the mix of resources and poverty in the state, noting that:” people say Rivers State is rich. It is true but we know that Rivers people are poor. You know that is an aberration. Rivers State has so much resources but Rivers people are not rich as they should be. Rivers people are not wealthy as they should be. Why will you suffer in the midst of plenty? And this is the message we bring. You know, I tell people who know me, this is not about me. I am just privileged to be God’s instrument for this move and all of us together will make it happen.
He also cautioned his supporters and party faithful to shun any inducement in the forthcoming delegates election in the state which, he said, was inimical to the progress of the state.
Earlier in their goodwill messages, party leaders and stakeholders had eulogized Anyanya’s quality and credibility as they took turn to endorse him for governor in the state.
Veteran politician and chieftain of the PDP in the state, Dr. Innocent Eku, said that having been involved in the analysis of the various governorship aspirants among whom eleven were his friends, Anyanya is the best. He claimed that he had issued official statement to the various bodies and organizations he leads to begin mobilization for the aspirant and support him during the forthcoming delegates election and in the subsequent elections.
“My presence here is symbolic. I am here to say to Rivers people that Major Lancelot Anyanya (Rtd) is the man. Anyanya is the man Rivers people should follow”, he said.
A women leader and intellectual, Dr. Love Arughu, also endorsed the aspirant, noting the need for “rebirth, overhauling and a change that would stand the test of time”.
On his part, leader of the South South Elders Forum, Senator (Dr) Ngorji Denton –West said his endorsement of the aspirant was informed by the need for equity, fairness and justice in the politics of the state and called on Rivers people to support the aspirant.
Other groups and associations including the Ikwerre Mandate, Niger Delta Youth Vanguard, The Pacesetters and Every woman for Good Governance also endorsed him.