By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
A former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, on Sunday, assured Nigerians that the federal government is doing quite a lot to get the kidnapped victims of Kaduna-Abuja train attack released, adding that security is not discussed in public, it is discussed privately.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi expressed this while meeting Kaduna State APC delegates at Umaru Musa Yaradua Hall in Kaduna.
According to him, “I am the most experienced governor who governed a state that has insecurity like Kaduna, in those days, people could not visit Port Harcourt because of kidnapping and raping women”.
He said after he took over, “in six months time, residents could have parties in Port Harcourt, we could go home late at night, any time you like you will go home.
“We worked tirelessly, slept when any others were awake and worked when others were sleeping and by the time you knew it, all those criminals were chased out of Port Harcourt.
“I have experienced from the state where there’s insecurity, I had contributions from Federal Government, we got in all equipment from outside the country, we trained Nigerian Police and some Nigerian soldiers outside the country, we returned them into Nigeria and we chased those criminals away.
“I understand the pains of the Kaduna man, and I appreciate that, I assure you that if given the opportunity to be President of Nigeria, I will employ similar strategy if not better.
“The first strategy employed is that, if you don’t give a man food, he will look for food himself, if you don’t provide an economic reality, he will provide for himself.
“What brings insecurity is poverty, in pursuance of economic prosperity, I will continue and expand the agricultural programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari. What I will do is to ensure that we grow what we eat and what we export.
“We will grow the economy in such a way that there will be value addition, everybody will be brought into agriculture. We will move from agriculture into industries, into manufacturing, but if you have processing, you will employ more persons when you employ more persons, it will grow economy and crime will reduce.
“If you vote for me, I will ensure that those things happen. Everybody will come here and ask for your vote, I assure you, I will protect everyone in the country.
“I urge you as they come, always ask them what have they done, because all us have held one position or the other, find out how they have done it, if I didn’t do well, my colleagues will not make me chairman of governor’s forum twice.
“We did our best as government to ensure that lives and property on the trains are secured. On those who have been kidnapped, the federal government is doing quite a lot to get them released but security is not discussed in public, it is discussed privately and quietly, until these people are released, you may not hear much.
” I enjoin the parents who are not happy, we request that they should be calm until government is able to get the people who are in captivity released.
“We are currently working on Kaduna – Kano rail, we are working very hard, even though I am resigning on Monday, but my colleagues in the ministry will continue with the work we are doing, we have done 80 to 100 per cent kilometers out of the 204 kilometers.
“We thank the President who has given us all the necessary support to make sure we deliver.
“Don’t waste Kaduna votes, these votes are important to me, if you vote for the wrong person, you will regret later, I assure you that if you vote for me, I will come back to Kaduna to appreciate you all.
Meanwhile, in his response, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai reminded the people to vote wisely.
He said, Governor Ameachi made a sacrifice to move to APC.
According to him, “APC is one family, and this primary is an internal competition, we don’t need to call each other names, but let us bring out the virtues and good character of everyone.
“It is up to you as delegates to make the right choice for Nigeria, two days ago, you made your choice here without listening to everyone else.
“You’ve heard Rotimi Amaechi, you’ve seen what he has done, you know what will happen about security if he takes charge.”
The governor asked the delegates, “Are we committed that President of Nigeria is going to the South?” The delegates responded “Yes”.
el-Rufai noted that, “don’t listen to anybody that tells you el-Rufai should go and buy form because people are telling you that I told the delegates that I am not doing that.
“The second thing is that you’ve seen Amaechi, you’ve heard his history, you’ve heard him preach, what are you going to do now? You are the leaders of the party in Kaduna, whatever you decide is what we will do and you have a huge burden on you and you must choose what is best for Kaduna and for Nigeria.
“What are you going to do, what is your position today?” He asked the delegates.
