But Jonathan this was so because he did not want to be seen as an ethnic leader. Hence, his resolve to ensure the equitable distribution of resources across the country.
Jonathan, who spoke during the PDP presidential rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwuruta-Ali in Rivers State, however, promised to develop the South-South region if elected for a second term.
The President was reacting to the criticism by Amaechi, who is also the DG of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, that he had not done anything for Rivers and Bayelsa states.
Describing Amaechi’s many criticism as a challenge, Jonathan admitted that though he had not allocated more development to his people, the situation will change if the people of Rivers State vote for him.
He said he would do “something” for the South-South states if he is re-elected.
The President said, “What I want to tell you and the rest of the country is that the director-general of the APC presidential campaign organisation, when he was in Yenagoa and when he was in Port Harcourt, mentioned clearly that the President had done nothing for the two states.
“Don’t worry. It is good news because people are saying that I concentrated development in the South-South. Bayelsa State was part of Rivers State. Then, if I don’t concentrate development in this state, that means there has not been development in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
“The DG (Amaechi) is telling Nigerians that I have not done this. That means that I am a transparent person. I did not allocate positions to my people. The DG would have been the very first person to expose me to the rest of the world; not just Nigeria. He would have taken me to America, to South Africa, to France, to UK, but that shows clearly that we mean well for this country.”
Jonathan was from Rivers until Bayelsa was created in 1996. His wife is from the present Rivers.
