ACN MARSHALS PLAN FOR N'DELTA
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Tuesday flagged off its Presidential campaign in Rivers State with a promise to launch a Marshall Plan for overall development of the oil-rich region if it assumes control of the reigns of government at the Federal level. Addressing a large crowd of party supporters at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, the ACN Presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said the proposed Marshall Plan would be akin to that of Europe after the Second World War.
'Things were very bad in Europe but they came up with a programme and they have solved their own problems. We do intend to do the same will say amnesty but it is amnesty for themselves, amnesty to their own pocket.'
Mallam Ribadu assured that majority of the one million houses an ACN-led central government intends to build in the country would be in the Niger Delta as part of deliberate efforts to redress the neglect and marginalisation of the region that produces the bulk of the nation's wealth.
The ACN presidential flag bearer assured the people of the region that he would not play loose with the public treasury if elected president.
'I will not touch your money; I will not waste it; I will not convert it.'
He regretted that 12 years of PDP rule in the country had been wasted years, pointing out that the ruling party had nothing to show for over 300 billion US dollars the country earned under its watch.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, assured that the ACN would ensure discipline in the oil industry and promote education and agriculture.
Speaking shortly after he was given the flag, its governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, assured that, 'with this flag, we shall face the challenges and with God on our side, we shall sweep away the huge corruption in our state.'
The party's state Chairman, Mr. Uche Okwukwu, told Nigerians and the people of Rivers State to expect a new social order that would transform lives when and if the ACN takes over government.