As the political calculation of the 2015 draws near, the people of Kalabris have strategised to occupy “The Brick” come 2015 in Rivers State.
Their position was made known in an address presented by the chairman, Kalabari Ene-Bata, Hon. Dr. Ombo Benibo in Port Harcourt on Saturday, 22nd September, 2012.
The event which was the first inaugural Kalabari stakeholders meeting centered on economy, social, political and the physical development of the Kalabari kingdom.
Dr. Benibo disclosed that the vision of the Kalabari people runs on the principle of fairness, foresight, consultation and accountability, stressing that their mission is to see Kalabari people produce the next democratically elected Governor from the Kalabari extraction.
The Kalabari born politician said the people have decided to pool all resources together and unite for a common goal of capturing power at the center by 2015.
The stakeholders who attributed lack of development, social amenities and low education in the area blamed government for the low award of the oversees scholarship to the Kalabari people.
The Kalabari Ene-Bata described the Trans-Kalabari Road as the only benefit from this present administration which is now abandoned, they said based on the neglect, it is reasonable that the Kalabari people produce the governor of Rivers State in 2015.
In another development, one of the conveners, Hon. Michael West a former law maker in the state asserted that it is right time the Kalabari people take their place by producing the next governor of Rivers State in 2015.
Hon. West said for 16 years the Kalabari people have been excluded from such key position like the governor of the state, while stating that they were instrumental to the success of an Ndoni man in person of Sir Dr. Peter Odili for 8 years.
The former lawmaker said that after the Ndoni which is an upland community, the Ikwerre people are now in power and that the proper thing to be done is to allow a Kalabari man or woman to be the next governor of Rivers State to balance the equation. He said it is fair to reciprocate the gesture of the Kalabari people in 1999.
Answering question on how to reconcile the three Kalabari local government areas to produce a consensus candidate. Hon. West said they have agreed and that every facet of the Kalabari is represented and at the end of the day different groups will collapses into one for the purpose.
Also speaking a former councillor in Abonnema Akuku-Toru local government area, Mr. Adaiya Nicholas Jack said the meeting was called for people to come to together to make the dream come true.
On the issue of some Kalabari people betraying their vision. He said some prominent Kalabari sons have run the campaign of calumny, victimization and betrayal saying some Kalabari sons both past and present have held the number three position in the state, but could not help anyone rather they used the position to run down their fellow tribe men.
On the issue of empowerment, he said the past and present have not used their key positions to help just like what Governor Amaechi told the Kalabari people when he visited them that as a speaker, he has empowered a lot of Ikwere people. He said the Kalabari’s need a lot of reconciliation for the success of a Kalabari governor.
Mene Gbarabe
