Information reaching our political desk on Monday revealed that the various agitators of riverine Governor in Rivers State come 2015 have focused their attention to the Rivers South-East Senatorial District. According to the agitators, the two other Senatorial Districts namely: the Rivers –East and the Rivers-West have had their turn in producing a Governor of Rivers State.
Going by this fresh demand in view of actualization the dream of a governor from the riverine extraction, the Kalabaris, ogonis and the Okrikans have been ruled out.
The Rivers West Senatorial District which the Kalabaris belong to has produced a state governor in person of Sir. Dr. Peter Odili. Though several socio-political organizations such as the Kengema Unity Forum (KUF) Kalika Assembly, and Pan Kalabari Assembly are clamouring for a Kalabari Governor in February 28, 2015.
KUF under the leadership of Soboma Jackrich alias Egberipapa has put up several bill boards campaigning for a Kalabari Governor.
While other Ijaw groups such as the Rivers PDP Third Force Movement (RPTFM), Ijaw Democratic Front (IDF) under the watchful eyes of Comrade Kenneth Robinson amongst others are insisting that the next governor must come from the Rivers South East Senatorial District. In the said Senatorial District there are three major riverine communities namely: Opobo, Andoni and Nkoro.
Speaking to our political correspondent the spokesperson of Ijaw 2015 Project, Comrade Robinson Nengi called on all governorship aspirants from the riverine communities outside the Rivers South-East Senatorial District to sink their ambition and give their support to aspirants from Opobo and Andoni communities.
According to him, there is no going back on the need for the realization of a riverine governor, adding that 2015 would be bloody if riverine man does not emerge as the governor of the state.
He advised Chief (Barr.) Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike not to contest the February 28, 2015 governorship election in Rivers State, threatening that if he does, “heaven will collapse” and nobody will be able to contain it.
Comrade Nengi called on the leadership of KUF, Kalika Assembly, and Pan Rivers Assembly to stop campaigning for a Kalabari Governor, appealing that the Kalabaris should wait for their turn in the year 2023.
“The Kalabari should wait until the year 2023, that is the year they (Kalabaris) are free to contest, going by the zoning system”, Comrade Nengi said.
He told journalists that some top riverine politicians met in Abuja and resolved amicably that they would screen and pick a single aspirant from Opobo or Andoni to be a consensus governorship candidate for the riverine people. ###
