A socio-cultural and political platform group known as Wakirike-se Chiekuroma is beginning to warm up its political strategy to capture all the wards within the territories of Okrikans in Port Harcourt come 2015.
The group during its recent meetings stresses that it has been cheated by the Ikwerres and other ethnic nationalities who have been taking side, politically with the Ikwerres interms of Port Harcourt politics, pointing out that the Okrikans have more pulling units in their 5 wards, than the Ikwerres who have 15 wards, as mayors of Phalga have always come from Ikwerre axis without a consideration of deputy mayor for the Okrikans in Port Harcourt.
The group claimed that the Okrikans have more pulling units, and view this cheating as a slight to the Okrikans who have been contributing, enormously to the social, economic, education and political development o Rivers State and Nigeria in general and particularly to the Ikwerres in Port Harcourt. Speaking to members of the group, the chairman of the group, Hon. Iyalla Obianeme informed them that Wakirike-se chiekuroma means ‘standfirm’ politically, in the affairs of Phalga polity, “If the Okrika man would produce the next governor or Deputy Governor, Phalga Mayor or deputy”. The chairman used the opportunity of the gathering to call on others in Okrika, Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt and obibo (Oyigbo) communities to join the group in the struggle, as the group was all about creating awareness but also to encouraged people of likeminds to contest elective post and to sponsor its activities in order to achieve its set goals and dreams, and to prepare for visitation.
Members who were drawn from all Okrika owned geo-political zones also spoke in various directions, however, said meetings should be held in all Okrika owned communities in order to create awareness and to achieve set goals and dreams, maintaining that the essence of levying members to the success of any would be candidate should be avoided to some extent.
Also speaking at the meeting were Mr. Tamuno Matthew Osika, Students Affairs SA to Governor Amaechi and Hon. Iyalla Obianime.
In their separate speeches Osika pointed out that Rivers State politics had been overheated by political propagandist in Rivers State and Abuja, as such propagandist statement had been carried and spread by the media without fair hearing. He assured the group that His Excellency Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi might vote for Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, but pleaded that whoever should vote for President Jonathan should equally advice him to give a listening ear to the plight of the Niger Delta people to embark on same projects he is doing in the north for the people of Niger Delta. The students SA to the Governor of Rivers State further revealed that President Jonathan and governor Amaechi understand themselves and the political system more than the propagandists.
However, Hon. (Mrs.) Mary Sample challenged Wakirike-se chiekuruma group to be law abiding maintain peace and order towards government policies and development and to avoid selfish aggrandizement come 2015, pointing out that the group was not about teinka (money sharing), even as she sorted to know the difference between Besekuro, floated by Comrade Ateke Tom and wakirike-se chiekuroma. ###
Bennett James
