The leader of the defunct Niger Delta Vigilante group, High Chief Ateke Tom has advised Chief Barr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike to jettison his gubernatorial ambition to avoid political chaos in 2015. High Chief Ateke Tom was speaking when a socio-political group in the state paid him a courtesy visit at Okochiri in the Okrika Local Government Area, recently.
The Okrika born war lord said that 2015 gubernatorial election in Rivers State is non-negotiable as far as riverine governor is concerned. He maintained that 2015 is the turn of the Rivers Ijaws to produce a governor.
High Chief Ateke who had recently declared his ambition for the Brick House in 2015, said that there is no going back in his intention to succeed Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in May 29, 2015.
The ex-war lord further advised the governorship contestants from the Ogoni axis of the state to sink their ambition, saying that it is not yet their turn, but the riverine.
He called on all the registered political parties to zone their governorship slot to the riverine communities for the purposes of equity and justice.
High Chief Ateke who had earlier said that if given the mandate to serve come 2015, he will initiate policies and programmes that will put smiles on the Rivers people, called on all governorship aspirants outside the Ijaw communities to forget about their ambition of becoming a governor in 2015, “so that the state will be at peace in 2015 and beyond”.
Meanwhile information reaching out political desk had it that Chief Ateke has pleaded with the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame (Dr.) Patience Jonathan not to support any gubernatorial aspirant outside the riverine axis of the state. According to the information, Ateke had the premonition that the first lady might not throw her support behind him, but Chief Barr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike.
Some months back, the first lady has told newsmen that she would support Chief Wike for 2015 gubernatorial election. However, several politicians in the state condemned her statement, though she is entitled to personal opinion, no matter anything.
With the series of rumours making rounds the state about the governorship election in 2015, nobody knows the political camp the first lady rooted her support. ###
