As the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan declared his intention to continue to stay in Aso Rock Villa beyond May 29, 2015, politicians seeking for various elective positions have began to lubricate their political arsenals to outsmart their opponents.
In Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, no fewer than fourteen (14) aspirants have indicated interest to gun for the two constituency seats of the LGA in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Our findings revealed that nine (9) politicians are aspiring to occupy the Asalga Constituency I Seat in the RSHA, which is currently occupied by Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Those aspiring to take over from the speaker are: Sule Amachree, Hope Barango Tariah, Johnny Barango Tariah, Ipalibo Braide, Tekena Wellington, Onegiye George, Bar. Tubotamuno Dick, Barr. Dienibo Amachree, and Barr. Ibiye Dokubo.
In the Constituency II, five (5) aspirants have developed ambition for the plum job including the present occupant of the seat, Hon. Godstime Ben Horsfall.
Others include: George Enemi, Sepiribo Dagogo, Hon. Bomaonye Etela and Hon. Iwo Jackreece.
Our team of political correspondents in the past few weeks have been assessing their strengths and weak points and also how the delegates will vote in the day of the party primaries. The team came out with the following unbiased reports/assessment on the aspirants.
Hon. Sule Amachree (APC): He was a former Vice Chairman of the ruling PDP in the Rivers West Senatorial District, but later defected to the opposition APC. He is currently eyeing the Asalga Constituency I seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA). No doubt Hon. Amachree has a close relationship with Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. He has recently finished serving in Asalga Caretaker Committee (CTC).
However, his popularity is not widely spread across the length and breadth of the six (6) wards of the constituency. This will cause an obstacle to his ambition. He is from Ward 3.
Hon. Hope Barango-Tariah (APC): Currently he is a member of the Asalga CTC. He is a grassroots politician and well known in the constituency.
His name rings bell in every family in Ward 6 where he hails from. His ambition to occupy the Constituency I Seat in the RSHA is facing some hurdles, because he might not gain the support of some APC chieftains within the Abbi/Karibo axis of the constituency.
Johnny Barango – Tariah (APC): He is one of the political aides to Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree. He set his eyes on the Asalga Constituency I Seat. He has no strong support base, due to his none popularity in the constituency. Though he is sociable and a team player, but lack the political muscles to convince the constituents to support his ambition.
Hon. Ipali Braide (PDP): He is a frontline member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the LGA. He has declared his ambition to contest the Asalga Constituency I Seat in the RSHA. He is from Ward 6.
He was a former Secretary, Asalga Council and a widely known politician in the area. His ambition might not see the light of the day, if the big politicians in the constituency do not support him. Most eligible voters see him as a person that cannot be reached if given the mandate to serve in the Assembly.
Tekena Wellington (PDP): He is a gentleman and a party faithful. He is well known in every ward in the constituency. He has devised several strategies that in turn repositioned the Asalga Chapter of PDP. Currently he is eyeing the Asalga Constituency I seat. His obstacles might emanate from Ward 6 where there are no fewer than three (3) Assembly aspirants.
Onegiye George (PDP): He has declared to represent the people of the Asalga Constituency I in the RSHA. He is not old in Asalga politics, this might affect his chances of winning.
Barr. Tubo Tamuno Dick (PDP): He is a surviyor, lawyer and politician. He believes in the emergence of a Kalabari Governor in 2015. He is one of the arrow heads in the Kengema Unity Forum (KUF). He has recently declared to contest the Asalga Constituency I seat in the RSHA.
Most people in the constituency might not vote for him, because they see him as somebody who cannot give them effective representation, if elected.
Barr. Dienibo Amachree (PDP): He has indicated interest for the Asalga Constituency I Seat in the Rivers Assembly. He is not a popular politician, and that might have negative impact on his ambition. Currently he does not have any political structure on ground.
Barr. Ibiye Dokubo (APC): He is a very strong politician in Asalga. A former elected councilor, a supervisor and also a council secretary.
His political fame goes beyond the Constituency I, where he indicated interest to contest. His ambition is a threat to so many Assembly aspirants. However, he might not scale through, because most of the strong politicians and power brokers are not behind him.
Hon. Godstime Horsfall (APC): Currently he is representing the people of Asalga Constituency II in the Rivers State House of Assembly, and he wants to return to spend another 4 years in the Assembly. The people of his Constituency might not want him to continue, because his performances are very low. He has not done much for the people, therefore his ambition might not go beyond the ceiling.
George Enemi (PDP): He has declared interest for the Asalga Constituency II Seat. He is a political upstart, and does not know where to pitch his tent. He banks on his elder brother, Kelly George Alabo’s goodwill to the party. This is the first time of venturing into politics, but he bulldozed his ways, because of the financial strength of his brother who is a staff of the NDDC. It will be very difficult for the people of the constituency to back him, because he is politically blind, except he will spend so much money to convince the delegates.
Sepiribo Dagogo (PDP): He is a very healthy and energetic young man, who has declared to contest the Asalga Constituency II Seat. He hails from Abalama Community and a strong member of the Kengema Unity Forum (KUF), a socio-political organization that is advocating for a Kalabari governor in 2015. His problem is low popularity. He is new in the game of politics, and does not know the right path to follow.
Hon. Bomaonye Etela (PDP): He was a former Councilor, and a grassroots politician. He is contesting for the Asalga Constituency II Seat in the RSHA. His ambition is also a threat to his opponents. But political opponents accused him of being sponsored by members of APC. This single accusation might disturb him of realizing his Assembly ambition.
Hon. Iwo Jackreece (APC): He was a former Councilor represented Asalga Ward 13. He is currently the Chief of Staff, Asalga. He was also a former member of Asalga CTC. Of recent he has interest to gun for the Asalga Constituency II in the RSHA. His ambition might crash due to low political spread in fighting his opponents. ###
