A Pan-Kalabari Organization, Kalabari Ene-Bate, has called on other ethnic nationalities in Rivers State to support the kalabari bid for Rivers State governorship and equally endorsed Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, come 2015.
Speaking with The Newswriter reporter after their recent meeting, Chief Festus A. Igbikialabo (MNIM), chairman and Aroloye Briggs, Vice-Chairman of the group said the organization was formed basically to bring together all Kalabari Sons and daughters at home and in diaspora with the sole mission to attract development to the area, ensure overwhelming unity and speak with one voice and also cater for the welfare of its people.
They described the organization as non-partisan, pointing out that the aim is anchored on ideological tenets of active participation, emancipation of its people, promotion of welfarism, grassroots sensitization and creation of political consciousness, adding that the group which is not a political party will welcome any aspirant that identifies with the organization’s principles.
Commenting on assistance rendered by Kalabari people in producing governors from other ethnic nationalities, the duo noted that the Kalabaris supported wholeheartedly the emergence of Chief Rufus Ada-George, Dr. Peter Odili and the incumbent governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to become governors in their respective tenures, and appealed to them to reciprocate the kind gesture of the Kalabaris by supporting their bid, come 2015.
“As a socio-cultural, political pressure group with the principle of equity, fairness and justice for all, it will be morally right for the Kalabaris to take a shot at the Government House this time around, because we have supported others in the past”, the group demanded.
On the issue of selection of candidates, they dismissed the news making the round in some quarters that the Kalabaris will not arrive at a consensus, saying that any candidate that emerges through selection will be supported by all others, stressing further that the Kalabaris are tired of political setbacks in the past which usually emanates from the big towns of Abonnema, Buguma and Bakana on who gets the shot.
“This time around we shall converge at our ancestral home, Abalama and any candidate that emerges through the selection process will be supported by others”, they said.
On the stability of Kalabari Ene-Bate, they stated that the organization will still be intact after the 2015 general elections, because of its mission and vision, stressing that many other Kalabari socio-political organizations will fizzle out after the 2015 elections, “We are here to stay and serve our people”, they mentioned.
They called on the good people of Kalabari kingdom and other ethnic nationalities to support the Kalabari project and respect the principle of equity, fairness and justice which the Kalabaris have always maintained in the past by supporting them.
Preaching the principle of love, the group affirmed their commitment to the first inaugural stakeholders meeting, held at the Transit Care Hotel at Port Harcourt on the 22nd of September, 2012 and assured the entire Kalabari kingdom of their determination to embrace unity. ###
