RIVERS STATE PDP LEADERS BOMB GOVERNOR GODSWILL AKPABIO OF AKWA-IBOM STATE

The ‘Concerned Rivers State Chiefs and PDP leaders’ have continued to resist the ‘likely’ emergence of Nyesom Wike as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state 2015 election. This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, and Prof. Israel Owate which stated that,” Our attention as Chiefs in Rivers State and as leaders of our great party, the PDP has been drawn to an extremely provocative utterance by Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State in a live television programme on Thursday 13/11/2014, to the effect that our party the PDP shall not adopt zoning in the selection of the governance candidate for Rivers State.

“Governor Akpabio who spoke in his capacity as the Chairman of PDP governors’ forum, inferred that PDP shall not consider zoning in deciding the flag bearer of the party in Rivers State because the party is not in power in the state…On the issue of Rivers State being in opposition, it is on record that since 1999, no other political party apart from the PDP has won the governorship elections in Rivers State. It is therefore wrong for Governor Akpabio of Akaw Ibom State to say that Rivers State is in opposition. If zoning were done only in PDP controlled states as claimed by Governor Akpabio, why then did the PDP zone the presidency to the south-west in 1998? Was PDP the party in power at the center in 1998?

“Rivers Chiefs and elders have said it loud and clear that the popular desire of Rivers people is that another ethnic group apart from Ndoni and Ikwerre should produce the next Rivers State Governor. This is because Dr. Odili from Ndoni and Barrister Omehia and Rt. Hon. Amaechi from Ikwerre have become governors in recent times. As Rivers Chief and PDP leaders, we are utterly amazed that the definition of the supposed “strong man” is a person who graduated from the NYSC camp in 1998, got elected via the courts as Local Government Chairman in 1999, became Chief of staff to governor that was proclaimed by the courts in 2007, became a junior minister in 2011 and a multi-billionaire ever since buying everybody and everything on his way.

“This “strong man” had used his offices to locate and build federal institutions in the communities of very powerful Nigerians, including schools in the hometowns of state governors. We are amazed that security agencies and anti-graft bodies could only watch this “strong man” as he desperately blackmails the polity and pays huge monies to pocket the political destiny of Rivers State. Is Governor Akpabio’s opinion on Rivers State now more important that use several voices of out elders like Chief Edwin Clarke, Senator Cyrus Nunieh, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Chief Albert K. Horsfall, Senator Bennet Birabi, Dr Monday Okonny and several others who have publicly warned against the violation of the age-long power sharing arrangement in Rivers State?

“We find it very strange that Governor Akpabio who in 2007 was a very weak vaguely known aspirant not even favoured by the sitting Governor and who by the special grace of God was given the party ticket and who in spite of his weakness was supported but the party to become governor would now promote the interest of the “strong” against the entrenched zoning provision of the PDP constitution which is the foundation for sustainable peaceful coexistence in any multi ethnic society. We make bold to tell the Governor never again to meddle in out affairs and should stay within the confines of his own Akwa Ibom State.”

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Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.