PH Mundial – Port Harcourt Online Newspaper News Across The Region
Related Articles
By Joel Anekwe
The riverine population of Rivers State has intensified mobilisation towards producing the next governor of the state in the 2019 elections. A coalition of over fifty non-governmental organisations, coastal ethnic groups, women and youth groups under a coalition, Rivers Conscience Monday in Port Harcourt declared that a Riverine governorship in 2019 is not negotiable.
This was immediately followed up Tuesday by the women version of the coalition- Rivers Women Alliance also insisting that for equity, justice, fairness and unity the riverine area of the state must produce the next governor of the state.
All riverine ethnic groups in Rivers state who were part of the coalition declared that nearly two decades of control of the governorship position by the uplands in the state has reached a break point and must cease in 2019.
Announcing the coalition’s position to journalists, Dason Nemieboka of New Frontiers of Rivers noted that the rotation of the governorship position between “The Upland and The Riverine” has been enshrined in Rivers politics since 1958 Willinks Commission Report and has been so respected till the governorship of Rotimi Amaechi, now Transport Minister.
“It is worrisome to all men of conscience and decency that after almost twenty years of civil rule, from 1999 to date, no riverine man or woman has been elected into the highest position of Governor of Rivers state.”
“Riverine people of Rivers in all three Senatorial Districts have come to the incontrovertible truth that we must, together, strengthen the narrative for political justice and equity. We have consulted extensively. Personal, ethnic and political party interests are now laid on the altar for ultimate demand of a Riverine Governor”
The coalition, in its call to key stakeholders in the Rivers political space, appealed among other demands, that, “Desperate and selfish aspirants and candidates should know that there could be another opportunity if reason and wisdom is applied.
“All Riverine people in any political party foreclosed from contesting 2019 Governorship election must resign and locate other parties to exercise their right to contest.
“Nigerian press should set the tune of the discourse and sustain a healthy political debate that would further entrench true democracy in Rivers State.”
“We also call on the sitting Governor of Rivers to respect the constitution of his party PDP which stipulates the Rotation of Elective Positions including office of the Governor, in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness.
“Finally, we call on the entire good people of Rivers State to follow their conscience not the propaganda”, while also challenging INEC and security operatives to ensure level playing in next Rivers governorship election come 2019.
On their part the Rivers Women Alliance which cut across the 23 local governments of the state are also clamouring for a governor from the riverine section of the state saying the call became very necessary as that is the only path to equity, fairness, justice and the enhancement of peaceful coexistence in the state.
In a press conference in Port Harcourt the women who said the alliance is non-political, non-governmental organization with a view of total chatter for united Rivers society observed with total dismay that the leadership of the state has been domiciled in upland section of the state for the past nearly 20 years whereas the state is made up of Upland and Riverine sections.
Expressing the desire of the women, the Coordinator of the Rivers Women Alliance, Ibiba Omotoso said; “To our thinking and that of every rational thinkers that from 1999 to 2019 the State has been governed by the upland brothers spanning from Sir. Dr. Peter Odili, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to Barr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike. It is only fair for every Rivers son and daughter to rally round a Riverine Governor to taste the seat of power in our dear state”, the women stated.
They added; “Equity, Fairness, Justice, and togetherness has been advocated, but how can we achieve these fair tones without practice, this is why we call on all Rivers elders, the political class, traditional rulers, youths, women and every facet of life in Rivers to join hands so that our call and advocacy of truth, fairness, equity, justice, and togetherness can be a fulfilled will”.
“Our unity, well-being, and togetherness are sacrosanct, hence the need for rotation of power between the upland and the Riverine. We remain committed to this course and it is our belief and trust that come 2019 a Riverine son or daughter will emerge in any of the political parties as the Governor of Rivers State”.
They expressed the belief that it would not be too much to allow all concerned in a common heritage to have a fair share of the commonwealth in service adding “after all, a renowned scholar once said, equity is in vain when oppression is the other of the day in an indifferent society. The deliberate assent of this clarion call to rotate power is just, finest and clinches the order of the day”.
They explained bedsides upholding the principles of equity, fairness and justice the issue of the underdevelopment of the riverine areas also forms part of the reasons for the clamour for a governor from the riverine area.
Omotoso stressed; “As a people of indivisibility, we also need to share in our bond of togetherness to expressly entrench the equity, fairness, justice, and unity. Twenty solid years of brotherhood with one as the automated head is a gross injustice and thus demeaning on the others in the co journey”.
