Rivers: Power must shift to Riverine in 2023 —KUF

..As  Kalabaris woo Ogonis for support

Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

As countdown to  2023 gradually begins,an illustrous son of Kalabariland in Rivers State and Leader of Kengema Unity Forum(KUF),High Chief Sobomabo Jackrich has declared that the governorship position must shift to the Riverine in 2023 to uphold the upland/riverine dichotomy principle in the State. He stressed that the Kalabaris are ready and prepared to take over mantle of leadership in Rivers State,come 2023.

Jackrich made the declaration Friday while hosting members of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI) to a meeting to “determine the political landscape of Rivers State” at Usokun-Degema in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to him,the dream can only be actualized by the support of other ethnic groups, especially the Ogonis,hence the meeting.

He was categorical that it is only when these two major tribes come together to form a bloc that the dominance of any ethnic group, such as the Ikwerres would be broken.

“To further worsen the situation by our political sequence,we have seen a deliberate effort by our upland brothers who seem to have taken advantage of our seemingly discordant posture with a calculated move to hold onto power for twenty four years and deliberately politicizing the development of the state.It  has therefore become necessary for us to work together, stand by each other to fight and back our socio-economic and political freedom as a people,” Jackrich said.

He admitted that though rotation of political offices in the state may not have been gazetted,but for equity and fairness,the principle has been accepted by all and as such should be sustained.

Jackrich who is also the leader of Network for Defense of Democracy and Good Governance(NDDGG) said he now wonders why Governor Nyesom Wike tried to convince the unsuspecting Rivers people that power rotation between Upland and Riverine is no longer necessary,thereby undermining the vision of founding fathers of Rivers State.

This, he said is ill-intentioned and meant to perpetrate certain ethnic nationality, especially Ikwerres in office “As permanent rulers by possibly enthroning a stooge in 2023 to continue  his tyrannical rulership,with the aim of covering his atrocities while in office.”

“It is to this end therefore that it has become imperative for us the Kalabaris and our Ogoni brothers in the struggle to have this treaty in order to form a political Bloc to outnumber them and enthrone a God-fearing and credible leadership that will ensure an even spread of development in the State,as election can only be won by the majority,”he said.

In his remarks the Leader of Ogoni Liberation Initiative,Mr Fabeke Douglas emphasized that the Ogonis share the same level of political marginalization with the Kalabaris in the State, despite their enormous contributions to the economic well being of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.He vowed that the Ogonis are now prepared to right the wrong of the political actors in the State.

Douglas said he regretted that the Ogoni Bill of Rights that premised on three pillars of economy,politics and environment has not been achieved years after it was drafted.

He assured the KUF and the entire Kalahari people that the Ogonis are willing to work with them to actualize their vision, provided their own political future will be clearly defined.

He took a swipe on the Rivers State Government led by Nyesom Wike for taking over the ownership of OML 11, which he said had caused Ogoni people so much harm.

Earlier in his speech,the Niger Delta Activist,Alh Asari Dokubo had criticized the administration of Wike,describing it as “Satan incarnate” full of oppression and insensitivity.

Dokubo said the task of taking over power from the Ikwerres in 2023 is irrevocable.

“Nobody gives you power, power is taken by force even in the Bible. Kalabaris won’t beg anybody.Wike is nobody.When we are ready we will take over power.Ogonis are the most marginalized people in Rivers State. We are ready to take over power in 2023,”Dokubo said.