Rivers 2023: Group Canvass Power Shift to Riverine Bloc

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a political group under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Rivers State (CC-23), has called on stakeholders and leaders of thought in Rivers state to consider zoning the governorship position to the Riverine for equity and fairness.

The Group at a press conference in Port Harcourt, said zoning the governorship position to riverine will reduce tension and promote unity among different ethnic groups in the state.

The leader of Rivers State CC-23, Ken Robinson said the upland region has been in power since the return of democracy in 1999 and called for the emergence of a Rivers State governor of the riverine extraction come 2023.

”Governor Nyesom Wike has stated that his party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), will support the emergence of a successor who can unify and defend the interests of Rivers State. There is no doubt that such efforts at unity and defense of Rivers’ interest will take into cognizance the long deprivation of the Riverine Ijaw bloc”.

”Former Governor and current Minister of Transportation as well as leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi is reportedly disposed to the APC again presenting a Governorship Candidate from the Riverine Ijaw bloc, in 2023; to give every part of the state a sense of belonging as the upland has occupied the position since 1999. Both leaders are, thus, apparently concerned about fairness to all parts of Rivers State and deserve commendation”.

”It would be appropriate, hence, to earnestly urge the Governor of Rivers State, and leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, His Excellency, Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, to permit history to further write his name in gold letters, by also lending firm consideration to the emergence of a Governorship Candidate from the Riverine Ijaw sections of the State, under the PDP, in the 2023 governorship elections. This would be a valued addition to the robust developmental initiatives of his administration” he said.

Ken Robinson also called on Governor Nyesom Wike not to allow any ethnic group in Rivers State to pressure him into zoning the governorship ticket them.

He also frowned at comments by Senator Benneth Birabi demanding for political parties to zone the governorship ticket to Ogonis.

Ken Robinson said that Ogonis belong to the upland and should allow the riverine bloc to pick the ticket in 2023.

”We read with dismay excerpts of the press conference where the former federal lawmaker presented a skewed view of power-sharing figures in Rivers State since 1991. There is no doubt that Senator Birabi’s desire was to attract sympathy for his Ogoni agenda; but in so doing, he misrepresented the facts in order to achieve his purpose without due regard to the cosmopolitan nature of Rivers State and its diversity that has been so far well-managed as a result of the age-long unwritten understanding that respects the existence of Upland and Riverine sections in the state.

”Certainly, “fairness, equity, reason, conscience, and political morality are essential and authentic bases for peace, growth, and development of our state. It is, thus, plausible that Dr. Bennett Birabi brought up the issue of marginalization and requested the leaders of the two major political parties in the State to take these fundamentals into consideration and consider Ogoni candidates for the governorship seat in 2023”.

”But, Senator Birabi also understands that the Ogonis belong to the Upland which since 1999 has occupied the governorship seat exclusively. The kernel of his clamor, therefore, is to perpetuate the existing situation whereby, for 24 years, the Upland would be at the helm of affairs of Rivers State by 2023. Giving the Upland another tenure, through the Ogoni, will mean that the upland will have an unbroken 32 years in the Governorship seat without any consideration for the Riverine. That would neither be fair nor promote justice” he said.