As the race for the Brick House come 2023 builds up, with aspirants lobbying and scheming for delegates’ vote as the party primaries draw closer, youth groups in Rivers State have declared their support for the governorship ambition of Dr. Dakorinama Alabo George Kelly.

Dr George Kelley, who is the Special Adviser on Special Projects to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, recently declared his intention to contest for the gubernatorial election in the State come March 11, 2023.  

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Speaker, Rivers State Youth Leaders Assembly, Sylvernus Sylvernus, which was made available to the Media on Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Port Harcourt, disclosed that two youth groups, the Coalition of Rivers State Youths for Better Deal and the Niger Delta Youth for Practical Development, Rivers State Chapter, announced their endorsement for Dr George Kelley when they paid a visit to the Speaker, Rivers State Youth Leaders Assembly, Prince Tonye Jeminimiema over the weekend in Port Harcourt.

In their remarks, the leaders of the two groups, Mike Omachi and Daniel Isaiah stated that they were on a consultation drive to galvanize youth leaders to close ranks with a view to pushing for a younger and youth friendly governor, lamenting that youths have been sidelined in the scheme of things in the State.

They asserted that come 2023, the youths in Rivers State were determined to ensure that they were no longer relegated to the background, hence the move to choose “a candidate that will listen to our cries and   concerns, somebody who will feel our pains and consciously take pragmatic steps to create jobs and empowerment opportunities”.

“The youths constitute 80% of jobless and unemployed people with nobody caring to know the emotional and psychological trauma the youths are going through; no employment, no empowerment.”

“We have come to seek partnership with the Rivers State Youth Leaders Assembly to drive this vision to a fruition. We have carefully watched all the aspirants who have picked the expression of interest form in the ruling party in the State PDP and have considered Dax Alabo George Kelly as more acceptable, popular, understanding, grassroot orientated and more connected with the youths.”

“It is obvious that the other party, APC in the State, which was supposed to field a youth, took the other way; hence we are calling on all well-meaning youths in the State, who are privileged to be delegates in the PDP, to settle for Dr. Alabo George Kelly during the governorship primaries come 21st of May, 2022.”

“We wish to humbly enjoin Governor Nyesom Wike to consider all sterling leadership qualities of Dr. Alabo George Kelly and give him his support to fly the flag of the PDP in the March 2023 governorship election.

Responding, the Speaker of the Rivers State Youth Leaders Assembly, Prince Tonye Jeminimiema expressed the readiness of the apex youth leadership body in the State to partner with them in their quest to enthrone a youthful and youth friendly governor in the State.

He amplified their call on PDP delegates in the State to vote for Dr. Dax Alabo George Kelly during the party’s governorship primaries on Saturday, March 21, 2022 in Port Harcourt to enable him flag the PDP ticket in the March 2023 governorship elections in the State.

“Dr. Dax Alabo George Kelly is a very vibrant and trustworthy politician that is very sincere in his doings, and can efficiently and effectively represent the youths in the governance of the State, and also will be accessible at all times.

Jeminimiema, who is popularly referred to as “the youth general of the State”, said “with Dr. Kelly, things will turn around for good in the lives of our youths, he will consolidate on the achievements of the present administration under Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, POS Africa”.

“Your call is very sincere and timely. Rivers State needs a God-fearing person to attain that exalted position of Governor of the State, and Dr. Dax Alabo George Kelly is the answer. Please continue with the campaign, talk to PDP delegates that you know, convince them to vote for Dr. Dax Alabo George Kelly come 21st of May, 2022, and we shall all be smiling at the end of the day, let me used this opportunity to thank you ones again, my most distinguished comrades for coming to consult with me as your youth general, I assure you that victory shall be for us in God’s name.”

“Dr. George Kelly has been tested by the youths of the State as you earlier stated, he is the only person qualified for that office among other aspirants in the race. We are not joking here; Rivers State youth Leaders must come out in their numbers to ensure overwhelming victory for Dr. Kelly come 2023.”

“A man that has been campaigning seriously for the unity of the State, a man who believes in good governance and leadership, a man who believes in the transformation of the state, a man who has been tested and trusted in all ramifications by our political leader in the state, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and a detribalized young man.”

“I am very convinced that with Dr. Dax Alabo George Kelly, Rivers people will not be disappointed. A vote for Dr. Dax Alabo Kelly is a vote for rapid infrastructural development of the Rivers state and to consolidate on Governor Wike developmental strides.”