In obvious alignment with the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom on the position of the Ibani ethnic nationality regarding Siminialayim Fubara, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Amadabo of Finima, Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, Kongo XVII has called out to leaders across Bonny and Opobo Kingdoms to rally every vote possible to ensure Fubara’s victory at the polls. 

Kongo XVII made this call on Thursday, February 2, 2023 when a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Bonny LGA, Isobonye Tobin led members of the PDP Ward 5 in Bonny LGA to pay him an appreciation visit at his palace in Finima, Bonny LGA in Rivers State.

He stated that though traditional institutions are supposed to be apolitical, in a situation where a son of the Ibani ethnic nationality is vying for the governorship seat in the State, political bias is inevitable for his kinsmen and women, urging the people of Bonny and Opobo Kingdoms work together to actualize the objective.  

“As traditional institution, we are not supposed to be politically biased but the fact that your son is in the game, we have to be ethnic. We need to go down to grassroots level to be able to see to it.”

“This is the only time in my lifetime that I see someone from the Ibani ethnic nationality committing to the governorship of the state; in some areas I hear when they say “the next governor, the next governor”.

He expressed his delight in the emergence of Siminialayim Fubara as governorship flagbearer of the PDP, stressing that to make his aspiration a reality, all the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) across Ibani land (Bonny and Opobo Kingdoms) have to be leveraged and translated to votes come February 11, 2023.

“We have been rallying round him since the candidature was announced, but rallying round is not enough. As an institution, we also want to ensure that we invest to make sure, and that’s why I called all community leaders in Bonny and Opobo to make sure we rally round.”

“He’s our son and we want to make sure that every PVC vote counts, not just to count but is made effective to bring our son to office as Governor of Rivers State.”

“We have to go into the nooks and crannies to make sure that all the PVCs counts for Sim. This is our hope and this is an opportunity.”

“It’s a responsibility for us to go into the nooks and crannies; community heads, Chiefs, we go to our communities to make sure that we push. It’s not enough to be in township, we drag it down and that is why we ensure that just like what we have done, in the election, we also make sure that we invest.”

“I don’t want us to miss this opportunity, irrespective of the party you are in; whether PDP, APC, SDP, whatever party you are in, Sim is our own that we have to actualize his ambition as Governor of Rivers State.”

“I strongly believe that apart from being a son of the Ibani ethnic nationality, his proximity to us is another angle we are to look into, he’s somebody that we can always run to, he’s somebody that we can always go to, always speak to.”

Aseme Alabo Brown, who is the Chief and Head of Buoye Omuso Brown House of Finima, stressed that nationalism begins with tribalism, maintaining that the Ibani race has jump on Fubara’s candidacy and make it happen.

“It also gladdens my heart as an Ibani son. I don’t care how people want to see it but everyone on earth has to be ethnic before you talk about nationalism. Awolowo, in one of his statements, said you have to be tribalistic before you become nationalistic”.

“If I am not a Finima man, you can’t call me a Bonny man. If I don’t belong to a family in Brown House, I cannot be in Brown House. So, for me to be a member of the ethnic nationality I have to come from the families or communities in the Ibani nation.”

Earlier, Isobonye Tobin, who is the leader of the PDP in Ward 5 Bonny LGA, expressed appreciation to the Amadabo of Finima and his Council of Wari-Alapu for the support availed the party faithful from the area to participate in welcoming the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to Bonny LGA on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

He informed their host that the PDP in Ward 5 Finima was poised to deliver the highest number of votes in the forthcoming general elections, stressing that “what Finima will bring, what Ward 5 will bring will be the total votes of at least 10 Wards in Bonny Kingdom”.

“They will gather and respect us politically; because today we have about 29 units, if we put heads together, put hands together and mobilize for that 29 units, it will be almost 300, or let me just say more than 300.”

“So, we are grateful, the party is grateful, as we are here now, as we speak to you, they are aware we are here to say thank you. I also give thanks to God that what we are doing now is on air, so, if we do like that, the party is mobilized, we are grateful, thank you and thank you and God bless us in Jesus name.”

In a chat with Kristina Reports shortly after the visit, Chairman of the PDP Ward 5 Bonny LGA, Asolia Allwell-Brown asserted that his ward was ready to deliver its share of anticipated votes that would ensure Siminialayim Fubara wins the governorship election come February 11, 2023.

“Well, PDP owns Ward 5; that Ward 5 will completely give what they have to Sim Fubara, and make sure he achieves the position which will make our heart glad that for the first time an Ibani son has gone into the Brick House, it’s a big plus to us.”

“It is indeed for Siminialayim Fubara, Ward 5 PDP, as large as it is, will not lose out any vote in the place of giving Siminialayim what he deserves to deliver him on that day.”