The BONNY GENTLEMEN’S LEAGUE (The League), a frontline sociocultural pressure group in Nigeria, calls on all political parties contesting for the governorship election in Rivers State come March 11, 2023 to focus on producing candidates from the riverine axis of the State.
Rising from its monthly Congress meeting in Bonny Island over the weekend, the Chancellor, Squadron Leader Olam Allwell-Brown (Rtd), Amaopusenibo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, stated that this call has become pertinent as no Riverine person or Rivers indigene of Ijaw extraction since 1999, has occupied the Brick House, seat of power in the State. From 1999, when the current democratic dispensation began it has been Dr Peter Odili from Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA; Sir Celestine Omehia and Chibuike Amaechi, both from Ubima, Ikwerre LGA, and currently, Chief Nyesom Wike from Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor LGA that have occupied the seat of Governor for an unbroken consecutive period of 23 years, still counting. The League views this as injustice, lack of fairness and inequity given the sterling contributions of the riverine areas to the economy of the State.
It should be noted that out of 23 local government areas in Rivers State, only three, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor, all in the upland, have produced a Governor; while three, Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni and Degema, all in the riverine, have produced the Deputy Governor. Sustaining this trend would imply entrenching subjugation, oppression, discrimination and relegation of the riverine peoples of the State as second class citizens in their own State.
He pointed out that with the array of politicians from the riverine areas indicating interest to run for the office of Governor across various political parties, it is clear that failure to accord them the opportunity to fly your respective party flags would not be for want of quality aspirants, it would only imply an obstinate predilection to shortchange the riverine people of the chance to have a fair shot at the office of Governor of Rivers State.
Bonny Gentlemen’s League, therefore, calls on the leadership, stakeholders and members of all the political parties to converge on the notion of entrenching justice, fairness, equity, and equal opportunity in our political spectrum in Rivers State. Affirmative action in this direction is the right thing to do at the moment and the time is now.
Is this the kind of politics we still run? Leadership by origin amd tribe? Why not asked for a good leader that can develop every part of rivers and move rivers state to a level where they no longer depend on federal govt allocation to survive. Make rivers state and industrial hub, a good place for business with security.
Yes! The Bonny Improvement Association (BIA) though not partisan, supports a Riverine Governor even if it means this loud CRYOUT….
Prof. Sodienye Abere
It’s a fact,however the possibility to pick out Bonny as the only Riverine is not realistic.
Polictical spectrum in Rivers State always moving to upland trend,since as shadow of leadership, even major appointment offices after the old Rivers (with Bayelsa inclusion), it’s time for riverine people or core ijaw people to standup to speak., even standard development infrastructure building inherent from formal Governor king alfred diete spiff ,no proper maintenances by present or past Governors.leadership in real time speak in good governance and human capacity development with model infrastructure to Rivers State an industrial hub to generate resources as treasure base of the nation for benefit of the people.