As the clamour for a governor of riverine extraction to emerge from the gubernatorial election of March 11, 2023 in Rivers State, the Bonny Improvement Association (BIA) has added its voice to the calls on participating political parties to produce candidates from the riverine axis of the State. 

President of the BIA Port Harcourt, Professor Sodienye Abere came out with this position on Thursday, May 19, 2022 in an online chat with Kristina Reports, while reacting to the Press Statement on the issue by the Bonny Gentlemen’s League (BGL).

“Yes! The Bonny Improvement Association (BIA), though not partisan, supports calls for a Riverine Governor even if it means this loud CRY OUT.”

He pointed out that for an unbroken period of 23 years since the current democratic dispensation ensued the riverine axis of the State has not produced a governor, only deputy governors, noting that of the 23 LGAs in the State, 15 are either entirely riverine or partly riverine, noting that the greater percentage of revenue from businesses in the State accrue form the riverine axis.

“It is justice, it is equity, it is fairness, and more importantly, it is entrenching a sense of inclusiveness to avail the riverine part of the State the opportunity to produce a governor 23 years after we welcomed democracy in Nigeria, I mean 23 unbroken years, three consecutive terms of 8 years.”

“The Bonny Improvement Association stands by the calls by various well meaning groups for a riverine to emerge come 2023. Nothing else would be good enough. We call on all the political parties to ensure affirmative action in favour of the riverine aspirants within their space and let one of them emerge.”

The Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Head of Department of Forestry and Environment at the Rivers State University concurred with the Bonny Gentlemen’s League that there is no want of quality aspirants from the riverine areas in any of the political parties, insisting that political stakeholders in the State should impress on their respective parties to do the needful.

“Some people are talking about competence over origin, quality over ethnicity, we wish to draw the attention of those naysayers to the fact that there is an array of quality aspirants in all the political parties, accomplished technocrats, successful businessmen, seasoned public sector managers, and a lot more. So, it is not for want of competent hands, we insist on affirmative action for riverine candidacy and nothing less.”  

Prof. Abere, who is the 1^st National Vice President of the Waste Management Association of Nigeria (WAMASON), however, wondered why an indigene of Bonny LGA and former Commissioner for Transport and two term House of Assembly member in the State, George Tolofari is not contesting for the governorship ticket of his party, the APC.

According to him, “it is the appeal of the Bonny Improvement Association, as per a unanimous resolution from its monthly meeting in May 2022, that the people of Rivers State, especially, Bonny LGA, rally around a riverine candidate, with special emphasis on the only female governorship aspirant, Abie Atedoghu to win the race”.

Kristina Reports checks reveal that between 1999 and 2022, the upland axis of the State has produced four chief executives while the riverine areas have produced three deputy governors.

Peter Odili, a medical doctor, who hails from Ogbaru clan of Ndoni Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was inaugurated into office as the third elected Governor of Rivers State on May 29, 1999 and served for eight years.

Celestine Omehia and Chibuike Amaechi, both from Ubima Community in Ikwerre LGA of the State served out the next eight years. It happened that Omehia, who was sworn into office to succeed Odili was ousted by a judgment of the Supreme Court on October 25, 2007 wherein it declared his younger cousin, Amaechi as the due candidate of their political party, the PDP as at then. Amaechi went on to win a second term in office and exited on May 29, 2015.

Obio/Akpor LGA produced Amaechi’s successor, Nyesom Wike, his erstwhile Chief of Staff and Ikwerre kinsman from Rumuepirikom. He is currently serving out his second term in office.

Incidentally, the riverine axis produced the deputy governors in the three dispensations. Peter Odili’s deputy was Gabriel Toby from Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro LGA. Tele Ikuru, an engineer, served both Celestine Omehia and Chibuike Amaechi, while Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, a medical doctor, is currently serving with Nyesom Wike.

In the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), four riverine aspirants, Tammy Danagogo, Abie Atedoghu, Farah Dagogo, Siminialayim Fubara, and Tele Ikuru have indicated interest to contest for the guber polls.

In the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, Tein Jackrich, Tonye Cole, Tonye Princewill, Dakuku Peterside, Sokonte Douglas, Minabelem Michael-West, and Biokpomabo Awara have also indicated interest to contest for governorship on the party’s platform.     

Outside these two political parties, Sobomabo Jackrich has declared his gubernatorial ambition on the platform of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) while Dumo Lulu Briggs has declared his interest via the Accord Party.

The coming days will define the direction of the gubernatorial tussle in Rivers State as the primaries of the various political parties hold and produce outcomes.