The Rivers State chapter of the Concerned PDP League (CPDPL) has vehemently condemned the attempt by Bro. Felix Obuah, Rt. Hon. Austin Adiele Opara and other Rivers upland aspirants, to contest the 2023 Governorship election, and described such act as breath taking arrogance, zoning double standard and political insensitivity, after twenty fours (24) years of upland rulership.
There is a political power-sharing understanding between the Riverine and Upland in Rivers State and that has since become the political norm in the state.
It’s public knowledge that almost fifteen aspirants have collected the interest and nomination forms for the gubernatorial primary election under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. Also, it’s no secret that not less than four of those that has picked their forms are from Rivers upland.
The group in a swift press release with historic background information, and signed by the Rivers State Chapter Chairman of CPDPL, Collins Owhunda, Communication, and Advocacy Director, Kumasi Kobani, and the National Leader, Comrade Daboikiabo Z. Warmate, who hails from Rivers State, urged aspirants Rivers upland to drop their ambitions without dithering any further.
The Press Release Reads;
Rivers State was created on the 27th of May, 1967, and has produced seven indigenous governors, one of whom was a military administrator and the other six democratically elected. They are;
1. HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff (28 May 1967 to July 1975)
2. Melford Okilo (October 1979 to December 1983)
3. Rufus Ada George (January 1992 to November 1993)
4. Peter O. Odili (29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007)
5. Celestine Omehia (29 May 2007 to 26 October 2007)
6. Chibuike Amaechi (26 October 2007 to 29 May 2015)
7. Ezenwo Wike (29 May 2015 till date).
Looking at the above statistics, it is apparent that, the Riverine have ruled for thirteen years and eleven months, while the Upland have ruled for twenty-four years by May 2023.
After the creation of Bayelsa State on 1st October 1996, out of the old Rivers state including the areas HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff and Chief Melford Okilo came from, only Rufus Ada George remained with the new Rivers State, and since then, no Riverine person has ruled the State. It has been complete and total dominance by those from Rivers upland.
In Rivers State, we have a political pattern where power ought be shared between the Riverine and the Upland. Therefore, the intention of Hon. Austin Adiele Opara, Bro. Felix Obuah, Sen. Ledogo Lee Maeba, Sen. Olaka Johnson Wogu and Barr. Isaac Kamalu to contest the governorship election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is against every good conscience, political morals, and downright antithesis of the zoning principle envisaged by the letter and spirit of the PDP constitution.
Bro. Felix Ameachi Obuah is from the same Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, local government area as Chief, Dr. Peter O. Odili, the fourth Republic Governor of new Rivers State. While Hon. Austin A. Opara is from the same Ikwerre ethnic nationality or group as former Governor Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chebuki Ameachi and Chief Celestine Omaha and the serving Governor, Cheif, Barr., Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. He is also a member of the PDP zoning committee and who supports zoning of the Presidency to the South. Austin Opara should practice in Rivers State what he is preaching at the national level.
Sen. Ledogo Lee Maeba, Sen. Olaka Johnson Wogu and Barr. Isaac Kamalu is all from the upland of Rivers State just like Felix Obuah and Austin Opara.
When those that founded the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) inserted section 7 subsection 3(c) in the PDP’s constitution, it is to address the same fears of domination and subjugation by one ethnic group, area, zone, or region not just at the federal level but at all the levels of governance which are; the federal, state and local government levels.
We therefore, urge the above aspirants to honourably withdraw from the governorship contest so as not to undermine and provoke the political sensibility of the Riverine people of the state. Also, those aspirants from the Okrika ethnic nationality should drop their ambition considering the fact that, one of their sons, His Excellency Chief Rufus Ada George has governed the state in the short-lived third republic.
