Prince Emma Anyanwu, a Peoples Democratic Party stalwart in Rivers State has declared that the zoning arrangement being canvassed by the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi for the Governorship of Rivers State in 2015 was illegal and sectional.
The Etche-born politician said the arrangement was targeted at excluding certain persons and ethnic groups from participating in the bid to produce the next governor of Rivers State in 2015. He queried why the same arrangement had not been implemented in the Rivers East Senatorial zone that is composed by Etche, Ikwerre and Okrika ethnic nationalities.
According to the Abuja-based politician and business mogul, while Ikwerre and Okrika ethnic nationalities had had the opportunity to represent the Senatorial zone at the Senate, Etche ethnic nationality had never had the opportunity and had been at the receiving end of the sectional zoning arrangement.
To this end, he averred that the 2015 gubernatorial race be kept open for Rivers people to choose the most competent Rivers person for the job.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Chief Felix Obuah had recently in a political function at Elele in Emohua Local government area of Rivers State declared that the zoning arrangement had been abolished to enable internal democracy thrive within the party.
The declaration by the Rivers PDP Chairman was condemned by some party stalwarts across the state who expressed shock and sadness at the Chairman’s comment. Political pundits believe that the Party Chairman’s declaration was a ploy to allow Chief Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education, contest the Governorship of Rivers State in 2015; an ambition he continues to deny.
Hon. Andrew Uchendu a member of the House of Representatives representing Ikwerre Federal Constituency was one of those who frowned at Obuah’s comment. Hon. Uchendu was quoted to have said zoning was embedded in the PDP Constitution and could not have be abolished without amending the constitution.
Governor Amaechi on his part has openly said that an Ikwerre man would not succeed him as Governor. He was said to have advised the Ikwerre ethnic nationality to allow another ethnic group govern the state.
In the meantime, certain ethnic groups have begun moves to wrest for the governorship of Rivers state in 2015. Among the most vocal ethnic groups are the Ogoni and Kalabari ethnic nationalities, who believe they deserve to lead the state.
Source: RiversPolitics