The Rivers South-East Renaissance Movement (RISERM) a forefront socio-political group in the campaign for the zoning of Governorship of Rivers State in 2015 to the Rivers South East zone has faulted the call by the Ogoni Leadership Forum that all political parties should pick their Governorship candidate from Ogoni Ethnic group as myopic, self-centered, parochial and unachievable.
RISERM is worried by the persistent singular call by few individuals in the disguise as Ogoni Ethnic group. The overall interest of Ogoni or any Ethnic group in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District will be possible only when we canvassed for Governorship of Rivers State as we did for the creation of Bori State not as Ogoni State.
We can sincerely recall that in our bid to have political emancipation, the several Ethnic group in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District came together and gave support to the demand for the creation of Bori State which comprises other Ethnic groups as the Andoni, Nkoro, Oyigbo, Opobo, Eleme and the Ogoni. This region is central to the oil and gas operation in Nigeria with enormous man power.
Also, similar Senatorial Districts that have not produced Governors of their States are unanimously canvassing for Governorship of their various States as we can find in Akwa Ibom for the Eket zone which has more than three Ethnic group in the zone.
In Delta State, we find the people of Ika, Anioma, Aniocha, Agbor, Oshimili, coming together as people of the Delta North Senatorial District asking for the Governorship of Delta State.
Cross River State just like Rivers State is faced with similar scenario and the over 16 Ethnic groups in Cross River North Senatorial District is equally canvassing for the Governorship of Cross River State as Cross River North.No serious political party will zone its Governorship candidate to an Ethnic group found in only three Local Government Areas except these few individuals under the aegis of Ogoni Leadership Forum are claiming deliberate ignorance of this political reality.
In Imo State, socio-cultural groups like the purported Ogoni Leadership Forum are coming together under a coalition of the various Ethnic and cultural groups to canvass and seek for support for Governorship to the Owerri zone. They are the Dozie Owerri, Ezuruezu Mbaise, Mbaike Stakeholders Forum and Ngor Okpala Forum. This is a common political practice by Senatorial Districts that has not produced Governors of their States in neigbouring State in the South-East and South-South zones that has various Ethnic groups.
The historical practice of political parties in the current political dispensation in Rivers State will not help the case of the Ogoni Leadership forum. You may recall that in 1999, the P.D.P and the APP had their Governorship candidates from two separate Ethnic groups in the Rivers West Senatorial District. The Ndoni as Upland and Kalabari as Riverine. In 2007, the P.D.P and the A.C.N had their Governorship candidates from Ikwerre Ethnic group as Upland, Okrika Ethnic group as Riverine all from the Rivers East Senatorial District.
Rivers South-East Senatorial District has started enjoying the support of groups, opinion leaders and political parties zoning their Governorship tickets to the zone not as Ogoni Ethnic group.
The Democratic People Party recently announced zoning of its Governorship ticket to the Rivers South-East Senatorial District. Let the good people of Rivers South –East disregard any singular agitation based on Ethnic sentiment that cannot withstand serious political horse-trading.
We therefore call on political parties in Rivers State to discountenance any call by the Ogoni Leadership Forum asking for zoning Governorship of Rivers State in 2015 to Ogoni Ethnic Nationality but rather zoned their Governorship tickets to Rivers South-East Senatorial District which Ogoni is part.
The Senatorial District is capable of producing credible, acceptable and well prepared Governorship candidates from the zone in 2015.
We further appeal to our brothers and sisters in the Rivers West and East Senatorial District to support the River South East zone produce the Governor of Rivers State in 2015. It will deepen our unity, oneness and progress of Rivers State.
Rivers South-East Renaissance Movement’s (RISERM) 30,000 man- match later in October this year will be a demonstration of our commitment to this project.
We thank you all and God bless you.
BARR. DORNU BARIDA NWINANG
PROJECT-COORDINATOR.
Source: Codewit World News
