Ex Freedom Fighter Speaks On Jonathan's Re-Election, Amaechi, Wike & Need For Equity

Leader and Founder of Kengema Unity Forum, KUF, Amb. General Sobomabo Jackrich has said one of the groups cardinal objectives is to mobilize and sensitize for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and also to ensure the emergence of a Kalabari governor come 2015. However, he has sounded it loud and clear that the group has not endorsed any of the aspiring Kalabari candidates yet.

Speaking as guest at during a mini summit of the South-South Chiefs, Elders, Sisters and Youths Network Association, the former freedom fighter said his group will only project and put its weight behind any of the Kalabari Guber candidate jointly chosen on consensus by the people of Kalabari ethnic nationality among the retinue of aspiring candidates jostling for the position.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN

Making his remark, he used the occasion to call on all Niger Delta sons and daughters to support Mr. President in the quest for his re-election. He also advocated support for his team as they strive to pilot the affairs of this nation, especially in these trying times when the country is faced with the challenges of terrorism, conspiracy, betrayals and bitter ethnocentric/religious politics.

The KUF leader observed that it is the first time in the history of Nigeria that a minority from the south-south is assuming the position of a President, but lamented the unfortunate brazen attempts by some evil and extreme forces unhappy with the government to discredit and bring it down at all cost. However, even in the face of fierce opposition he was quick to commend the President Jonathan led government for performing better than any of the country's successive government put together.

Jackrich who is also the Director General of Network for the Defense of Democracy and Good Governance, (NDDGG) noted that some significant economic achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration cannot be overtly overlooked while attention is focused only on insecurity and Boko Haram insurgency insinuating that nothing good has happened to Nigeria in recent times.

Enumerating some of the gains of his transformation agenda, he said the developmental strides of Mr. President are evident in the rehabilitation of the railway sub-sector which was abandoned over 20 years ago; the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the dredging of the Lower Niger and reviving of inland water transport; the construction and rehabilitation of road network. He said it can also be seen in renovation and modernization of our Airports, establishment of nine (9) federal universities in all the states of the federation, far reaching steps forward in the Agricultural sector, easy access to fertilizers for farmers, proactive support for SME's among other important milestones put in place by the President Goodluck Jonathan's administration who has also amassed an impressive array of world renowned success-conscious professionals who has contributed in no-small measure in making his administration a huge success.

GOVERNOR CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI:
Hear him: 'I want to use this medium to solicit for support for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan one of our own. This has become expedient considering the fact that when a northerner ruled the Hausa/Fulanis neither unsettled the polity nor raised their voices against the government - even when it was crystal clear that the government was a distant failure', their action according to him was a deliberate ploy to shield other tribes from seeing them as polarized and their kinsmen a failure.

Regrettably he observed that the situation in the south -south is different and unfortunate, even when our man is in the helm of affairs we are not united and betrays ourselves especially with the likes of the Governor of Rivers state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who has made himself a staunch enemy of Mr. President spearheading the bad blood. He stressed that the Governor uses money meant for the development of the state for his personal jamboree, when payment of workers' salaries are still lingering, roads in Port Harcourt in record bad shape and the state of the so called health centers better imagined.

'Why should any governor take Rivers money to go and sponsor an election holding in a Yoruba state just to score cheap political point and yet claim he is fighting for Rivers people? One thing I know is that Rivers people are no fools and 2015 will rightly prove that' he said, and therefore used the medium to once more urge Mr. President to declare and run for 2015 election, saying the evil forces in the country denigrating the Jonathan government are aware that his re-election will spark up a monumental development and transformation of the Niger Delta region, hence they are orchestrating their evil devices and conspiracy to stop him; but I have one message, they cannot because Power belongs to God.

CHIEF (BARR.) NYESOM WIKE
He appreciated the honourable Minister for education, Chief (Barr.) Nyesome Wike for salvaging the party from the grip of Gov. Rotimi Amaechi in the state, commending his bravery in ensuring that PDP continues to have a strong voice. Jackrich expressed belief that come 2015 PDP will reclaim the state from the strange APC party that does not have any good agenda for the south-south.

EQUITY, JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY IN OUR CHOICE OF GUBER:

'I want to appeal to Rivers people to let equity, justice and fair play remains the cardinal ingredient of for peaceful co-existence and selection of the next governor. I am drawing my conclusions from the fact that in 1999 a certain Dr. Peter odili an upland man was elected governor; he enjoyed the office for eight years. Barr Celestine Omehia from the upland was also elected in 2007 and was there for five months before Governor. Rotimi Amaechi who is equally an upland man was imposed on the people and has enjoyed the office going to eight years.

The question is, what about the Riverine? Are there no capable individuals who to assume that office? It is morally wrong to politically deny the Riverines in the spirit of equity, justice and fair play. We must not allow a particular tribe to succeed themselves in a multi-ethnic state like Rivers' he was quoted as saying.

Hence he called on Rivers people to rise up en masse and speak with one voice, saying it can no longer be business as usual. He said we must usher in a new dawn that will unite the people and ensure that the Rivers project - especially to achieve our cardinal objective of enthroning a Kalabari man as governor is achieved. 'Unity is our message in Kengema Unity forum and we are passionate to achieve our vision of uniting Kalabari people because we know that unity is a massive weapon that encompasses other things.

Others who spoke at the event include Kalabari Guber Aspirant, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs who commended the KUF leader for his tireless campaign for kalabari Governor and sensitization and overwhelming mobilization for President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election among others.