2015 Governorship: The Questions Rivers People Must Answer

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy”…. John 10:10

Introduction

On Saturday 28 February 2015, Rivers people shall decide who governs our oil rich State during the next four years. But unlike previous elections (1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011), we are in extremely abnormal times.

Events leading to the 2015 governorship election have raised critical issues and questions that must be resolved and answered through the ballot box. We are in abnormal times because the political history of Rivers State is about to be rewritten.

Unfortunately, governorship candidates and their political parties avoid these critical issues in the ongoing campaigns as they conduct their campaigns as if we are in normal times.

Governorship candidates gather crowds at rallies, post exotic posters, erect giant billboards, sponsor radio and TV jingles but relegate the critical issues to the background.

Rivers Mainstream Coalition hereby place before Rivers people the events, issues and questions that must be considered, resolved and answered at the polls on 28 February, 2015.

The main issues
Below are the main contending issues:
i. To return Rivers State onto the path of peace by ensuring justice, even development and harmonious coexistence among the diverse ethnic groups and residents in Rivers State.

ii. To settle the arguments on the principles of power rotation based on the existing Rivers West, Rivers East and Rivers South-East senatorial districts and the upland/riverine zoning formula.

iii. To reject cultism and occultism in governance and put God at the head of government affairs.

iv. To reject desperate power mongers who are spending huge sums of stolen money to buy their way into the Brick House.

v. To support a candidate with original plan to develop Rivers State and not a war monger.

vi. To open up the political and economic space through inclusive policies.

Political events to ponder about
These are the political events that threw up the main issues:

1. The protracted disagreement between the Presidency and Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

2. The strange court judgment that ousted Chief G.U Ake as State Chairman of the PDP and the subsequent defection of Governor Amaechi from PDP to APC.

3. The insistence by powerful forces in Abuja to give away Rivers State as compensation to an individual for fighting their cause.

4. The sudden reappearance of Dr. Peter Odili in Rivers politics.

5. The tightening of the Rivers political space to exclude the vast majority of politicians.

6. The instigation of Ikwerre hegemony to achieve personal ambition.

7. The controversy on power rotation formula in Rivers State.

Questions Rivers people must answer
Rivers people must answer the following questions with their votes on 28 February, 2015:

a. Should Rivers people continue to coexist after the 2015 elections in an atmosphere of peace, equality, justice, unity and mutual respect?

b. Is it just for one ethnic group to succeed itself after ruling the State for eight years (2007-2015)?

c. Is it just that in a multi-ethnic state of Ogba, Ndoni, Ekpeye, Engeni, Abua, Odual, Ikwerre, Kalabari, Bille, Ogoni, Eleme, Andoni, Ibani (Opobo and Bonny), Etche/Omuma, Ndoki etc, for one ethnic group to monopolize the governorship seat? Where then is the sense of belonging and mutual coexistence?

d. When did the numerical/voting strength of an ethnic group become the yardstick for producing the governor of Rivers State? How then did Chief Rufus Ada-George from Okrika become governor in old Rivers State (Rivers and Bayelsa)? How did Dr. Peter Odili from Ndoni become governor of Rivers State in 1999?

e. Can we trust an individual who confiscated a political party; chased away legitimate party members, manipulated party primaries and declared himself the governorship candidate?

f. Would a power monger that buys his way into Brick House with the backing of a godmother in Abuja respect the feelings of Rivers people?

g. Who can guarantee a place for non-indigenes in Rivers State in order to ensure their positive contribution to our development?

Considerations
Others issues to consider are:
i. Which political party adhered to the principle of rotation in the selection of its governorship candidate?

ii. Which political party slaughtered the principle of rotation on the altar of one man's greed?

iii. Which political party celebrates a 'strongman' and boasts that “Anyi gama Onye ike gagu”?

iv. Which political party propagates the concept of “Greater together under one God” in an all-inclusive society?

v. Is the Ikwerre-to-Ikwerre succession plot the machination of one man's ambition which is being made to look like an ethnic agenda anchored on huge population and voting strength?

vi. Was the Federal High court misled into declaring Bro Felix Obuah winner of a PDP state chairmanship election he did not contest?

vii. Was the wrongful removal of Chief G.U. Ake the crux of the crisis that culminated in the birth of APC in Rivers State?

viii. Is it right for powerful non-Rivers politicians in Abuja to give Rivers State as compensation to “a strongman” who they consider as the only person that can bring down Governor Amaechi and capture Rivers State?

ix. Is Rivers State a serfdom that should be given to a loyal vassal as compensation?

x. What moral right has former Governor Peter Odili to scheme his way back to political control even as he is yet to render account of his previous stewardship?

Checklist on Dr. Dakuku Peterside
1. Is he peace loving and God fearing?
2. Does he have occult affiliation?
3. Does he have a violent disposition?
4. Would his election engender peace and unity in Rivers State?

5. Would he officially endorse and support criminality and immorality in Rivers State politics?

6. Is he deceptive, bad tempered and aggressive?
7. Would his election encourage other ethnic groups to aspire to govern Rivers State in future?

8. Would he be answerable to the elders and people of Rivers State?

9. Does he have a history of treachery?
10. Is he worthy in learning and in character? How educated is he?

11. How did he acquit himself in previous offices that he held?

Checklist on Barr. Nyesom Wike
1. Is he peace loving and God fearing?
2. Does he have occult affiliation?
3. Does he have a violent disposition?
4. Would his election engender peace and unity in Rivers State?

5. Would he officially endorse and support criminality and immorality in Rivers State politics?

6. Is he deceptive, bad tempered and aggressive?
7. Would his election encourage other ethnic groups to aspire to govern Rivers State in future?

8. Would he be answerable to the elders and people of Rivers State?

9. Does he have a history of treachery? Can he betray President Jonathan and Dame Patience Jonathan?

10. Is he worthy in learning and in character? How educated is he?

11. How did he acquit himself in previous offices that he held?

Conclusion
Vote wisely! Remember that you are handing over our collective destiny to somebody who for four years or more shall preside over the state resources and determine the socio-economic and political course of events in the State; somebody that shall determine whether you live and do business in peace or not.

Signed:
Sotonye Ijuye-Dagogo
Director of Communication and Strategy
Rivers Mainstream Coalition