Rivers state will definitely be one of the lookout states as
far as the 2015 general election is concerned. This is hinged on the place the
state holds in the contemporary Nigerian politics. A source from the Federal Ministry
of Finance places the state as one of the richest in the aspects of revenue
allocation, derivation and internal generated revenue.
This is a major reason why the governors that have governed
the state have become very powerful players in the politics of the country. The
charismatic Peter Odili who played a key role in ensuring
the influence which other governors like the short lived Omehia administration
and the present Governor Amaechi attained leading to the election of Amaechi as
the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum before the crisis that engulfed
the body.
It will be preposterous for me to say that despite the aura
that has enveloped the head of the Rivers executive, the state has been
stagnant. It definitely has not been stagnant. There has been some level of
development in the state. Nobody can take away the fact that Peter Odili’s
administration made it possible for the Kalabaries to move through land to
their ancestral home lands. It was this same Odili administration that built
roads and created ease of transport when he was governor. Omehia as short-lived
as his administration was definitely will not be left out. I remember him
signing the contract for the Mile One Market as well as other projects like the
Eleme Bridge, Agip Bridge and others most of which was completed by the Amaechi
administration which I candidly believe performed very well in his first term
as a PDP governor. Since his voyage into the strange All Progressive Congress
APC, Rivers people have been at a loss as to where he is heading.
Be that as it may, Rivers state which as I earlier posited,
is one of the first three richest states in the country, has never had the
opportunity to be governed by a man with the ideas to harness the economic
potentials of the state. I won’t blame the former governors who were not vast
in the corporate world (at least they laid the foundation) but I do believe
this is the time people from the other endeavours can make their input and bring sustainable
development to the state for the sake of today’s living and our future
generation.
In this light, after considering the various contenders for
the race to Rivers Government House, I must stress that one candidate that
strikes most of the people in the state as the best is Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs.
This is one man from a noble background that has appeal amongst the youths in
the state. As a state with oil as its
major source of revenue, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs considering his vast knowledge
in the sector is well positioned especially with first hand information to deal
efficiently in that regard while also bringing various investors to the state
with his contacts.
The crisis that has rocked the state in the past two years
has also created a cracks which requires the charisma of the person of Dumo to bring
peace and cohesion to the state. Rivers state needs the best and if we desire
the best, we cannot fail to opt for the ilk of persons that can make us realize
our collective aspirations while not breaking the bond of unity that has driven
the state to this height today and I strongly consider Chief Dumo in that
light.
In the nagging area of zoning, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs stands
a chance considering the fact that he is from the riverine part of Rivers state
which has been unprivileged to have a shot at the Government House. Peter Odili
who governed the state from 1999-2007 came from the upland section of the state
as well as the present Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Some opinions have
dropped the fact that the zoning arrangement should be between the Senatorial
zones but I stand to say that inclining to such an arrangement will be
tantamount to en-slavering a significant proportion of the state. Yes there are
senatorial districts but these districts apart from Rivers West with the
Kalabaries in majority, are minority groups. The Okrikas and the Opobo /Andonis
in Rivers East and South East respectively are part and parcel of the riverine
groups in the state and should be seen as such.
The riverine people have contributed immensely to the
development of the state and must be compensated for their support and
understanding towards an upland candidacy back in 1991. It will be great
insensitivity as well as ingratitude not to allow them have a taste of that
seat come 2015.
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