From Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
A Non-Governmental Organisation, under the umbrella of Concerned Ogoni Leaders, has called on the political leaders of Ogoni to work together to achieve the Ogonis desire to produce the next Rivers State Governor in 2023.
The Convener of the group, Dr. Lelonu Nwibubasa, made the call in a briefing in Port Harcourt.
Nwibubasa who was a former Commissioner for Empowerment and Employment Generation in the state noted the need for the sons and daughters of the ethnic nationality to vie for the office of the Governor of the state.
He noted: “Gov.Wike advised political leaders in the state during our visit to him at his birthday that they should declare their interest to contest for the office of the state Governor come 2023, such a democrat cannot be expected to impose any candidate base on ethnic consideration on others.
“Our Governor has demonstrated palpable and verifiable evidence of productive friendship and love for the Ogoni people like no other, the landmark project of the construction of the dualised saakpenwa Bori Kono road is a testament amidst a plethora of others.
“A Governor that has committed almost N30billion to a singular road project in Ogoni cannot be said to hate Ogoni people, rather should be commended as a true leader, friend and brother of the Ogonis”, he said.
He said it will be entirely wrong for any group of persons to say that Governor Wike does not love Ogoni, considering the Governor’s impacts in Ogoniland.
“Our duty therefore as patriotic Ogonis is to take our best products to the political arena of choice, rally the support of others and advance compelling reasons for these capacity leaders to be given chance to maintain and promote the enduring legacies of Wike.
“Our political leaders like Senator Lee Maeba and Senator Olaka Worgu both of the Ogoni extraction and of the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District declared their intention to run for the office of the governor of Rivers State come 2023.
“Let us as a people unite around the firm and bold declaration of the governor on May, 14, 2021 in Bori” that the Ogonis will no longer play second fiddle.
“Our political leaders that have shown strong interest in contesting the 2023 governorship election are men of character and courage, let us give them our support, let all men that are available transmit their abilities to the one that is capable, only then shall we not be politically vulnerable in 2023.
“We are not saying that any ethnic group in Rivers has no right to run for the office of the Governor, If you look at the contributions of the Ogonis in Rivers state and to the development of this country, I think the high time is now,” Nwibubasa added.
