Battle for ‘settler’ votes in Rivers rages as Wike, Amaechi, Abe handle Igbos

Battle for ‘settler’ votes in Rivers rages as Wike, Amaechi, Abe handle Igbos

The battle for the votes of individuals from the south-east (SE) is raging in Rivers State because the governorship election drags close to.

This might be linked to large votes that went to Labour Social gathering which got here second within the state with 175, 071 with solely 56,000 votes beneath Wike’s alternative, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

These in opposition to Wike’s curiosity within the Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) acquired 88,603 votes for Atiku Abubakar. Analysts say the mixed votes of LP and PDP believed to be folks in opposition to Wike’s curiosity might overtake the 231,591 votes Tinubu acquired for the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he supported within the presidential election. The LP and PDP votes might get to 364,000 whereas the APC or Wike-induced whole votes have been 231, 591.

With this pattern and numbers, consideration has since shifted to SE or Igbo votes in Rivers State.

Governor Wike was first to behave by summoning a closed-door assembly with ‘Igbo leaders’ within the Authorities Home in Port Harcourt. Although no assertion was issued after it, totally different accounts have occupied social media, some saying the governor threatened them, others mentioned he advised them.

Former governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, adopted on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, with handle at a townhall assembly held in Oyigbo LGA of the state. On the assembly, the Ubima-born English Language and Regulation graduate mentioned Igbos ought to know that he’s Ikwerre and that Ikwerre are Igbo.

He mentioned any Ikwerre man that denied his Igbo roots was being insincere. “My identify is Amaechi and Chibuike; what’s the which means?”

He additionally revealed to them that Tonye Cole’s mom is Anambra, which means he’s a grandson.

On the finish of the assembly, all commerce leaders endorsed Cole of the APC and resolved to go swiftly again to summon assembly of all commerce teams and inform them what to do.

The subsequent morning, a pro-Wike group, the Rivers State chapter of the Nationwide Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) led by Chijioke Ihunwo, mounted a summit on the Polo Membership within the GRA 1 space of the Backyard Metropolis.

There, a number of audio system and lecturers in addition to historians made stirring speeches reminding the youths concerning the goals of their founding fathers.

The chairman of the occasion, Tony Okocha, considered Wike’s strongest supporter in the mean time, quoting Franz Fanon, a revolutionist, mentioned each era has a imaginative and prescient; you both uphold it or betray it.

Asking the youths to ponder over and discover out what the imaginative and prescient of the founding fathers have been, Okocha puzzled if the goals of the founding fathers of the state have been that the folks turn out to be economically subservient to any race, nationality within the midst of a lot.

“Or is it that our enviable social ethos, ethics, norms, and/legal guidelines atrophy into abysmal oblivion?”

He additionally requested if it was the dream that their era be psychologized into docility by the nuances, indiscretions, antics, subterfuges of non-indigenous of us and foes who migrated into their communities.

This was adopted by a lectures lecture by a UNIPORT lecturer, Present Worlu (PhD), who reminded the Rivers folks how they fought to be separated from the Jap area the place he mentioned they have been uncared for and suppressed till 1967 when the then Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, created Rivers State out of Jap Area. He lamented how there was no consultant of the world within the Jap Home till he mentioned the Willinks Fee gave them a voice.

He mentioned since Gowon created the state, it has been Rivers folks that have dominated the state, besides throughout army period.

He harped on how Gov Wike has fought onerous to defend the curiosity of Rivers State, saying however for Wike, Rivers folks would have been observing ‘Sit-At-Dwelling’.

He mentioned: “We’re not Biafra. We have been within the East however we not from the East. Wike has seen the sunshine of the long run. We’ll go the place Wike asks us to go.”

In his remarks, the Rivers NYCN chief, Ihunwo, mentioned: “We’re within the interval of elections and we want youthful folks to manipulate our state. We should not give the state to miscreants, we should not give the state to grasping folks.”

Learn additionally: Why Wike will always defeat Amaechi – Tony Okocha

He went additional; “We’re going to vote the individuals who have the thoughts to assist the youths. We’ve got had the identical set of individuals in authorities within the state since 1999. And the governor of the state mentioned no, our era is about to go we want youthful individual. And that’s why we should assist Siminilayi Fubara as governor of Rivers State.

“So we’re going to elect a person that’s going to proceed from the place Gov Wike stopped. We’d like youthful folks and if Sim turns into governor we are going to start to have youths as commissioners not previous males. So don’t be deceived by faceless politicians. That is the time for the youths to rule Rivers State. So subsequent week Saturday, come out enmass and vote for Sim Fubara.”

He mentioned he a revolution has began in Rivers State carried out Wike, the pleasure of Nigeria. “Wike has labored and so if we need to consolidate on what he has completed, come out and allow us to assist sim.”

Ogoni-born Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Social gathering (SDP) has additionally held assembly with the Igbo block within the state the place he mentioned each individual within the state was free to vote with out intimidation.

He mentioned he obtained the endorsement of the Igbos.

Opinion ballot specialists mentioned PDP’s Fubara is main with 20 p.c however there are 24 p.c of individuals undecided. It appears to be like like whoever will get the 24 p.c may carry the day on March 18, 2023.

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