A socio-political group known as the Ijaw Project has declared that the next Governor of Rivers State must come from any of the Ijaw communities.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the Director-General of the group, Comrade Somina Wokoma said that “Ijaw Governor in Rivers State come 2015 is non-negotiable”.
Comrade Wokoma maintained that the Ijaws have made a lot of sacrifices in the development of Rivers State, saying that for the purposes of justice and equity, the Ijaws should be given the opportunity to produce the next Governor of Rivers State.
According to the Director-General, the Ijaw Project would soon be embarking on consultations with other ethnic groups to actualize the dream of an Ijaw Governor in Rivers State come 2015.
He called on all the sons and daughters of Ijaw nation to sink their differences irrespective of their political inclination to work assiduously towards the realization of an Ijaw Governor in 2015.
Comrade Wokoma had earlier told journalists that the Ijaw Project is also aimed at encouraging people to participate in policy making and good governance in the state. He reiterated the determination of his group to fight against criminality and all forms of economic sabotage.
His words, “In the recent past, violence and the use of arms were methods used in agitating and gaining relevance in the polity. We in the Ijaw Project believe in re-orientation, sensitizing and mobilizing people in the urban and rural areas to effect change”.
He further called on the Ijaws to throw their weight behind President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to continue in office beyond 2015.
Comrade Wokoma pointed out that the president has done much for the people of the country, “therefore he deserves second tenure in office, so that he can continue with his good works not only to the people of the Ijaws but the entire Nigeria. ####
