Where Ethnicity Override Senatorial Zoning Riverine/Upland Dichotomy, Any Hope?
Apparently, the quest for ethnicity becoming the measuring tool for the next occupant of the Rivers State Brick House is no longer news as it is coming strongly from the quarters of those already in the Brick House.
It was mentioned in a meeting between a cross section of Ogu/Bolo Council of Chiefs at Government House. It was again mentioned during the 2014 Workers Day celebration on May 1st 2014. But workers who do not understand the Political gimmicks were quick to have echoed in affirmation with the governor’s assertion of allowing other ethnic groups to be in government house after him.
Issues Abattoir had said severally, that the desire to allow other group to govern Rivers State is a welcome development but would have been more clearer should the governor and current occupant of the Brick House had raised alarm over the Ikwerre’s ambition earlier. Now it is an act of after thought and a supposed means of blackmail or an act of looking for excuses.
The question on the lips of the citizenry is, where is the agreed zoning agreement of riverine/upland dichotomy in the state?
Decades ago, Rivers people have thought it wise that riverine/upland dichotomy would preferably be the formular with which Rivers State could be governed. Relatively, there was hope for the people that someday other parts of the state would also test powers.
In that arrangement the Ikwerres, Orashis and Ogonis axis were said to be demarcated as upland while Kalabaris, Okrikas, Ibanis and Obolos were said to be riverine region.
Suddenly, during the Dr. Peter Odili’s era the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their quest to do the biddings of the governor in handing over power to an Ikwerre man, noted that, there was n o longer dichotomy in Rivers State but that the state has 3 Senatorial Districts and wherever the Party found someone who could govern the People the party could make use of such individual.
Acknowledging that Odili was from the Rivers West Senatorial District, it was revealed that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi or His Excellency, Sir Celestine Ngozichim Omehia were of the Rivers East Senatorial District.
If riverine/upland dichotomy was actually laid to rest, perhaps its doctrine could not accommodate all interests, what went wrong with the senatorial zoning?
Will the governor (Amaechi) find it difficult to replace himself with candidate of his choice who will do his biddings, if senatorial zoning is allowed to thrive? O God help Rivers State: The singular reason that, the affairs of any state meets the approval and consent of the Federal Government is a dangerous weapon against Governor Amaechi’s quest to dictate and impose any candidate on Rivers people, let’s mark it with or without court.
It is also no longer news that Governor Amaechi’s candidature was hampered because of its disapproval by the Federal Government led by ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Now, it is supposed that certain things were done in error by the Apex Court swearing in Amaechi against the plight of the people, and Amaechi not able to protect that rule of law that brought him to state power.
So, since the Court at whatever level is not Father Christmas, no governor should consider it a right to do anything and approach the court to okay his wrong, evil and unpleasant deals against the people.
Perhaps, the Amaechi’s luck may not be transferred back to him now or anyone who may think so because all have learnt a lesson on Governor Amaechi’s administration.
Now, there is tension in the state APC over the recent change of direction of the governor on which ethnic group would fly the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag.
The fear is not unconnected with the fact that Andoni and Ogoni are sister’s ethnic groups from the same Senatorial District and for Andoni to have produced the state chairman of the party, the chances of Ogoni producing the flag bearer of the APC would be a difficult knot to crack or otherwise risk the people’s vote.
It is also wondered, could the APC ignore any consequences and zone the governorship of its party to the Ogonis? This would amount to misleading the party if the state chairman of the party and governor hopeful emerges from the same senatorial district. It may amount to betrayal of confidence. Would the governor consider candidate from the Okrika axis in a way to confirm his cajole during the meeting with the cross section of Ogu/Bolo council of Chiefs at government house?
Remember Okrika and Ogu/Bolo are in the same senatorial district with governor Amaechi – Rivers East senatorial district. But if such comes to the fore, may be to persuades and please the Wakirikese ethnic group into voting APC, it then implies that the campaign of not allowing another Ikwerre man to return to government house is in futility, since if that happens, he may be handing over to someone from same senatorial district with him.
Furthermore, if APC shifts its search for Amaechi’s successor to the Kalabari kingdom which is part of the Rivers West senatorial district, it then suggests that the Rivers South-East Senatorial District not withstanding is marginalized, disdain, and categorized as good for nothing district.
Another question now is, which is the way forward for APC in Rivers? If the decision makers of APC had deemed it necessary for the South-East Senatorial District to produce the flag bearer of its party then the choice of a party chairman would not have gone to them at all. Does it mean that party chairman and governor could emerge from same senatorial district and thereafter another congress to install another chairman?
Indeed the governor and leader of APC in the state though in his wisdom might be right but is heading and preparing for a loss battle come 2015.
By ethnic group or whatever name the governor might prefer, party chairman and governor if at all they could make it, cannot come from the same senatorial district. This is an indication that automatically, the Ogonis as people speculate are out of Governor Amaechi’s list or otherwise to create further tension in the state amongst other ethnic groups and senatorial districts, if the Ogonis emerges.
The only solution in this matter is for APC to consider an option of another state congress where another state chairman would either be elected, appointed in other to do justice for a South-East Governor come 2015.
It could be recalled that Issues Abattoir has predicted massive exodus from the APC in the event of any unfortunate incident, time will tell.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate should not be a source of worry to the opposition APC because PDP is on course to win the state again as it is matured to handle its in-house affairs at anytime.
“Let him that thinketh he stands take heed less he falls”. The opposition APC with all its boasting should be ware of its structures at all levels especially at grassroots where chairmen are busy amassing wealth alone without the thought of the electorates and supporters who voted them into office in PDP. ###
With James Mgboineme
