By Mark Lenu
The Okrikans in Rivers State say they will not vote for the PHALGA chairmanship candidate of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the forthcoming local government election fixed for October 5.
The Okrikans said the governor disappointed them by picking an Ikwerre candidate to run for the chairmanship position of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council.
It is obvious that the governor does not want his preferred candidates to contest the election on the platform of the PDP and has gone ahead to choose the Action Peoples Party for his preferred candidates.
In PHALGA, the candidate contesting the chairmanship seat on the platform of the APP is Ezebunwo Ichemati who is of Ikwerre ethnic nationality.
The singular reason the Okrikans will not vote for the governor’s candidate for the PHALGA chairmanship is that the Wakirike people want an Okrika candidate to win the PHALGA chairmanship.
A prominent politician from Okrika and former House of Assembly candidate, Hon Sam Ateke said the governor has disappointed the Okrikans by not giving the APP PHALGA mayorship ticket to an Okrikan.
“We will not vote for the APP PHALGA chairmanship candidate in the forthcoming election. It is the turn of the Okrikans to be the chairman of PHALGA.
“For the past 26 years, an Okrika person has not held the position of PHALGA chairmanship. It has always been the Ikwerres and Port Harcourt does not belong to the Ikwerres alone. Port Harcourt is the ancestral home of the Okrikans and the Ikwerres.
“We expected the governor to understand that it is our turn to occupy the PHALGA chairmanship position and since he (the governor) has gone ahead to give the ticket to an Ikwerre man, we will not vote for his candidate.
“We have resolved to give our vote to the Accord Party candidate for PHALGA chairmanship, Engr Promise Alabere because he is our Okrika brother and he is capable of piloting the affairs of the state capital,” Sam Ateke said.
