The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr Gabriel Pidomson, has criticised the Rainbow Coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and backed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing it as a political alliance without a clear vision for the state.
Pidomson claimed that Rivers residents had rejected what he called the “Rainbow Confusion”, accusing members of the coalition of being more interested in political power than addressing the needs and development challenges of the people.
He made the remarks on Monday during separate interviews on Arise Television’s Morning Show and ARISE News, where he also called for fundamental reforms in Rivers State, accusing successive administrations of failing to deliver meaningful development over the past 12 years.
According to him, the ADC was formed as a coalition of different political interests committed to bringing about change, insisting that other alliances being promoted in the state were merely copying the structure already established by his party.
He argued that the Rainbow Coalition had failed to earn the confidence of Rivers residents because its members had not clearly communicated their plans and intentions to the people.
Pidomson maintained that the coalition lacked a clear development agenda, adding that its members appeared more concerned about securing political positions than offering practical solutions to the state’s challenges.
Turning to governance, the ADC candidate said Rivers State needed a fresh approach to address its infrastructure deficits and improve access to essential public services, particularly clean pipe-borne water.
He blamed poor planning and a lack of proper understanding of the state’s needs for the slow pace of development, arguing that successive administrations had failed to establish the foundation required for effective governance.
Speaking on the persistent shortage of pipe-borne water in Port Harcourt, Pidomson, a quantity surveyor, said the government must first establish an accurate record of streets, residential buildings and their occupants before embarking on major infrastructure projects.
He explained that proper street naming, house numbering and occupancy registration would provide the information needed to plan infrastructure, improve transportation and deliver essential public services more efficiently.
The ADC candidate pledged to make the exercise a priority within his first 100 days in office if elected governor, promising to introduce a bill to make street naming, house numbering and occupancy registration compulsory across the state.
He also identified security as a major priority, saying his proposed strategy would address different aspects of the state’s security challenges.
Pidomson added that an accurate database of streets and residential properties would help the government determine the scope and financial requirements of projects before implementation.
On the provision of pipe-borne water, he advocated a phased approach supported by proper planning, cost assessment and effective execution.
He further argued that visible government activities should not automatically be regarded as evidence of development, insisting that the real measure of good governance should be the positive impact of policies and projects on the lives of residents.
Pidomson maintained that the ADC represented a genuine alternative for Rivers people seeking change, insisting that the state needed purposeful leadership, proper planning and practical solutions rather than political alliances driven by the struggle for power.
