Tina Amanda
A socio-group, Ijaw Wari Worldwide, says it has resolved to support the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate from the Rivers southeast senatorial district in the 2023 election in the state.
The group maintained that it is the turn of Rivers South East to govern the state, stressing that for over twenty-four years, the zone has not produced a governor.
President of the group, Somina Wokoma, who stated this at an event in Port Harcourt, noted that based on the existing political arrangement in the state, they concluded on a decision to support the PDP guber candidate, Siminalayi Fubara.
According to Wokoma, “Having studied and participated in the politics of the land since 1999, Ijaw Wari Worldwide is pleased to say that the historic upland/Riverine leadership arrangement of the state has been upgraded into the three senatorial districts of the state.
“This new order of leadership arrangement of the state is made real in the successor-ship choices of His Excellency, Sir. Dr. Peter Odili in 2007, His Excellency. Rt. Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in 2015 and now in the choice of His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike 2022.
“Again, this new order of leadership arrangement is made very visible H. E, Slr Dr. Peter Odili (Rivers – West Senatorial District) and H. E. Alabo Sir, Gabriel Toby (Rivers South East Senatorial District) -199 2007, H. E. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers East Senatorial District) and H. E. Engr. Tele Ikuru (Rivers South East Senatorial District) 2007-2015 and now H. E. Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (Rivers East Senatorial District) and Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Banigo-Harry (Rivers – West Senatorial District) from the above, it is clear that Rivers West Senatorial District and Rivers East Senatorial District have all produced Governors, in fact, Rivers East has done twice which is sixteen (16) years.
“Therefore, for fairness, equity, and justice, Ijaw Wari Worldwide is appealing to the good people of Rivers State and the Rivers Ijaw People for the interest of consolidating on the gains of democracy and non-violent electoral processes to encourage the sustainability of this age long leadership arrangement of Rivers State by massively supporting the Rivers Ijaw choice in the Rivers South East senatorial District come
March 2023 Governorship Election.
“However, by coincidence, the Ijaw project lost both at the Federal and Rivers State. But rather than the lessons associated with failure discouraging the Crusaders of Ijaw Protect, it propelled us to gather strength in the 2018/2019 election year as RIVERS PROJECT to further mobilize Rivers Ijaw and Rivers people in general to ensure the emergence of a Governor of Rivers State from the Rivers Ijaw extraction.
“Again, we lost, then, on April 2, 2019, we protested against INEC, accusing them of being partial, yet we lost further. Having experienced these colossal losses, we gathered again in September 2021 in this same hall to declare the birth of Ijaw Wari Worldwide with the same vision to ensure the emergence of the next Governor of Rivers State from the Rivers Ijaw extraction, Irrespective of political party affiliation or ethnic nationalities and without sentiment.
“Following the new political order of the state, it is expedient for Rivers people to be fair enough to stand by the Rivers Ijaw people in the Rivers South East Senatorial District which has never
produced a governor, to produce the first Rivers State Governor from the RIvers Ijaw extraction after twenty-four (24) years of waiting.
“Bearing in mind that the 2023 gubernatorial race is not a fight for any individual or one particular ethnic nationality in the Rivers Ijaw extraction, but a RIVERS Ijaw for RIVERS BRICK HOUSE 2023. Our focus is victory, our interest is achieving victory, and our support is for victory.
“We, therefore, call on the Ijaw National Congress (INC) Worldwide and Eastern Zone, Ijaw Youth Council (TYC) Worldwide and Eastern Zone, and the good people of Rivers State to massively vote for Sim ‘THE UNIFIER OF RIVERS PEOPLE’ Sir. Siminalayi Fubara is the
Rivers Ijaw choice comes March 2023.”
Wokoma however blamed the Ijaw leaders and fathers of Ijaw land for being selfish and sentimental for speaking the truth at all times which would have liberated the Rivers Ijaw people over the years.
“I was taught to understand that ljaw means truth. The truth according to St. Johns’s Gospel chapter 8:32 says truth is a liberator. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Therefore, it is my pleasure to declare today even as we remember the sacrifices of our fallen heroes of the Rivers Ijaw stock, our liberation day has come because a (Unifier) shall be born.
“It is pertinent that the Rivers Ijaw people reawaken their consciousness to grow above petty sentiments and without fear but with all boldness, speak the truth, stand by the truth and make it a reality.
“Shockingly, our fathers have refused to speak the truth to achieve victory, a sentiment the agent of failure has captured their minds, they’re no longer bold to speak to their own consciousness. Greed, selfishness, and sentiment have killed the Ijaw Consciousness in them.
“Why would it take the fathers of Ijaw Nation eternity to speak truth to the consciences of the Rivers Ijaw gubernatorial candidates? Where is the ljaw Consciousness? Arise o Rivers Ijaw people; again I say arise o Rivers Ijaw people. This is our chance to say goodbye to 24 years of waiting.
“If we fail now, our waiting time will extend to 40 years. God forbid. Why can’t the parents of Ijaw Nation throw away sentiment and take a position that will midwife Rivers Ijaw Victory come March 2023.”
