By Mark Lenu
The people of Okrika in Rivers State are set to wrestle the mayorship position of the state capital from the Ikwerre ethnic nationality.
The state capital is situated in Port Harcourt with its chairmanship position always occupied by the Ikwerres at the expense of other tribes that make up the state.
The Ikwerres have maintained that Port Harcourt is part of their ancestral homes and that they are solely entitled to the seat of PHALGA mayorship which the Okrikans had disagreed with.
The deputy mayorship position has always been reserved for the Okrikans who are predominantly in charge of the waterfront communities in Port Harcourt.
But this time around, the Okrikans want nothing less than the mayorship position in the forthcoming LG poll slated for October 5.
A prominent son of Okrika, Sam Ateke spoke to our correspondent on some moves made to put an Okrikan in PHALGA mayorship.
“We were selected by various communities to form this group which is called Port Harcourt South Assembly Wakirike.
“And as you all know, for long, it is only the Ikwerres that have been occupying the office of PHALGA mayorship. That was why this group was formed to see how we can change such political practices.
“Port Harcourt is not just for Ikwerre people. It is for us, them, and other tribes in the state. So, we the Okrikans want to use this group to produce the next mayor of Port Harcourt who will hail from Okrika.
“This group is serving as the political wing of the Okrika communities in Port Harcourt and we were inaugurated by the King of Port Harcourt.
“This is a clarion call for every WAKIRIKE extraction. It is said that a journey of 1000 years starts a day. We are stakeholders in PH and the time is now to try our hold on the chairmanship position of PH City Local Govt. Area.
“The focus should be on a credible, impeccable, and trusted personality no matter which political party he belongs.
“A word is enough for the wise.
Wakirike is as wise as the serpent. It is enough for the second fiddle role called deputy chairmanship,” he said.
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