2015: Forget Governorship, COS Tells Ikwerres

Politicians from the four Ikwerre local government areas in Rivers State have been told to forget any governorship aspiration in 2015.

Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Chief Tony Okocha said this last Sunday in an interview in Omerelu, Ikwerre Local Government Area, shortly after the convention/empowerment of some members of the Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) by member representing Ikwerre Consttuency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Azubuike Wanjoku, the local government Chairman, Hon Welendu Amadi, and Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi.

Okocha said it would amount to greed if any Ikwerre indigene picked the governorship ticket to contest election in 2015, having produced the state governor since 2007.

The chief of staff, who doubles as Secretary-General of IYM, regretted that some Ikwerre politicians had been parading themselves as political leaders of Ikwerre ethnic nationality, accusing them of undermining the leadership of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

He explained that the former chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Hon Emeka Woke, was removed as chaiman of IYM in Emohua for acts of insubordination and misconduct capable of undermining the objectives of the IYM.

President General of IYM and member representing Ikwerre Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Azubuike Wanjoku, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Hon Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi and Hon Lucky Worluh, who spoke in separate interviews, ruled out the possibility of any Ikwerre indigene contesting the position of the governor of the state in 2015.

They argued that since an Ikwerre man would be completing his second term by 2015, it would be only natural for Ikwerre people to rally support for credible candidates from other Rivers ethnic nationalities to aspire for the office of governor of Rivers State during the next election.

According to them, the interest of Ikwerre ethnic nationality overrides any individual’s interest and ambition, adding that for this reason, IYM would continue to pay attention to efforts to empower the people to be self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the state.

In his remarks, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Hon Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi, commended the members of IYM and the Ikwerre LG chairman for the opportunity given him to felicitate with them, and pledged to continue his support for the consolidation of the movement.

Ezekiel-Amadi, who was chief host of the event, charged Ikwerre youths to shun any criminal acts, and strive to pay more attention to those things that would enhance their empowerment and build capacity of the ethnic nationality to compete favourably in all sectors with other parts of the state.

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of business starter-packs, including welding machines, grinding machines, computers and accessories, among others, to 200 indigent Ikwerre sons and daughters.

Minister of Information, Mr Labara Maku (right) with Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, at the Good Goverance Tour Team in Port Harcourt, recently