2015 Guber: Ikwerres Have No Claim Again, Kalabaris Insist

The seat of the governorship is open to every other nationality, including the Kalabaris, excluding the Ikwerre ethnic nationality who by 2015 will have served out their tenure of eight years.
These were the words of the Kalabari Peoples Assembly (KPA) in a statement reacting to a media report attributed to a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain from Etche, Prince Emma Anayanwu on Monday in Port Harcourt.
The body said the media report aired in a popular Port Harcourt radio station by Anyanwu, calling on the Kalabari people to jettison their gubernatorial ambition in 2015 was an insult to them and an abysmal display of the Etche-born politician’s political ignorance of the complex political climate in the state.
The group, led by former Akuku Toru Local Government Area chairman, Hon Abiye Awoyesuku, noted with disdain, the radio interview granted by Prince Anyanwu, claiming that the Kalabaris had sold their opportunity to occupy the Brick House in 1999, through their son, Ebenezer Isokariari, who contested the governorship seat under the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
In the radio news, Prince Anyanwu had claimed that since the Kalabaris had taken a shot at the gubernatorial race in 1999 and failed, they should ‘sink’ their ambition in 2015 for another Ikwerre son, Chief Nyeson Wike, a former chief of staff to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who is also an Ikwerre son.
According to them, “ordinarily, the KPA would not have replied Prince Anyanwu, who has lost touch with current political trend in Rivers State.
“To set the record straight, the KPA wishes to state that the Kalabaris have not occupied the Brick Hose before, despite their size and population”, the body remarked.
They added that, “the Kalabaris have always supported other ethnic groups in their bid to become governors of Rivers State and have always remained peaceful even in the face of injustice and unfair distribution of state wealth and political positions.
“The KPA is wondering how the Etche politician came about his political permutations capable of misinforming, misleading and inciting other ethnic groups against the Kalabaris.
“Kalabari Political Assembly is not aware that Prince Anyanwu is a spokesperson for the Etche community, and therefore, considers his statement as a personal wish and opinion.
“We, therefore, advise him not to stir up rivalry between ethnic nationalities in the state,” they added.

Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker displaying the Excellence in Health Award won by the state in Lagos, yesterday