2015: Ijaw Governorship Non-Negotiable In Rivers – Ateke

The leader of the Niger
Delta Vigilantee Movement and Ijaw stakeholder in Rivers State, Chief Ateke Tom says the Ijaw’s agitation to produce the next governor of the state is non-negotiable, irrespective of political influence from the presidency.
Apparently referring to the presidency’s alleged preference for the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is an Ikwerre man, Ateke said no amount of influence from the presidency would deter him from supporting an Ijaw man for next year’s governorship in the state.
Chief Ateke disclosed this over the weekend, when some Ijaw National Congress (INC) stakeholders payed him a courtesy visit at Okochiri in Okrika Local Government Area of the state.
He called on the Ijaw ethnic nationality in the state to stand for their rights and not to be deceived by alleged rumours of “Madam say” by some selfish politicians.
“I can never leave the struggle for anybody in the name of politics. Once I stand for something, I make sure I pursue it to the end.
“I want all Ijaws in Rivers State to support the Riverine governorship course, because, this is part of the struggle to ensure that an Ijaw man is the next governor of the state, come 2015. Whether Madam say or no say, I don’t want to know”,  Akeke said.
He called on the Ijaw people in the state to support him over the task ahead, saying that the struggle is not for one man, but a collective effort to achieve the course.
Earlier, the leader of the group, Elder Derefaka Bara said, the visit was to identify with him on the stand of the Ijaws over the 2015 governorship in the state.
Soliciting the support of Chief Ateke in the agitation for Ijaw governorship, Elder Bara explained that, Riverine and upland dichotomy in Rivers State is a known fact all ethnic nationalities in the state should respect.
According to him, the creation of senatorial districts by the Independent National  Electoral Commission (INEC) for election convenience should not be a criterion for zoning, saying that the three, senatorial districts in the state are dominated by upland to the detriment of the riverine.
He called on the political parties in the state, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the  governorship position to the riverine area in the interest of fairness and  justice.

Enoch Epelle

L-R: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Kuforiji Adeyemi, at the 11th Lagos Executives and Legisative Parley in Lagos, recent.