Rivers Guber 2023: INC Seeks Ethnic Groups’ Support

The apex Ijaw socio-cultural body, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) is now seeking support of other ethnic groups in Rivers State in order for its sons to clinch Rivers gubernatorial seat in 2023.
Speaking during a sensitisation rally and unveiling of its “Abuloma Declaration”, last weekend in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the INC Eastern Zone, Chief Nlah Iraron, told newsmen that the body cannot achieve its aspiration without the support of other ethnic groups.
He said,”We are not political group, but we are making sure that there is equity and justice in the system”.
The traditional ruler from Andoni stated that interface with sister ethnic groups was key in order to elect a governor from the Ijaw extraction in 2023.
He was of the view that the goal was a collective responsibility across all groups, as he hinted that they had already reached out to the Ogonis and Ikwerres so far in their mobilisation campaigns.
In a similar vein, another Ijaw activist, Pureh Kalango, said the strategy was to build trust, stating that, “so far, it has been successful because we began this process in 2019, and we believe that come 2023, an Ijaw will pick the guber seat”.
Kalango recalled that even before now there had been an accord between the Ijaw and Ikwerres.
“This accord was initiated by our late fathers, Ken Saro-Wiwa and Obi Wali. In the 70s, they felt the riverine Ijaws were oppressing them, and they came up with this accord during the era of Commander Alfred Diete-Spiff.
“At that time, Diete-Spiff told them he was siting more projects in the upland, but they said no, it was not enough. One way to solve this matter is if you give riverine six positions; also give the upland six positions. So, that is how this accord came about”, Kalango further said.
The Ijaw youth leader, therefore, appealed that other ethnic groups should help support the quest by the Ijaws to occupy the gubernatorial seat in 2023.
Also speaking, the National President of INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, called on the Ijaw nation to come together as a people with one voice and strength.
“Any Ijaw man that stabs another Ijaw man will face the wrath of the gods. The Ijaws are one people; we should not allow anything to alter this noble quest. Our leaders saw Rivers State as one’’.

By: Kevin Nengia & Iragunima Benice