With the late night withdrawal from the Rivers APC governorship race of George Kelly, another regime of an Ikwerre governor looks imminent in the state.
On Wednesday, the governor, Sim Fubara, had announced his withdrawal as an aspirant for a second term under the APC.
His withdrawal came just a few minutes after Tonye Cole had made the same announcement.
All the withdrawal statements, however, look similar in language and tone, an indication that one person may have drafted them for the trip to endorse.But Ogoni youths have vowed to resist the move to enthrone another Ikwerre man as governor.
The Ikwerre, through Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike had jointly ruler for 16 unbroken years, before Sim Fubara came in about three years ago.It is not clear if he would even complete his term, as there are speculations of impeachment from the Wike group.
On Thursday, Imeabe Saviour Oscar, global President of the Ogoni Youths Development Initiative, said in a statement made available to TNN, that the plot would be resisted.
“The Ogoni Youth Development Initiative (OYDI) condemns in the strongest terms, the ongoing political maneuvering to impose another Ikwerre son as governor of Rivers State in 2027, while other ethnic nationalities that have never produced a governor remain sidelined.
“This is political injustice, and it must not stand.”Rivers State is home to diverse ethnic nationalities – Ikwerre, Ogoni, Ijaw, Kalabari, Etche, Ekpeye, and others. Since 1999, the Ikwerre ethnic group has produced multiple governors and held the governorship for over 16 years. It is unjust and undemocratic to perpetuate this monopoly while Ogoni, Ijaw, and other groups are denied the opportunity to lead.
“The Ogoni people have contributed immensely to the economic survival of Nigeria through oil production, often at great human and environmental cost, yet, we have never produced a governor.
“Now, even as *Mr. President has signaled intention to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland, there is no corresponding political consideration for Ogoni to produce the next governor. This is exploitation without inclusion.
“Rivers politics cannot survive on the principle of “one ethnic group, all the time.
” Imposing another Ikwerre governor will deepen resentment, fuel political instability, and undermine the unity of the state. Equity is not a favor; it is the foundation of peace.
“We call on *President Bola Ahmed Tinubu*, the APC leadership, and all political stakeholders in Rivers State to ensure that the next governorship ticket reflects equity, justice, and inclusion.
“If the Federal Government is serious about restoring trust in Ogoniland and resuming oil exploration, then political inclusion must follow. You cannot ask Ogoni to open their land for oil while closing the door to the Government House.
“The youth of Ogoni will mobilize across communities to reject any political arrangement that continues to sideline Ogoni and other ethnic groups”, he said.
