Demand for riverine governor; 50 NGOs form Rivers Conscience, commence mobilization

A coalition of several Non Governmental Organizations met in Rivers State today, August 20, to speak against oppression and injustice.

The amalgamation of fifty NGOs, think-tanks, youth bodies and socio-cultural groups in Rivers State, at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the state capital, highlighted the need for ethnic groups in the state to honour the political power rotation between the upland and riverine, as defined by the 1958 Willinks commission report.

Addressing the press, leader of the group, Dason Nemieboka, said, the demand for power rotation has become necessary, following the unbroken 19 years rule of the ethnic group from the upland part of the state.

This trend, according to him is a clear violation of the agreement entered into by the founding fathers of the state, who despite having diverse languages and cultural practices, entered into a pact, to aid peaceful coexistence amongst ethnic groups.

He stated that former President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, though ijaws threw this agreement to the winds, when an Ikwerre man was supported to become the governor of Rivers State, disclosing that that era in 2015 marked the most oppressive and repressive of riverine interest.

Nemieboka, emphasised that, ” Due to the enormity of the oppression, we have had several groups and organisations formal and informal crying for equity and justice which foundation our fathers laid in 1999. However, we have noticed that our oppressors are scheming to perpetuate their hold onto power because we are shouting with different voices. However, as you know, no man can stop an idea whose time has come.

‘The riverine people of rivers state in all the senatorial districts have come to the incontrovertible truth that we must work together to strengthen the narrative for political justice and equity.’

He further stated that ‘our people from all the wards, communities, clans and political parties have ordered us to steer the ship that will take the riverine man to the brick house In 2019. This movement is non negotiable. We are dead serious and we have God on our side, so no force can stop us.’

Reiterating that the agitation is not against any ethnic group but a demand to the implementation of the formula bequeathed to rivers people by the founding fathers of the state, which is rotational governorship.

Nemieboka, encouraged governorship aspirants of riverine origin especially in Peoples Democratic party and the All Progressives Congress, to redouble their efforts and seek nomination as governorship candidates.

To actualise their quest for a riverine governor, the coalition metamorphosed into Rivers Conscience.