Seyi Odewale
The Rivers State Elders’ Forum Chairman, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba over the weekend explained why Governor Nyesom Wike was worthy of the grand reception held in his honour. According to him, the grand reception was significant for two reasons. It was of critical importance to them as Kalabari people and that it engendered the unity of purpose among them under Governor Wike’s administration, adding that it was a kind of reception organized for prominent sons and friends who have positively impacted the Kalabari people.
Chief Anabraba, disclosed this at the grand reception organized in honour of Governor Wike by the people of Kalabari ethnic nationality at the Abalama School field in Asari Toru Local Government Area at the weekend.
The governor was conferred with a traditional title of Se- Ibidokibo of Kalabari land (He, who does good things for Kalabari people) and was performed by the Amayanabo of Abonnema, King Gboko Desreal Bob-Manuel.
According to Chief Anabraba, Governor Wike has systematically fulfilled all promises made to them including those of development projects and the appointment of Kalabari people into his administration.
He listed some of the projects completed or ongoing to include the phase 1 of Trans -Kalabari Road project other administration promises but failed to execute for over 17 years, the rehabilitation and equipping of zonal and general hospitals, secondary schools, Abonnema Ring road, sand filling in Obonoma, Abonnema, Bakana and Oboama, Abalama communities.
Wike, while responding, asked the Kalabari people to put their house in order, saying Kalabari people have not done well in terms of loving themselves and working in unity. According to Wike, it is only a united people who can speak with one voice that can stand up to make demands, urging them to put their house in order.
The governor announced the extension of the deadline of completion of the Trans Kalabari Road phase one project by two months owing to the lost period when workmen were kidnapped on site.
He disclosed that if the finance of the state improves, his administration may award phase two of the Trans Kalabari Road before he leaves office next year.
The governor, while canceling the contract for the reconstruction of Kalabari National College due to foreseen politics, announced the release of more funds for the Maryhood Girls Secondary school in the area to speed up its completion.
Delving into politics, the governor said some desperate politicians are already scheming for a candidate who will not serve the interest of the many, rather the interest of just those of the wealthy few, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will not give its presidential ticket to any candidate who will serve only the interest of the wealthy few in Nigeria.
His words: “No amount of gang-up can make PDP give somebody who will want to run an election for the interest of some big men, and not for all Nigerians. Anybody who wants to be a candidate of PDP must be a candidate for the interest of Nigerians.”
He expressed concerns that some companies in the country continue to post annual financial profits regularly in a drowning national economy to the detriment of the poor.
According to Wike, such profits, invariably shared only by the rich, make them get richer, while the majority of the population of the country, who are poor, gets poorer
He reiterated that the stakeholders in the Southern part of the country will soon make a declarative statement concerning the 2023 presidential election.
“The day the South will speak, Nigeria will shake. We believe in the unity of this country, but nobody can threaten us. Nobody should threaten us. We believe in the unity of Nigeria and unity of Nigeria must continue,” he said.
The governor chided Rivers’ politicians serving in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for their gross inability to attract federal government projects to the state.
Concerning the next governorship candidate for Rivers State, Wike said everybody was entitled to aspire to be the next governor, but such person must show capacity for that office and be well disposed to protect the interest of the state.
Also speaking, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs said Kalabari people have enthusiastically and with relentless vigour, contributed to the growth and development of Rivers State and Nigeria.
According to him, it is appropriate and should be considered that the right thing for the Kalabari people is to expect returns for the dues that they had paid.
On his part, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs said the Kalabari people are expecting Governor Wike to ensure that Kalabari people are brought out of the political wilderness in 2023.
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A human rights activist, Ann Kio-Briggs, noted that Rivers State, though a complex place to govern, does not mean that the people do not love each other.
She, however, harped on greater unity among the people while urging Wike not to relent in what he is doing for the Kalabari people, the state, and the region.
