Ogoni and Oyigbo political leaders yesterday called for a micro-power shift to their area of Rivers State in 2027.

The resolved to produce a replacement for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

At the meeting of the Ogoni/Oyigbo Peoples Assembly at Tai attended by politicians across party lines, the leaders chided the governor over his feud with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At the parley presided over by Ambassador Akawor were Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Magnus Abe and Chief Victor Giadom.

Acording to them, the two ethnic nationalities, which fall under the same senatorial district, should forge unity to produce the governor in the next election.

To actualise power shift, they called on major parties to consider Ogoni/Oyigbo for the governorship ticket.

The leaders, who commended Wike for uniting Ogoni and Oyigbo, also expressed their willingness to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.

Mpigi, who read their communique, said: ?The Ogoni and Oyigbo Peoples Assembly express gratitude to God Almighty for a successful assembly, loyalty, gratitude and support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

?We also affirm complete faith, loyalty and commendation to the Minister of the FCT, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike not only as our leader in Rivers State but as the extraordinary unparalleled achiever in public service both as governor of Rivers State and as minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

?This Peoples Assembly as an organisation will educate itself along the lines of sister organisations such as Kagote, Mosop, Ofalaru? Eleme, Asa/Ndoki progressives, etc for the pursuit of our political and economic freedom and advancement.

?This Assembly recalls that at the end of the tenure of Nyesom Wike as governor, he directed that his successor should come from the Rivers South East Senatorial District. This was indeed, the right thing to do as it was the only senatorial district that is yet to produce governor of Rivers State since its creation.

?He chose Sim Fubara of Opobo as governor, despite it being the smallest LGA in the district. In our usual loyalty for the party?s position and the decision of our leader, we allowed it to pull through.

?The battle to secure victory for Sim Fubara was difficult as he was seen as non-Ijaw, semi-Ijaw. It is ironic but we accept the fact that those who opposed and voted against him Sim Fubara that he is unworthy and unfit are today his friends while those of us who worked tirelessly for his hard earned victory under the leadership of the FCT minister are now and ever his worst enemies?.

The leaders warned the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to desist from making uncomplimentary remarks about the FCT Minister.

The stakeholders said: ?The years the leaders of Rivers State have tried to unite our people in spite of our ethnic fault lines but no one more than Clark sees anything outside Ijaw.

?He criticized Fubara as not Ijaw at night, but once the problem between the Gov. Fubara and Minister Wike started, Fubara suddenly became an acceptable Ijaw to Clark. For Clark the interest of other ethnic groups doesn?t matter but only the Ijaws.

?It is important to mention that we are the Ogonis and Oyigbos and we are one of the largest ethnic groups in Rivers State, perhaps second or the most outstanding after the Ikwerres. We voted for an Ijaw man to be governor only to be condemned by this Ijaw leader.

?We are asking Chief Clark to most respectfully withdraw any form of hatred and insulting words against our leader and Minister of the FCT immediately. We have out of respect for his age and person restrained ourselves from joining issues with him.

?There are issues in Delta his home State that require his attention. His obsession and rudeness in Rivers State affairs have divided us and cut us apart and kind of consciously threatening our peace.

?These individuals are conflict merchants and rent seekers with no roles in their own states. Their easy or leased access to Rivers State resources has made intrusion into our affairs irresistible.

?Like Clark, they will pick on Wike and say the most outrageous things on national TV in other to get the little they seek from Rivers State. They do not fact check or consider the gravity of their attention seeking media appearances of those false allegations against Wike or of us?.

The leaders also threw their weight behind the 27 lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, describing them as the authentic members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

They said: ?We also stand with the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. We also stand with the decision of the Supreme Court that CTCs are unlawful.

?We are disturbed by the continuous disbursement of funds to care-takers Committees? which constitutes one of the most wasteful expenditure of our time. A time will come when all these funds will definitely be demanded.

?While from time to time we shall speak further on contemporary issues, we wish to believe that the Ogonis and Oyigbos will no longer stand by and be helpless in fighting for our interest.

?For us, our time has come and our time is now. Our time to fight for the education of our children, our time to pursue the right of our people, to create opportunities, to empower our youths and women and create the environment for our people to actualise their innate potentials.

?This is our moment, this is our time. We demand our right to seek the highest office in our state. It is time to ensure that the next governor of Rivers State is from our zone.

?It is only if and working with the Ikwerres, the people of Orashi, Etches, Ijaws of Rivers State and others, we shall prevail, we shall win?.

Mpigi challenged all political actors visiting the Aso Villa at night to come out publicly to declare their support for Mr. President.

He called President Tinubu to contest the 2027 election to consolidate on his current efforts at improving the economy.

He said: ?I am calling on Mr. President unwaveringly demanding him to come openly and also contest the 2027 general election as President so that he can finish the numerous projects ranging from the Coastal Roads, to the Badagry Express Road and all the ones from Calabar down here, we are also beneficiaries.

?The road from Onne expanded down here. I don?t think there is anybody in the People?s Democratic Party (PDP) that can come out to contest against him and I?m challenging all the people in the PDP that I belong, if you like, you can do another letter and call it letter of invitation. I will not appear because I am totally supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Hailing Wike for his impressive performance as minister, Mpigi said the people of Ogoni and Oyigbo would continue to support him.

He said: ?I want to thank our leader, the most respectful, most performing Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, and to say because of him we are gathered here. At any point in time Ogoni and Oyigbo belongs to you and will continue to belong to you.

?But let me warn regarding the disturbing incident that happened at Eleme today. Today must be the last. Unfortunately, I wasn?t around but the next time it happens, we will return it to them.

Akawor said since the Ijaw people in the senatorial district had segregated themselves from the upland, they would make a statement that would change the political history of the state in 2027.

Giadom, All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (South), thanked Wike for uniting the Ogoni and Oyigbo.

He said the last time a major political party in the country gave an Ogoni/Oyigbo man thd opportunity was in 1983 when Chief Kemte Giadom ran on the platform of the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP).

Senator Olaka Nwogu, who described Wike as the undisputed leader, queried the destruction of properties at the venue of a peaceful assembly in Eleme by hoodlums.

He advised the people to embrace peace and unity to achieve their dreams. (The Nation)

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