Minister of Transportation and Rivers State Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has held a crucial meeting with APC leaders from the three Kalabari LGAs in the state.

At the meeting held during the weekend in the state capital, Port Harcourt, the Kalabari leaders unanimously resolved to work with the former Governor and APC to remove the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government, which they described as “take out the terribly wasteful”, in 2019.

There were two major highlights of the meeting namely: the constitution of the novel Pan-Kalabari Elders Council and the Leadership Committees of the three LGAs.

The Pan-Kalabari Elders Council has Chief Bekinbo Soberekon as Chairman, Engr Beks Dagogo-Jack as Deputy Chairman and Prince Tonye Princewill as Secretary. Membership of the Elders Council cuts across the three LGAs with notable personalities including Engr. Levy Braide, Mr. Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Lolo Ibieneye, Dumo Lulu Briggs, Charles Ijuye, Prof Owunari Georgewill, Mrs Joeba West, and others.

The Chairmen of the LGA Leadership Committees are as follows: Ojukaye Amachree (Asari-Toru); Hon Sokonte Davis (Degema); and Mr Christian Don-Pedro (Akuku-Toru).

Amaechi in his address emphasised that party faithful must learn to make personal sacrifices and also resist the temptation for immediate material benefits if they want to win the elections ahead.

He noted that the time is long overdue for the leaders in the Kalabari area to unite and rise up against the devastating effects of militancy and criminality on their areas, especially in terms of education, economic activities and quality of life in these communities.

The Party Leader reiterated that, while he does not believe in Upland Riverine politics, he believes that after 20 years, the riverine areas of the state should also be given an opportunity to produce the next governor. Nevertheless his position remains that when all is said and done, the best candidate from the whole state who emerges from the political process shall become the party flagbearer. He urged those interested in serving to begin now to work for the unity and strength of the party in the state.

“Believe me, I have no preferred candidate. When the time comes, we will hold a free and fair primary. Whoever wins, his allegiance should be to the party faithful. Most politicians at my level have shifted their attention to national politics. 2019 is not about me, it’s about you,” Amaechi said.

He enjoined the Kalabari leaders to go all out and energise their voter base across all Kalabari towns and villages to build a united mass movement in support of the APC for the 2019 elections, reminding them that a United Kalabari formation is critical to realising their legitimate aspirations.

The APC Kalabari leaders thanking Amaechi for convening the meeting and formally constituting the critical leadership organs for the work ahead. They assured him that the Kalabari area shall mobilise en masse to deliver the bloc votes necessary for APCV’s victory in 2019.

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