Top ten governorship contenders in Rivers 2015

Top ten governorship contenders in Rivers 2015

Ahead ofthe 2015 general elections in Nigeria, the frenzy of activities heralding the expression of political aspirations and interests by politicians has been on a high tempo, with various promotional and creative gimmicks sprouting by the day. Looking at Rivers State specifically, findings have revealed that the state is blessed with politicians of personal and professional virtues who, according to our sources, have demonstrated a very high level of compassionate and selfless service to their people and their state. However, the multi-ethnic nature of the state accounts, in large part, for the distrust among its peoples. Rivers has had its share of tribal sentiments, ethnic politics, crises, power play and horse-trading.
Diverse political observers, critics and analysts – in their collective estimation – have objectively streamlined all governorship aspirants in Rivers State to five. According to sources, this is by no means authoritative, but only a reflection of the contemporary reality of Rivers politics, taking into consideration their personal, professional, and – most importantly – political pedigree and antecedents, vis-à-vis public perception and acceptance. But the list could actually accommodate ten strong contenders.
As the governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, rounds up his tenure, Riverians are most anxious to know who will succeed him eventually. Already, eminent personalities have openly or covertly declared their gubernatorial aspirations while others are still claiming to be ‘consulting’ with their various stakeholders and constituencies. Regardless, it is pertinent at this point to review some of the leading aspirants jostling for Amaechi’s job.
Barr. Dumo Lulu-Briggs
Dumo Lulu Briggs’ entry into the Rivers State governorship race is bound to liven up a contest, which up till now, seemed to have been retarded by clichéd offerings as he belongs to none of the well-known hegemonies. Dumo Lulu’s candidacy offers a fresh breath of political air; perhaps, his newness also presents a challenge; a challenge requiring him to describe, in clear terms, the quantum of service on offer, should he be privileged to serve as Governor of Rivers State.
A business mogul and legal practitioner, Barr Lulu – Briggs is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as London School of Economics. According to his supporters, he is a detribalized Nigerian, but it would seem that Dumo’s biggest selling point is his uncommon compassion and commitment to his people. Through his various philanthropic gestures over the years, he is believed to have made remarkable impact in the lives of his people.
Recently, a support group and one of the most influential support group in Rivers State, DLB, publicly declared their support for him presumably owing to his exemplary leadership qualities and prospects. Describing him as a bridge-builder, DLB stated that “He is somebody we feel Rivers State needs at this critical time.”
Continuing, the group noted: “We have the challenge of managing the multiple conflicts that have been generated by divergent political interests in the state, and we are aware that a polarized PDP needs to come together at a time through somebody who has the might to do that. So, Dumo, to us, is that man who can fix it for both the PDP and Rivers State. We believe that given a level playing ground, Chief (Barr) Dumo Lulu-Briggs will sweep the polls from the primaries to the general election. The PDP cannot afford to make the mistake of Osun State. Dumo is certainly the most popular aspirant under the PDP today and it’s just a matter of time.”
As a member of the Rivers State Economic Advisory Council for four years; Member, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorers (NAPE); Member, International Bar Association (IBA); Fellow, Institute of Corporate Managers & Public Administrators of Nigeria (FCMPA); Recipient, Distinguished Nation Builders Merit Award (DINBMA); he appears to be a choice of great potential in the governorship in 2015.
According to reports, his foray into politics commenced in 1992 when he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which also made him a candidate for the House Of Representatives In Akuku Toru Federal Constituency, River State. He was National Assistant Legal Adviser to the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP), and in 2003, he contested for the Governorship position of Rivers State against Dr. Peter Odili.
Commentators claim that he made a very loud impression in that outing, and there are obvious chances that that particular event has more effectively prepared him for the challenge this time. Under the circumstances, political observers in the state appear to be very careful not to ignore him – with so much on his side.
Chief Kenneth Ibikari Dublin-Green
Kenneth Ibikari Dublin-Green is a professional with multiple skill sets, who have spent over a decade in different management capacity; managing resources and human skills. Kenneth Ibikari Dublin-Green, as a known management and political figure, seeks to change the tide of things in Rivers State through the provision of transparent leaders, infrastructural development and the provision of the dividends of democracy.
He is passionate about changing the course of current events in Rivers State by embarking on a mission to redefine the state in all ramifications. This he indicated can be done through his youth’s empowerment programme, women empowerment programme, quality education programmes and economic road map which seeks to place Rivers State as the investment destination in Nigeria.
According to his campaign managers, “Kenneth Ibikari Dublin-Green’s empowerment programmes will be in place to arrest the increasing rate of youth’s restiveness in the state, while curbing the menace of violence and disunity. Having managed human resources for many years, Kenneth Ibikari Dublin-Green will employ his experience to transform the state to an enviable state in Nigeria; where other states will come to learn how good governance is being planned and executed”.
Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike
Wike, popularly known as ‘HighTension’ over the years, has succeeded in carving a niche for himself as a grassroots political mobilizer. The Honourable Minister of State for Education started his political career as Chairman Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State between 1999 -2007; he also served as Chief of Staff to the Rivers State governor between 2007-2011.
Love him or hate him, the Ikwerre born lawyer/politician has worked assiduously to become a major stakeholder in the Rivers State chapter of the PDP. Wike has garnered considerable clout in the politics of Rivers State, becoming a “Fixer” and master in certain ways. Nobody would forget in a hurry his role in the 2011 general elections, when he served as the Director-General of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s campaign organisation, or the uproar in Rivers in 2013, before Amaechi was forced out of the PDP.
To justify his towering position in the party, Wike has been reeling out a catalogue of challenges the party has been having in the state without any of the other aspirants coming to the rescue, such as the 45 cases pending in court, and some House of Assembly members on the platform of the PDP who have been marginalised for more than a year without salaries.
Meanwhile, speculations are rife that some members of the PDP are already of the view that, despite Wike’s efforts at sustaining the state chapter of the PDP, he is becoming overbearing and this may spell doom to the party in the elections. Already, a group known as the Rivers PDP Third Force Movement has raised the alarm, calling on the national leadership of the party to call the minister to order to avoid a crisis capable of denying the PDP the opportunity of taking back power in the state. This may be just a perception.
Barr. Nimi Walson Jack
Often referred to as ‘a fine gentleman’, Barr. Nimi Jack boasts an impressive administrative and political track record. Also a close associate of the governor, he enjoys considerable popularity and support among the people which, analysts claim, is not ‘strong’ enough to displace aspirants like Wike or Lulu-Briggs. Further to this, Nimi is also contending with the assumption that his administration will be an ‘extension’ of Bayelsa State because his wife is presently the Chief of Staff to the governor of Bayelsa State.
Magnus Ngei Abe
The Ogoni born ‘controversial’ senator came into political limelight in 1999 when he was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, courtesy of the PDP. He served as Rivers State Commissioner for Information between 2003-2007, Secretary to the Rivers State Government between 2007-2010, and, at present, a leading card-carrying member of the APC in Rivers State.
Dr. Sam Sam-Jaja
Dr. Sam-Jaja could best be described as the right-hand man of Governor Amaechi. Close sources claim that Dr Jaja actually rode on the back of Gov. Amaechi to political prominence in 2012 when he nominated him as the Deputy National Chairman of the ruling PDP with little antecedent in Politics. In August, 2013, Dr. Jaja left the PDP alongside Amaechi to the opposition APC where he was selected as the Deputy National Chairman. Till date he remains one of the backbones of Amaechi’s APC in Rivers State.
Tonye Princewill
Born January 4, 1969, he is a prince of the Kalabari Kingdom, a businessman and one of the leading politicians in Rivers State. Tonye Princewill’s political career started when he was nominated as the gubernatorial candidate of the then Action Congress (AC) for the governorship of Rivers State in 2007 where he lost the election under contested circumstances to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Celestine Omehia.
After a long delay on speculations concerning his political future, Tonye Princewill indicated his interest to succeed Gov. Rotimi Amaechi in 2015.With this development, he created an Exploratory Committee to explore the viability of his candidacy of the position. He has since also engaged in several public and PDP debates arguing that the crises rocking the PDP are normal in the context of conflicting regional agendas and tensions between these agendas and national interest.
Tonye Princewill advocates on corruption, infrastructure development, behaviour change, security, health, academic advancement and ethnic harmony.
Tonye Princewill’s public engagement is diverse. Following the heavy floods that ravaged parts of Nigeria in 2012, he organised relief activities for Niger Delta communities through the Princewill Trust.
He has launched several initiatives to support the Nigerian youth, rural women, orphans and widows. In June 2012, Tonye Princewill sponsored Nigerian youth delegations on tours to Dubai and Ghana to learn entrepreneurship, governance, leadership and self-development. In January 2013, in celebration of his 44th birthday, Tonye Princewill released a documentary titled “Man. Mentor. Maverick” in which he speaks of his vision of equal opportunities for all. Tonye Princewill is an advocate for open government and effective public service delivery, using modern technology; a virtue that has earned him the nickname, the “Digital Politician.”
Hon. Dakuku Peterside
Mr. Peterside once served the Rotimi Amaechi administration as a Commissioner in 2007-2010. Currently a member of the House of Representatives representing Opobo/Nkoro Federal constituency, he is Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream Petroleum. Owing to his unrepentant public display of loyalty to Amaechi, Hon. Peterside is seen by some observers and analysts as Amaechi’s ‘loyalist’; a tag he confirmed when in late 2013, he defected to the APC from the PDP.
Chief Paworiso Samuel-Horsfall
Chief Paworiso Horsfall was a member of the state House of Assembly and a former Commissioner for Environment under Dr Peter Odili administration. He is from the Kalabari extraction and a seasoned grassroots politician.
Engr. Emmanuel T. Georgewill
Engr. Georgewill is most renowned as a seasoned Engineer with over 25 years professional experience. A graduate of Mechanical and Production Engineering from the University of Jos, he is the first professional indigenous Coring Engineer in Nigeria. He has served in several organisation’s Board amongst which is NDDC.
An indigene of Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, he is being considered by political analysts as a fresher in the guber race; that he lacks the ‘strong’ followership expected of a gubernatorial aspirant. While Goergewill has consistently reiterated that he will bring his wealth of experience in both the private and public service to help better the lives of his people.