Our correspondent, GODWIN EGBA, writes that Rivers state parades an array of governorship aspirants already jostling to succeed Governor Nyesom Wike, come 2023, beaming his searchlight on some persons with acclaimed track records of service in the state
As the major project of 2023 is for Nigerians to elect a successor to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari who completes his second tenure in office in May 2023, so is the battle gathering momentum in the states preparatory for the governorship elections.
Consequently, many gubernatorial aspirants in Rivers state, are oiling their political machinery to succeed their incumbent governors.
Rivers as PDP state
A careful observation of Rivers politics since the dawn of democratic rule reveals that the state has a tradition that maintains its ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), irrespective existence of opposition parties.
Of all the number of registered political parties in Nigeria, the PDP has remained dominant and a force that dislodges others during elections in the past and present in Rivers state.
Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been the only strong opposition parity that shakes the PDP structure during elections in the state, victory at the polls has eluded it especially into the Brick House or even into the 23 Local Government chairmanship and councilors seats across the state.
The immediate past chairmen of the Local Government Councils and the recent elected ones are all of PDP, pointing to the fact that PDP maintains a stronghold of the state.
Wike warns
Thus come 2023, the most critical and cynosure of all eyes in the state would be governorship election. What is however, a bit of a dicey among Rivers indigenes is, who becomes the next occupant of the Government House as its incumbent Wike serves out his second tenure on May 29, 2023.
Mindful of the distractions politicking is capable of generating, Governor Wike in a recent broadcast sternly warmed his political appointees: “None of you must engage in political activities of succession towards 2023, until I say so, because I demand total commitment and loyalty to this mandate given to me by Rivers people. If I catch you, I will sack you immediately because there shall not be any “a beg” at all. I catch you, you are gone”.
Aspirants on parade
However, some personalities are still being tipped to succeed the outgoing governor.
In the PDP, names like Hon. Dr. Tammy W. Danagogo, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Senator Lee Maeba and Hon. Engr. Emeka Woke, are names being bandied as likely successors of Wike, while the APC camp has people like Hon. Dr. Dawari I. George, Hon. Chief Ibinabo Michael-West, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and a now-recurrent name, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe.
PDP: Dr. Tammy W. Danagogo
He is the serving Secretary to the Rivers State Government, a former Minister of Sports, one-time Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (2004-2007). Hon. Dr. Danagogo was also the State Legal Adviser of PDP before his appointment as Chairman of AKULGA. He also served as commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs.
Public opinion in the state is that Danagogo is soft-spoken, gentle and very calculative, but also a stickler to excellence. People look up to him that all these qualities, would be brought to bear in the political leadership of the state if he runs and wins the governorship race in the years ahead.
Rt. Hon. Austin Opara
This is a two-term member of the House of Representatives who is nationally connected and served out his 2nd term (2003-2007) as the Deputy Speaker, even as the representatives of PHALGA Federal Constituency 1.
He was also in the run to succeed Sir Dr. Peter Odili in 2007, but appeared to have been pressured to ‘allow’ Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Ameachi to pick the ticket that time. Austin Opara is a staunch PDP member and though presently not serving in any particular capacity, he remains highly visible and influential in the Wike’s administration.
APC: Hon. Dr. Dawari George
Dr. Dawari Ibietela George was a very popular and influential two-time Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers state chapter.
He later became the Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, with high impact.
He stepped up his game, as a Development Expert, to the National Assembly as the member representing AKULGA/ ASALGA Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber (2011-20145).
Dr. George aka ‘Dig Deep’, is presently serving as the President of African Baptist Men Association, having moved up from President, Nigerian Baptist Men Fellowship.
He is the son of a renown cleric and educationist, one that is dependale and not given to treachery and frivolities. Rivers state is most likely to upscale if he steps in and becomes the governor in 2023.
Hon. Chief Ibinabo Michael-West
This is a son of Kalabari land and a consummate politician who made Rivers indigenes view with lots of respect due to his philanthropy and kindness. As a House of Assembly member (2003-2011), representing ASALGA Constituency 2, Ibinavo M-West brought actual representation to his people. He embarked on people-centred projects that are now called Legacy project.
In 2015, this former lawmaker also tried to get the guber ticket of PDP in Rivers state. However, he could not get it, but was appointed the Commissioner for Transport. Expectedly, he brought in certain innovations that ensured sanity in the sector and helped to boost the economy of Rivers state.
Those close to the Minister of Transport Chibuike Amaechi, the APC leader in Rivers state, have maintained that Hon. Micheal-West, since defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has again proved dependable and trustworthy. He is said to be a heavyweight and is part of the revival and new acceptability of APC in Rivers state.
