Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, recently talked about the difficulties he had endorsing Siminalayi Fubara’s gubernatorial campaign in light of the political climate in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District. Wike said that Fubara, who belongs from the small Opobo community, met strong pushback from larger ethnic groups in the region, particularly the Ogonis. In spite of this, Wike was instrumental in persuading rival candidates to withdraw in favor of Fubara.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
During an interview shared by Channels TV, Wike explained that the Opobo community’s voting strength is relatively small compared to the more populous Ogoni ethnic group. He pointed out that the size of the Opobo electorate pales in comparison even to the number of voters in his own ward. This created initial resistance from the Ogonis, who struggled to accept that a minority candidate from Opobo would be chosen to lead the state.
Wike highlighted how difficult it was for the Ogonis, the largest ethnic group in the district, to come to terms with the idea of stepping aside for an Ijaw candidate from Opobo. He acknowledged that it was a “bitter pill” for them to swallow, given the political weight they hold in the district. However, Wike emphasized that he appealed to their sense of fairness and inclusion in order to give Fubara a chance to govern.Wike’s decision to back Fubara was driven by a desire to ensure that smaller communities like Opobo could also have representation in leadership roles, despite their limited voting power.
He highlighted the need for unity and cooperation among ethnic groups in the state, stressing that political decisions should not be based solely on population size but also on the principles of equity and inclusion.
According to him: “The voting strength of Opobo cannot be up to my own ward in my state. I pleaded with the Ogonis, it was a bitter pill for them to swallow”.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
