Date Published: 11/09/09

2011: Odili's men re-align, sets for war in Rivers

*As Ex-Minister, Awuse, Others Swell AC

THE 2011 power politics in Rivers State, one of the key oil and gas-producing states in the Niger Delta area, is not likely to be a tea party. The political camp of former  governor Peter Odili is re-aligning with some of  its frontline figures swelling the Action Congress (AC), a supposedly opposition party.

Leader of AC in the state, Prince Tonye Princewill, has never hidden his love and support for the Chibuike Amaechi administration sine the Supreme Court sacked Celestine Omehia from Government House, Port Harcourt on October 25, 2007.

With the Odili camp allegedly desperate to take-over the state that is currently receiving mega-billion oil revenue from Abuja, from Amaechi, the stage is gradually being set for an all-out political war in the state.

Leading the pack of some of the Odili's men to AC is former Transport Minister, Dr. Abiye Sekibo. Also in the party is, Chief Sergeant Awuse, a prominent political associate of former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar.

Baring any compromises, AC promises to be one of the parties to watch in the oil-rich Rivers. It appears, the Odili men are bracing to battle Amaechi from AC  and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Already, National Chairman of  AC, Chief Bisi Akande, has directed Princewill to ensure that key stakeholders in the party like Sekibo, Awuse, Chief Birabi and others, have a say in the affairs of the party in Rivers and also participate effectively in moving it forward.

Princewill, scion of the Kalabari monarch, says he is delighted with the development and accordingly applauds the resolve of those he described as ''great sons of Rivers'' to embrace the party.

While expressing his readiness to personally welcome them into the fold by setting in motion a process that would ensure ''a heroic reception'' for them, he added, ''i encourage these great sons of Rivers state and other Rivers  indigenes to come forward and identify with the aspirations of the party. I am optimistic that this decision signifies greater things ahead for the party. Be rest assured that i will do everything politically expedient to welcome them into our fold’’.

On Sekibo, he said, ''i am pleased that he has chosen at this point in his career to join forces with the party of the future, a party that would gladly welcome him and put behind memories of efforts he nade to destroy it, with support of his masters, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and  Odili, whose vicious roles made Atiku to dump the PDP''.

The Rivers AC leader however, counseled Sekibo to do the right thing first by formally registering at his ward instead of romancing with some elements within the national leadership of the party in Abuja.

Some chieftains of the party do not appear to be comfortable with Sekibo joining AC. The party's State Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has started to express the fears that the former minister is scheming to use the party as a vehicle to destabilise the Amaechi administration.

In spite of Eze's fears, Princewill in accordance with the directive from Abuja, has directed all Local Government and Ward Chairmen of the party to liaise with the state Secretary, Mr. Okis BobManuel, to collect registration forms for onward distribution to old and intending members of the party.  

“Every good son and daughter of Rivers, whether jigh or low, poor or rich that wants to make a change in the politics of the state should ensure that he or she purchases the registration forms to validate his or her membership'', he said.