2019 RIVERS GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: KALABARI TO PRESENT A COMMON POSITION
.... To adopt a candidate
Ahead of the 2019 Rivers Governorship elections, facts have began to emerge, which has raised fresh hopes that the kalabari ethnic group, having taken stock of past mistakes are poised to adopt a common candidate in their bid to realize the ambition of producing the governor of the state come 2019.
It will be recalled that the kalabari people, one of the major ethnic groups in Rivers State, having played key roles in the emergence of successive governments in the state have sought an opportunity to have one of their own govern the state for equity & justice sakes.
This desire by the kalabari people have always enjoyed the support of their brother ethnic groups but the issue had been with the kalabari people who presents plethora of candidates each time for the governorship election. This divides not just the kalabari people but also their votes.
In the 2015 elections for instance, the kalabari people had the greater chunk of governorship aspirants and non of them made it in the major political parties.
Today, in the build up to the 2019 Governorship elections, the currency that the kalabari governorship project generate is as verdant as when it all began.
This time it has even gotten more backing from other ethnic groups in the state. This was evident in the governorship primaries conducted by one of the major political parties APC, where the Ikwerres, Ogonis, Orashi, Etches and all other ethnic groups came together in unity to elect a Kalabari man Arc. Tonye Cole as its party Governorship flagbearer. Also, from the list released by INEC, many of the political parties seemed to have fielded kalabari candidates as its governorship flagbearer for the 2019 governorship polls
While gunning for Kalabari candidates by many political parties is an indication of Rivers people acceptance of the Kalabari Governorship project, that of the resultant issue of many kalabari candidates is not going down well with key members of the Kalabari politician populace, owing to past experience
Worried by this development, sons and daughters of kalabari kingdom under the umbrella organisation of KALABARI MANDATE GROUP (KMG) have begun serious consultation with governorship candidates of Kalabari extraction across political parties and other stakeholders with a view to forging a common front ahead of the 2019 elections.
The group in continuation of her move to reconcile all interests, penultimate week met with the governorship candidate of CNP, Hon Ipalibo Horatio Yellowe. After hours of deliberation, Hon.Ipalibo said:
_I have no problem if I have to sacrifice my personal interest for the greater interest and good of my people, the kalabari kingdom_
Hon. Ipalibo Horatio Yellowe further assured that he is open & ready to dialogue with other kalabari candidates on the best way forward
Speaking on behalf of the Kalabari Mandate Group, Asi Prince Dateme emphasised the need for unity of purpose, sacrifice and understanding among kalabari politicians ahead of the 2019 election. Stating the group's position, he said the kalabari people cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past hence must approach the 2019 governorship elections differently, chief among which is to rally behind one kalabari candidate
He revealed that the responses from the consultation so far has been very impressive hinting that the kalabari people will soon come out with a position adopting a candidate
While the kalabari mandate group has set the ball rolling by making good its promise to deliver on the mission of rallying the kalabari people, the talk on the lips of people is whether KMG will succeed or not. But the group is optimistic and confident that the kalabari people will get it right this time.
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