Despite the intractable political tussle between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, old and new seasoned politicians in Rivers State may have opted for power shift from the upland to the Riverine (Moorlands).
The advocates of the shift hinge their claim on the fact that since the inception of the 4th Republic in Rivers state, the number one position in the state has been held by the upland, arguing thaat equity, justice and fairness demands that the Riverine and particularly the Kalabari extraction should produce the next Governor in 2015.
These crop of politicians had assembled in Port Harcourt to form a new political movement called Committee to Advance the Better Rivers Agenda (CABRA) that cut across political divides and tribal inclinations which is described in some sections as the antidote to the emergence of the new Rivers State of their dream, where every indigene and resident of Rivers State will be a stakeholder.
The Leadership and members of the Committee to Advance the Better Rivers Agenda (CABRA) stated in a press statement signed by its Interim Secretary, Hon. Loveday Kpandei and made available to Blank NEWS Online, that they are on a rescue mission to build a vibrant, egalitarian Rivers State based on some of the legacies of the past administrations in the State and to reposition her as an emerging power and economic key player in the federation.
Hon Loveday Kpandei one time member of the Federal House of Representatives noted that the inaugural meeting of the Movement comprising delegates from the 23 Local Government Areas and the Diaspora was to forge a way forward for the State, adding that the CABRA in the spirit of equity, fairness and Justice has zoned the 2015 gubernatorial candidate to the Riverine Zone of the State particularly to the Kalabari Area, considering fact that the traditional sharing formula of political positions in the state has been between the upland and Riverine since its creation in 1967.
CABRA observed that since the inception of the 4th Republic the number one position in the state has been held by the upland; thus Equity, Justice and Fairness demands that the Riverine and particularly the Kalabari Extraction produce the next Governor in 2015.
According to Hon Kpandei, other critical decisions taken during the meeting was the setting up of a three man Central Organising Committee, Contact and Mobilisation Committee, Publicity/Media Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. The Committee Leaders assured the Movement of their commitment and readiness to redefine politics and politicking in the State.
Henry Odein Ajumougobia and Princewill should battle it out in the forthcoming 2015 Gubernatorial Élection. The all grounded change the Rivers State people are aspiring to see would come from these two vibrant young Kalabari politicians as they have what it takes to move the state to the next growth and development level of the Rivers people. I think their CVs speaks for them. I dearly hope that the people of Rivers State will strongly stand by them as we will if giving them- Odein Ajumogobia and Princewill the opportunity to front COBRA see a tremendeous change in the lives of our people as long as advanced politics is concerned.