As the Rivers State Local Governments elections for the election of council chairmen and councillors draw closer, the temperature of political activities at the grassroot level is yet to pick up.
The lull in political activities is perhaps due to the uncertainty surrounding the exercise because of the plethora of legal cases pending in court occasioned by the political crisis in the state between incumbent Gov Siminalayi Joseph Fubara and his estranged political godfather and current FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Nevertheless, as the exercise enters its crucial stage, with party primaries for the selection of candidates for the election by political parties slated between July 29 to August 3, 2024, aspirants have been discreetly positioning themselves in their respective LGAs to enable voters pick who the cap fits to govern them at the third tier of government.
In Akuku Toru Local Government Area, aka AKULGA in the state, one of such aspirant is Dr Alasin Captain Briggs (ACB), whose supporters think is the man who should wear the cap. Although, he has not openly declared his interest for the number one job in the LGA, his popularity in the LGA is growing like wild fire.
Checks by this publication revealed that ACB, as he is popularly called is likely to contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Our Correspondent further gathered that his candidature may be boosted by the fact that he is an Adviser to Dr Tammy Danagogo, the current Secretary to the State government (SSG).
This is due to his rising profile as a young scholar and an astute administrator who has received nationwide attention with lots of accolades in his kitty. For instance, in
September, 2019, he was honoured with the Fellowship award by the Chartered Institute of Forensic And Investigative Professionals of Nigeria (CIFIPN) in an elaborate award ceremony held at the prestigious Bolton White Hotel, Garki in Abuja.
The award ceremony was attended by top politicians, royal fathers, legal luminaries like the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), academicians and Vice Chancellors of several universities as well as captains of industries from within and outside the country.
Earlier that same year, in June 2019, students of the Rivers State School of Health Sciences in Port Harcourt, the state capital rolled out the drums in an award ceremony to confer an Honourary Award of Excellence on him for his selfless services to students across the state.
During the award ceremony, the Students Union Government (SUG) President, Comrade Rosary Braide stated that Alasin Captain Briggs has in many ways contributed immensely to the well-being of youths and elders in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area and beyond.
Responding, the awardee (ACB) urged the students to take their academic studies seriously as they will stand to benefit from such engagements in the future. He commended the students for having him selected for the honour as it was a privilege for him to stand in their midst, just as he cautioned them to be steadfast in the pursuit of their students’ Union activities for the benefit of all, both the administrators of the school and the state at large.