DOM ZIMEGAPI
The call for equity, justice and moral obligation has resurrected in All Progressive Congress-APC South East senatorial District Caucus as the front line Governorship aspirant and incumbent senator representing that district in the Upper Chamber of the National assembly Senator Magnus Ngei Abe is out with a new master plan for his people of Rivers South East Senatorial District. For Senator Abe the good people of Oyigbo a vibrant and resourceful cum dynamic and enterprising people in Rivers state have been supporting the other ethnic nationalities in that senatorial district which comprises of Oyigbo, Eleme, Tai, Gokana, Khana, Opobo/Nkoror, and Andoni Local Government Areas.
Starting from the 2nd Republic when Senator Cyrus Nunieh from Ogoni ethnic nationality was elected as Senator of the Federal republic others such as Senator Adawari Macpeple a native of Opobo/Nkoro LGA was elected in 1999 to 2003 while Senator Lee Maeba from Ogoni ethnic nationality was elected into the Red Chambers. And Prince Olaka Nwogu from Eleme LGA was for 12 years as Federal House of Representatives member representing Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo federal Constituency. After which he the same Prince Olaka Nwogu from Eleme LGA was elected Senator Rivers South East and Senator Magnus Ngei Abe from Gokana LGA Ogoniland also took turn in being voted into the Upper Red Chamber of the National Assembly.
In all these the good people of Oyigbo section of Rivers South East senatorial District had not had it for ones either at the Federal House of Representatives which Barry Mpigi from Tai LGA is currently occupying or at Senatorial level which Senator Magnus Ngei Abe is also occupying. It is based on this inequality and imbalance in elective public office that Senator Magnus Ngei Abe wants to hand over to someone from Oyigbo Local Government Area while he himself goes in for Rivers state APC Governorship race as aspirant and being a hopeful flag bearer in 2019. Chief Felix Nweke an elected former Local Government Chairman and former Commissioner under the then Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is in the front burner for the race proper. This is coming on the heels of the facts that Andoni people currently has the Speaker Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani , whereas Engr. Tele Ikuru former Deputy Governor for 8-years from 2007 to 2015 served under two governors Sir, Celestine Omehia and ex Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Whereas Chief GTG Toby was elected Deputy Governor under Dr. Peter Odili for 8-Years hails from Opobo/Nkoro all in Rivers South East senatorial district.
So, for senatorial election in 2019 the Oyigbo people are now well composed and poised to give the chase a true struggle for they have waited for long to having one of the two political positions being Federal House of Representatives and Senate. And Senator Magnus Abe’s fall out with his fellow kinsman Barry Mpigi may not be unconnected with Barry Mpigi’s ambition of denying Oyigbo people this golden opportunity of presenting one of their own to file papers for election into the Red Chamber or the Green Chamber. Again it is on good note that Chibuike rotimi Amaechi is promising an Andoni man in the person of Engineer Sampson Ngeregbara former Governorship aspirant and former Commissioner For Works and current Chairman of FREE RIVERS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES to aspire to the coveted seat of Rivers South east senatorial district instead of the marginalized Oyigbo people who are over qualified with high profile personalities which include Chief Felix Nweke and others who are members of APC from Oyigbo Local Government Area.