- * Says Rivers Electorates Will Uproot PDP's Impunity In 2023
'Accord Party, Popular With The People'
Endorses Dumo Lulu-Briggs (DLB) As Right Man For The Job
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11
Foremost Niger Delta activist and top-rate organic intellectual, Alatubo Charles Piriye Harry, has appraised the political developments in his State, Rivers, in the past 23 years, and projects that the people's power at the polling booths, will overthrow the impunity culture and sub-standard governance which has allegedly characterized the oil-rich state since the dawn of democracy in 1999.
Harry, who is the immediate-past President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and National Treasurer, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), in an exclusive interview with NIGERIAN NEWS-LEADER Newspaper, a leading Online and Print new medium based in Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, tackles the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, over his controversial Executive Orders 21 and 22 which he signed on Tuesday last week.
Charles Harry declares that the new Executive Fiats are unconstitutional and a brazen affront on the extant Electoral Act. He describes the Accord Party governorship candidate in the state, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, as the gold hope for a new Rivers State, in 2023 elections. Excerpts:
The Governorship elections will hold in Rivers State in about four months time. What are your projections for the poll?
ANS: We leave in interesting times. Nigeria is at the crossroads and the 2023 elections is a watershed. Several issues in the last seven years plus have made the coming elections very crucial and definitive for the future and wellbeing of our union. Some positive things have happened especially with the electoral Act and more important is the new fervor occasioned by the ENDSARS protest and extant belief that votes will count. Rivers State in particular is in the eye of the storm and antecedents of the past 23 years demands critical choices to be made. It is my belief that the elections in Rivers State would be a referendum on our common-humanity and the principles on which our founding fathers birthed the State. This election would be a referendum on where we were pre-1999, where we have been and where we want to be post-2023. My candid projection is that Rivers State has gone full circle and is on the verge of a return to the egalitarian era when we were the beauty and place of pride bequeathed by the Diete-Spiff class of 1967.
With the caliber of persons nominated as governorship candidates of the political parties, will you say that the PDP domination in the State is about to be dismantled?
ANS: I would not exactly put it in that straight jacket. We must understand that the issues of reinventing Rivers State is not premised on a We against Them prism, neither is it acrimonious of Party but one based on the individual candidates for each and every position, to achieve a rainbow coalition of our first eleven to steady the ship of state and dismantle exclusiveness for inclusiveness. There are many great altruistic characters in all the parties and it is my fervent hope that the voting populace would be attuned to return elected our best foot forward regardless of Party, ethnic or religious consideration. All the gubernatorial candidates in one way or the other have something to offer and are worthy Rivers sons and daughters, but surely the times will no doubt enthrone the best suited.
The reverine axis of Rivers State, one of which (Kalabari) is where you come from, have clamoured for the governorship slot since the beginning of the democratic dispensation in 1999. The defunct Rivers Democratic Movement (RDM) founded by intellectuals like you in collaboration with other younger elements like Dr Ipalibo Harry and Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe and elders in state like Alabo Graham Douglas, Dr. Marshall Harry of blessed memory, and Chibudum Nwuche, etc, even spearheaded the movement. The upland people, particularly the Ikwerres and Ndonis have been in control ever since. Is there a possibility of the statusquo changing in 2023 in favour of the Riverine area?
ANS: Categorically YES! It is sine qua non for a return to the egalitarian principles on which our beloved State was sired, based on equity, justice, fairness, and the commonality of our togetherness, a union where regardless of size and/or numbers, each component has a shared fair stake and sense of belonging. Howbeit, let me correct for posterity the erroneous notion that the objective of the RDM as you mentioned was for a Riverine governorship. RDM, as you are already aware, was founded in my house by young Rivers men and women who had a dream and confronted an anomy of impunity and lack of transparency and accountability in the affairs of the State, the esteemed leaders you mentioned amongst many others were appraised of the dangers and conscientiously lent their support. True, Alabo became Leader of the Grand Council of the RDM, but I was the Chairman of the RDM and head of the APEX that was the driving force of the movement. The Riverine/Upland dichotomy in Rivers State is a time-honoured principle that some upstarts that portend our people no good have tried unsuccessfully to denigrate. You see, our fore-bears were very deliberate in introducing this equitable means of power sharing, that is why when you have the Governor from one axis, the Deputy comes from the other and the Minister and the Governor are never from the same axis. But however, in the last 16 years, some children entrusted with power are wont to throwing away the baby with the birth water in complete insouciance, drunk with power. So, my brother Celestine, it is not about changing in favour of any group but about justice and truth.
What is the scenario going to be with strong contenders from the riverine particularly with the likes of Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs of Accord Party, Simi Fubara of PDP and also Hon. Dawari George of the Action Alliance Party?
ANS: Ah! You forgot to mention Tonye Cole of the APC. Is it because of the court disqualifying all APC candidates in Rivers State reminiscent of 2019? If so, Dawari also has same dangling over his head as a Sword of Damocles. I would rather all players were allowed to strut their ambitions before the electorate and may the adduced best emerge victorious. It is sad however that the PDP in the State are busy shopping for court judgements to disqualify all credible challenge to Simi Fubara. What is our Governor truly afraid of?
There are angst and concern among the Party candidates over the new Order 22 signed on Tuesday by Governor Nyesom Wike, which placed a lot of restrictions on candidates. What are your thoughts on that and the consequent implications on the electoral process in Rivers State?
ANS: Rightly so. Like I was saying earlier, it looks like the playing field is deliberately being constricted to present a fait accompli. Executive Orders 21 and 22 are to all intents and purpose unconstitutional, a violation and an affront to the electoral act. I think our “beloved” Governor has taken his belligerent omnipotence steps too far. That is not to mention his ominous recruitment of a humungous 200,000 Special Assistants amongst others only months to an election in which he has an overarching vested interest. Without being clairvoyant, my smart money would locate these perilous actions squarely as interference with the electoral process to undermine/manipulate the people’s will and eventual outcome. Election buying? Your guess is a good as mine.
What are the chances of Accord Party in the coming elections? And what is Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs bringing to the table, this time, for the people of Rivers State?
ANS: As bright as can be. Accord albeit being as some may think a fringe or small Party is making waves across the State, more so, considering it is marketing a very likeable and sellable product untainted by the avarice associated with governance in the last 23 years plus. As to what Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs brings to the table? You are here in Port Harcourt, don’t you think he would be in the best position to speak for himself. Make an appointment, speak to him, and I assure you, you will be enthralled.
What parts of Rivers would you say are the strong base of Accord Party?
ANS: The entire State. No one, no ethnic people are left behind. The inclusiveness and unity Accord preaches behooves prosperity for all, regardless of Party affiliation. Accord, like the name connotes, wants to return brotherhood and common-humanity to all Rivers indigenes and residents and make the State, once again, the destination of choice to live, recreate, work and do business. Chief Dumo has invested himself selflessly in the lives of people over the years; he is completely detribalized and humble. He knows the people and the people know him, he feels their pain and is one of them so they trust him. Don’t be fooled by the affluence around him, he is a regular everyday guy with no chips on his shoulders.
Do you think Rivers people need Dumo Lulu-Briggs? If yes, why?
ANS: Rivers State today is hemorrhaging and has been since the unintended misadventure of our leaders in 1999. The incestuous progeny of the Siamese twins that holds Rivers State captive must be broken at whatever cost and retired permanently. The pillage of 23 years should be compensation enough to them and reason enough motivating the people’s angst to say IBITE! …. ENOUGH!! So as you can adduce it is not about Dumo, it is about us the people. It is about our once beautiful, serene and harmonious state and the tomorrow of our posterity and heritage. Let me be more explicit without being obtuse, Rivers people demand (like the Obidients) and deserve a clean break, a new beginning to re-tool and rebuild our togetherness, our sense of propriety and love. Therefore, the PDP and APC acolytes would certainly not do, SIM and TONYE are direct products, while ABE and DAWARI are vicariously tainted, of the remaining field DLB (as he is fondly called) stands heads and shoulders well above the rest. So like my lawyer friends would say – Res ipsa loquitur.
How would you appraise the seven and half years performance of Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration in the State.
ANS: To be absolutely truthful, Wike was more than a surprise; maverick in many ways but you cannot but just marvel and applaud his chutzpah. All things considered, Wike performed to the best of his ability and you cannot but acknowledge, as he says, that he is Mr. Project. If you were to rate him on the things he put his mind to achieve, no doubt, he scored over and above the average, but there were also many areas in which a lot was left to be desired. I would prefer in reverence to his exalted office and as my Governor not to comment on his foibles. He did well enough. We are left to see how he ends and what his choices do to his legacy.
As an indigene of Rivers, can you set a kind of agenda of what should be the focus of urgent development action of the State for whoever is taking over from Governor Nyesom Wike?
ANS: All erstwhile Governors of the State had a major failing that detracted from whatever effort they made. They missed the point and the very essence of their mandates; the welfare and wellbeing of the people. They all mistook the glitz of brick and mortar as the be all and end all and neglected the fundamentals of why governments are instituted. My allure with the Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs’ mantra is in his “WE AGENDA – PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST” that Sir, would be my advice to whom-so-ever succeeds Wike. It would however be my fervent hope that DLB should be the one who already is at home with the doctrine, to implement. My closing remarks to Rivers people and the voting public would be that DLB is their best choice, he is refined and urbane and he truly cares. He is not your regular itinerant politician for the spoils of office; he wants to serve and would be of service to the best of his abilities and in the best interest of the people. He is that idea whose time has come, a true Port Harcourt bred boy who knows and is imbued with the mores of what makes Rivers State unique. GOD BLESS RIVERS STATE! NNL.
