Group Politics Editor, Taiwo Adisa, who witnessed a recent gubernatorial campaign rally of Rivers State governor, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, in Okrika, reports on the uniqueness of the governors walk in the enemies territory.There is always a tinge of emotional touch, when there is talk of Okrika and Rotimi Amaechi. The governor, who is seeking re-election in April, has had to contend with opposition from Okrika to his governments plan to reconstruct schools, considered to be poorly sited in the area.As a result of the constraints over availability of land, Okrika people treasure their land and the houses, no matter how old fashioned. Amaechis proposal that some of the houses that surround primary and secondary schools, making learning a difficult task and should give way, fell on wrong ears.It was as if the governor had declared war on the community and since then, tense moments had characterised the relationship between the people and the governor.But by last week, when Amaechi led his campaign train into Okrika, a lot of water had passed under the bridge, turning the relationship between the governor and the people to more of camaraderie.The fact that a son of the soil, Dr Abiye Sekibo, is also contesting for the states number one seat did not stop the people from turning out in large numbers to welcome Amaechi. Their leaders also mounted the podium one after the other to pledge support for and loyalty to Amaechi.The mammoth crowd had welcomed Amaechi to Okrika with a boat regatta at the waterfront, a stones throw from the National School field, Okrika, where the rally held.Commissioner for Health, Dr Samson Parker, an indigene of the area, who welcomed the governor, said that Amaechi should discountenance the rumour he had been hearing about Okrika. He said that the rumour was being peddled by some natives who had been rejected by the people.Your Excellency, let me just say that a lot of rumours you have been hearing was not true. These are rumours from people who have been chased out of Okrika because of what they are doing to Okrika people. The people of Okrika have rejected them. So, they have no choice than to carry rumours that they are accepted in their home. If they are popular, let them come and walk through the town and you come and walk through the town and let us see who will walk through.They cannot enter Okrika; if they can, let them come and let us see. The Okrika Kingdom has rejected them, the commissioner said.Before Parker gave his assuring words to the governor, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Okrika Local Government, Honourable Gilbert Febrisima, and the Chairman of Okrika Local Government, Honourable James Aduko, have also spoken in similar manner.But the man regarded as the political leader of the area, a former governor of the old Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-George, added more colour to the rally and brightened Amaechis day when he mounted the podium.He declared that while he had a number of political children vying for the governorship seat, only Amaechi had deemed it fit to consult him and notify him of his ambition.Ada-George, who asked the crowd to observe a minute silence in honour of those who had lost their lives in the democratic process, especially Chief A.K. Dikibo, said that Amaechi should be the choice for the people in April.He said: From what we are reading in the papers, there are three main contestants for the governorship. The three of them, including the governor (Amaechi), are my political children and of all the political children, only Amaechi consulted me and told me he was seeking re-election. The other two have not considered me worthy of consultation.We in this town produced the First Lady of this nation. We must ensure we go out and vote for our sister and ensure that our votes count. We must vote for the PDP and by voting for the PDP, you are voting for your sister and our brother (Amaechi), the Third Republic governor of Rivers State said.Senator George Thompson Sekibo, who is seeking re-election in April, also mounted the podium to endorse Amaechi. He told the story of the good Samaritan in the Bible to buttress his point, asking who would be regarded as the good neighbour. The senator said that the man who takes care of the neighbour in times of need is the good neighbour and brother, adding that Amaechi had shown concern for the people by restoring security and chasing away kidnappers who had seized the community by the jugular.The senator quipped: Who is the good neighbour Is it not Amaechi, who appointed your children into top posts, built bridges and maintained peace It is not only your biological son that can bring development to Okrika. Okrika is for you (Amaechi) and it will remain for you.In between dances and performance of traditional pre-Angala (masquerade) dance, there were kind words for the Okrika Community and for Amaechi by the deputy governor, Tele Ikuru, the governors wife, and the president of Ijaw Youth Council, Miamiye Kromiema. All emphasised the decision of the people to vote the PDP enmasse.The Director-General of the Amaechi Campaign Organisation, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who displayed a good understanding of the area and the leaders, as he reeled out the leaders of each ward after the other, told the governor that the PDP was not ready to compromise a vote at all.We will make sure that on April 2, 9 and 16, the PDP wins in all wards and win convincingly. We must win Ward four. Once we win ward four in Okrika, all the other wards will be in the kitty, Nyesom said, adding that the people of Okrika are appreciative of what Amaechi has done for the area in terms of development.Governor Amaechi renewed the emotional touch he had with Okrika when he mounted the podium. He declared that its payback time for him in the area, as he had stuck out his neck to support a son of Okrika (Ada-George) when it was dangerous to do so.Amaechi, who is from Ikwerre part of the state, said he had been beaten and injured by his brothers in Ikwerre, when he stuck to his support for Ada George in 1992.He said: It was through Chief Rufus Ada-George that I met Chief Peter Odili. When Ikwerre people didnt want to see an Okrika man as governor, I, Rotimi Amaechi, stood in the line of the devil. I supported an Okrika man. All the people who are talking about tribalism today did not say so then. The Ikwerre people beat me up but I never looked back. It is payback time.The governor said that besides his support for the Okrika cause in the past, he has also demonstrated his love for the area through his work in the last four years. He said that his government completed the Ring Road and built bridges around the difficult terrain, adding that even his political opponents could not deny his obviously great performance.He said that because of his love for the Okrika people, he had driven away those that used to terrorise the community.Before I became governor, you could not enter Okrika without paying some warlords here and there. They raped their own people and killed at will. But when I came in, we started going after them. Today, things have changed, kidnapping has reduced and we can drive round, the governor said.He further submitted: You would have expected that by the time we arrived Okrika, we would not see the kind of crowd we met on ground. The fact that we saw that kind of crowd was a surprise to me and it was courageous that we hired the African Independent Television (AIT) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to show the campaign live.Amidst dancing, drama and praises from an appreciative crowd, Governor Amaechis convoy dazzled through the Okrika community. He was received by the traditional rulers, many of whom were also physically present at the rally.The stage is set for the epic battles on April 2, 9 and 16. Amaechi, and the PDP up against erstwhile close pals, who are contesting under the banner of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
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