The Rivers crisis has taken another dimension as members of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), a frontline political pressure group loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in River State has dumped the movement.
To make matters worse, the former 12 local government coordinators of the group have equally declared their support for the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, an arch-political enemy of Wike.
Wike, who is the immediate past governor of the state, and his successor, Fubara, have been at war over the control of the political structure in the state.
According to reports, the governor was said to have recently begun to set up his political pressure group known as “The Simplified Movement” across the 23 local government areas in the state in a bid to cut down the influence of Wike.
As a result of the mass exodus, GDI President-General, Hon. Bright Amaewhule, last week approved the appointment of an acting State chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary to oversee the Local Government Coordinators in the state.
Those appointed include Hon. Ikpechi Oriji as the Acting Chairman of the Forum as well as the members representing Abua/Odual Constituency and Degema Constituency, Hon. John Dominic Iderima and Disciple Peter Abbey as the Deputy Chairman and Secretary respectively.
The appointment was announced the same day that the 12 former local government coordinators led by their former chairman and caretaker committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, Hon. Collins Onunwor visited Fubara at Government House, Port Harcourt, where they pledged their loyalty to him.
It was also stated that the duo represented coordinators from Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt City, Opobo/Nkoro, Gokana, Bonny, Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, Asari-Toru, and Akuku-Toru local government areas.
At the courtesy visit to the governor, Onunwor said they decided to resign their leadership positions in GDI to join the Simplified Movement in the interest of Rivers people.
He explained further that the main objective of GDI was to protect, defend and promote the interest of Rivers State and its people, stressing that having given their votes and support to Fubara to win the election and as affirmed by the Supreme Court, GDI has no other option than to support the governor to succeed.
He equally pledged the determination and dedication of the former GDI coordinators to the success of the policies and programmes of the present administration.
In his statement, Onunwor said: “We want the public, Rivers people and all Nigerians to know that GDI is the group founded by the former governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike. That group brought him to power in 2015 and supported his ambition in 2019. That group is his strength.
“But today, we and our supporters have decided we are no longer members of GDI. The reason is simple: we want to be with Rivers people. Rivers’ interest is paramount.
“Recall that In 2012, GDI’s interest was to protect, defend and promote our brother-in-law, President Goodluck Jonathan, because of our mother and sister, Dame Patience Jonathan; and it yielded good dividends to the state.
“Through that struggle, our brother, Chief Nyesom Wike, became governor in 2015; and in 2019, when Abuja politicians said he will not return for a second tenure, we all rallied around him and defended our votes, and he served for eight years.
“Today, Rivers’ interest is to protect our votes that brought in Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Executive Governor of Rivers State in the most credible, fair and violence-free election.
“We have come to join millions of Rivers women, youths, elders, and other well-meaning people who insist that we must protect our votes to sustain democracy.
“Our concern is that we voted for PDP and Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and we must protect that mandate with all we have.“
