COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE INTER PARTY ADVISORY COUNCIL (IPAC), RIVERS STATE CHAPTER ON THE 8TH of MARCH 2023
POWER ROTATION AS THE PANACEA FOR EQUITY, BALANCE, JUSTICE & FAIRNESS
1. Further to our plea to the voting electorate of Rivers State, regarding the Presidential and National Assembly polls that held on the 25th of February 2023, and the incredibly overwhelming and surgent response by citizens of the state in exercising their franchise by backing a southern mandate, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Rivers State branch, thanks and applauds the citizens of the state for their resilience and courage.
2. The adherence by the electorate to the ‘non-partisan’ and ‘nonpolitical’ plea of this advisory council to support the mandate of a southern candidate in the polls, showed that the need for Justice, Fairness, Equity and Balance, remain primary ingredients for the Social and National cohesion of our dear Nation Nigeria, and a paramount desire resident in the fore of the minds of our citizens.
3. We thank the citizens of the State for their steadfastness. We applaud the citizens of the State for their courage. We are grateful for the commitment to their convictions as displayed in the polls. All this despite the negativity of mutilated and false information being spread against truth and facts, and in the face of headwinds of intimidation and manipulation by individuals from certain quarters who hold old beliefs that the country remains theirs alone.
4. Rivers Citizens clearly displayed in the National polls that the ‘Rivers of Blood’ narrative as promoted by these old Lords and their hirelings, remain an absolute figment of their collectively bilious and diminishing imagination and will never be the position or the reality of any, and every real Rivers citizen.
5. River’s citizens have proven without doubt that Rivers state remains the ‘Rivers of Tranquility’, the ‘Rivers of Serenity’, and the ‘Rivers of Sanguinity’. Their actions make us proud to be citizens of the state.
6. However, the work is not complete. The war is not yet won. The battle of the mount rages on, albeit surreptitiously.
7. Again, we call on citizens of the state to heed this clarion call to electoral arms, and to be present and involved fully in the Gubernatorial and State Assembly polls on the 11th of March 2023.
8. Armed with your PVC’s, and your values of Integrity towards seeking Equity, Fairness, Justice and Balance, we call on citizens to support the mandate of rotation to the South East Senatorial district of the state by electing a Riverine Candidate from the South East District of the state as Governor.
9. It must be emphasized that through the history of this great and outstanding State, the Rivers West district has produced the Governor once in Sir. (Dr.) Peter Odili. The Rivers East District has produced the Governor twice (Sir. Rotimi Amaechi, and Barr. Nyesom Wike CON, GSSRS), while the district of Rivers South East has NEVER had this opportunity. This inequitable unfairness is not justifiable and creates a negative imbalance in our sociopolitical space.
10. The opportunity presents itself on the 11th of March 2023 to institute a sustainable narrative of Fairness, Balance and Equity, by inclining towards a region of the state that has never in the state’s history, produced an individual for the top office of the state. This region is the South East Senatorial District.
Fortuitously, a candidate of Riverine stock from the South East Senatorial district in the person of Sir. Siminialayi Fubara KSC, is in the race.
11. As noble citizens of the state, we must be our brother’s keeper. We must promote and protect that sense of inclusion in the affairs of the state. Never must we be clouded by the false and feeble premise that one region is superior to another. That one brother is more entitled than another. That the strength in one area, somehow diminishes the authenticity of another area.
12. A Rivers citizen from the Riverine area, and from the Rivers South East district – who has their developmental roots in the state, and one who is fundamentally connected to their people in the Riverine area of the South East Senatorial district is what is Fair, Equitable and Just at this juncture of our state’s history, because it ensures a much needed Balance in the political and social structure of our dear state. Supporting the candidacy of Sir. Siminialayi Fubara KSC for Governor of our dear State resonates with the values of Equity, Fairness, Justice and Balance.
13. Therefore, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC)- Rivers State branch, urges ALL citizens of the state to come out once again en mass, in their overwhelming numbers, and armed with their PVC’s and their convictions of Fairness and Equity, to vote a Riverine Candidate from the South East Senatorial district of the State in the proficient person of Sir. Siminialayi Fubara KSC in the State electoral polls on the 11th of March 2023.
14. The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC)- Rivers State Chapter, one again strongly urges ALL citizens and supporters of Equity, Fairness, Justice and Balance to come out in their numbers to vote a Riverine candidate with proper Riverine roots, from the Riverine area of the State in the person of Sir.
Siminialayi Fubara KSC from the South East of Rivers state on Saturday the 11th of March in a decorous, safe, and secure manner.
15. This effort that must only be attained through the ballot in a fair, free, decorous, and credible process will maintain and strengthen the fact that Rivers State is a state of Peace and Justice, and not ‘Rivers of Blood’ as postulated by purveyors of negativity and rancor.
16. Finally, it is again pertinent to note that even though we represent various political vehicles, our position is NOT in any way political, but a glaring reflection of the socio human considerations of our dear State and an incurable need for sustainable Equity and Balance.
Long Live IPAC!
Long Live Rivers State!!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Signed:
Atata kenneth Dagogo Whyte
Kendrick Azeez Christian
Nwigbarato Dumbari
Leader S. Sampson
Amb. Desmond Akawor
Chukwunenye N. Kocha
Richard Harry Benibo
Patrick Dike John Woke
Omangima Harry
Nwanze Ogbogu Michael
