Dokubo-Asari, Amaechi… heavyweights who would decide voting pattern in Rivers

By Monday morning at the latest, the next president of the most populous black nation on earth would have been decided. Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured Nigerians that their anxious wait would be over “within 48 hours”. 

Even though none of the major contenders of perhaps the most keenly contested election in the history of the country hails from Rivers, the state dominated the spotlight while the campaign lasted.

Any need to say that whoever emerges at the end of the day would have had the support of Rivers, which gave President Goodluck Jonathan the highest votes in 2011. There are so many influential personalities in the state but we have been able to list a few who would determine the pattern of voting on Saturday.

ROTIMI AMAECHI

The lion of the Niger-Delta, as some of his supporters refer to him, Amaechi, the incumbent governor and director-general of the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is a thoroughbred politician.

The indigene of Ubima in Ikwerre local government, goes into record as one of the strongest politicians in the oil-rich state, having been speaker for eight years and would be rounding off his second term in May. Amaechi has a strong support base, even though some people are against his decision to support Muhammadu Buhari rather than a son of the soil.

PATIENCE JONATHAN

In the history of Nigeria, no first lady has been actively involved in politics like Mama Peace, as she is fondly called by her admirers. She toured the entire country, canvassing votes for the ruling party.

A strong mobiliser, sources in the know say she was one of the persons who convinced her husband (who ordinarily would have remained an academic) to go into politics and she has stood solidly by him from 1999 when he was in the Bayelsa state government house till now when he is unwilling to vacate the presidential villa till 2019. The indigene of Okrika in Okrika local government area is a grassroots mobiliser and wields a strong influence not only in her community but across the state.

PETER ODILI

The indigene of Ndoni in Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government (ONELDA) has come a long way in the state, having served as deputy to Rufus Ada George, who was elected as governor of the state in 1992, before the military regime of Sani Abacha put an end to the third republic in 1993 to send Odili out of the Rivers state government house.

However, six years after that sad experience, Odili took over the saddle of the state and presided over its affairs till 2007. Till date, the medical doctor is a force to reckon with in the state.

 NYESOM WIKE

Of the seven ministers who resigned from the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan to pursue gubernatorial ambitions, Wike was the only one who secured the ticket of the PDP. A strong politician, he was once chairman of Obi Akpor local government area and also the chief of staff to Amaechi.

An ally of the first lady, Wike once described Patience as his “Jesus Christ on earth”. There is belief in some quarters that his closeness to the first lady earned him the ticket. However, being a contestant, Wike would do all within his power to ensure that his party emerges victorious on Saturday.

A political analyst conversant with the Rivers state terrain said a PDP victory in the election would brighten Wike’s chances, as there would be mass defection to the PDP were that to happen.

DAKUKU PETERSIDE

The native of Opobo in Opobo Nkoro local government area is not a greenhorn in the politics of Rivers. Having served as a commissioner in the ministry of works before becoming a lawmaker in the lower chamber of the national of assembly, the APC gubernatorial candidate is a key figure.

Like his major challenger, Peterside also has to work hard for his party because if APC wins, he would be coasting to victory, as the political pundit said. Besides, he is also very popular among the people. Some residents of Port Harcourt who said they would vote for Jonathan, disclosed that Peterside has their vote on April 11. He is said to have a robust relationship with Kenneth Minnimah, the chief of army staff.

UCHE SECONDUS

The deputy national chairman of the largest party in Africa cannot be considered a paperweight. A native of Andoni local government, a riverine community in Rivers, Secondus has served as a lawmaker both at state and federal levels.

He would do all within his power to deliver for not only his Ijaw kinsman but his party. Secondus is said to also be very popular in the state and beyond.

CELESTINE OMEHIA

Omehia endeared himself to the people of Rivers during his short stint as governor. Though he only spent six months in office, Godson Elonu, a commercial transporter in Port Harcourt, believes he is the best governor that the state has ever produced.

“As short as his tenure was, he achieved a lot, among which are the constructions of the Eleme fly-over bridge, Eliozu fly over bridge and the Agip fly over bridge. He is well-loved in this state.”

The verdict of the supreme court that Amaechi should be sworn in because he won the ticket of the PDP primary election but was replaced by Omehia led to the end of Omehia’s tenure.

Saturday’s election would present another opportunity for Omehia, also a native of Ikwerre, the dominant tribe in the state (Ikwerre has four out of the 23 local governments in Rivers and nearly half of the entire voting population), to slug it out with Amaechi.

MUJAHEED DOKUBO-ASARI

The only public knowledge of his involvement in politics was years back when he registered as a member of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and announced shortly after that he was defecting to the PDP but that does not mean the ex-militant should be disregarded in the political calculation of the state, which presently has former and serving senators as well the likes of Austin Opara and Chibudom Nwuche, who have respectively been deputy speakers at the house of representatives.

The prince of  Amarchree family in Buguma, Calabari kingdom, is even more popular than some politicians.

Dokubo has threatened fire and brimstone if Jonathan does not win the election and the man who led a rebellious force against the federal government at a time is not to be shoved aside at all.