The Senator-designate for Rivers East Senatorial District, Chief Andrew Uchendu, has declared that during the governorship race in 2019, power must shift to another ethnic group in the multi-ethnic state.
Apparently referring to Governor Nyesom Wike, an Ikwerre, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who took over in 2015 from another Ikwerre, Rotimi Amaechi, who was governor between 2007 and 2015, and is still seeking re-election, he said that Rivers belongs to “all of us,” and not one ethnic group.
Uchendu, also an Ikwerre from Mgbuitanwo in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers, stated these yesterday at the Port Harcourt International Airport, while addressing the tumultuous crowd of supporters from his senatorial district, who came to welcome him on arrival from Abuja, amid singing, drumming and dancing, after Thursday’s victory at the Court of Appeal in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At the airport to welcome Uchendu, a three-time member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2015, then representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency of Rivers State, were a former Rivers Commissioner for Agriculture, Emma Chindah and the state’s Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Emeka Beke.
In his speech Uchendu said: “I want to thank God Almighty for giving us victory. I also want to thank all of you for being here (airport). I pray God to continue to keep our leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation Minister).
“I dedicate my victory, our victory, to the service of Rivers State. I will represent the alternative voice. My voice will be for that of peace, for the voiceless, for the defenceless, for the homeless and for the neglected.