Group Kicks Against Dikibo's Replacement
From Amby Uneze in Calabar
A group known as Riverine Youths Move-ment (RYM) based in Port Harcourt, River State has called on Governor Peter Odili of River State and the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) to nominate their kinsman and party stalwart, Chief Eugene Minimah, to replace late Chief A. K. Dikibo for the position of the party's National Vice Chairman, (South-south).
In a statement made available to THISDAY in Calabar, the group pointed out that the choice of the serving Special Adviser to the Governor on Lands, Chief G. U. Ake, who is from the governor's area was not acceptable to them.
The statement signed by the co-ordinator and Nation-al Publicity Secretary, Mr Jonathan Oruye and Mr. Dickson Dokubo respectively, decried the choice of Ake, whom they described as having not contributed enough to the development of the party in the state.
"We need a peaceful and easy-going person who also comes from the same area with the murdered chief who was killed in cold blood while serving his fatherland", the release said.
According to the group , the choice of Ake is not only insulting to the people of the Riverine area of the state, where the late Chief Dikibo comes from but smacks of disrespect to the people of the area and the late politician.
The statement said "this position has been occupied by the riverine people from Chief Harry Marshal to Chief A. K. Dikibo and since all were killed , the leadership of the party should assuage the people by giving the opportunity to appoint a replacement".
They pointed out that they have very capable hands and people who have contributed immensely to the growth of the party and the development of the state. Since our son was killed another of our son should replace him at least to compensate us for the irreparable lost," they added.
"Minimah is a better replacement and from his contributions to the party , he should be allowed to step into that position, because he is humble and peaceful too," the statement stressed.
THISDAY checks gathered that Odili had after the burial of late Dikibo instituted a committee to select a possible replacement for the late national vice chairman.
The committee, which has finished its assignment, THISDAY further gathered, chose Ake to replace Dikibo instead of choosing from the riverine area where late Dikibo came from.
This arrangement according to a reliable source, angered the people of the riverine area, especially the youths, who may be forced to stage a protest if eventually their grievances are not looked into dispassionately.
The group, however, appealed to the Governor and the party to review the decision of the committee by appointing a riverine person to replace late Dikibo. Minimah, the group said, comes from Opodo in the Riverine area of the state and has been a financier and PDP stalwart in the state since the inception of the party.
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