Nowhere represents the charged political atmosphere in Rivers State today more than the Rivers East Senatorial District.
It is the battle-ground in the sense that it is the major political base of the leading political figures from the state.
Erstwhile Governor of the state and present Minister of Transportat Rotimi Amaechi is from the district and so is his successor as Governor Nyesom Wike.
Amaechi is from Ikwere Local government area while Wike is from Obio Akpor Local government area all within the senatorial district.
Obio Akpor Local Government area is also, arguably the most politically restive in the state and it is from there that Wike built his political machine.
The truth may remain buried in political folklore, but it is alleged that one of the issues between Amaechi and Wike was the opposition by the former to the latter succeeding him as governor of the state on the basis of rotation of the offices.
Wike, however, persisted and after Amaechi’s forced exit from the PDP, Wike became the political leader of the PDP in the state.
It was as such a battle of sorts for Amaechi taking on a patriotic stance trying to convince his Ikwere kin not to vote for their own in the governorship election.
Besides the Ikwere factor, the influence of non-Ikweres in the region is expected to count heavily in the forthcoming election, especially in Rivers East.
Whereas many of them locked shops or went on holiday during the March/April 2015 general election, the assurance of non-partisan security arrangements would likely persuade many to hang around and possibly vote this Saturday.
-Vanguard
