Frontline activist and social commentator, Rev. (Dr.) Sokari Soberekon has called on the River State Government to proscribe all socio-political/cultural groups promoting ethnic agenda not in the overall interest of Rivers people.
The Ijaw-born cleric who is widely acclaimed as ‘Senior Advocate of the Niger Delta (SAND)’, opined that in the place of such ethnic-based groups, government should recognize only pan-Rivers groups that would represent and speak for the development of Rivers State and her people.
Addressing journalists at the Christ Jesus Link Gospel Publishers Church, Marine Base, Port Harcourt shortly after celebrating Easter on Sunday, the activist who likened himself to the biblical Moses that always wanted the best for his people, berated such ethnic groups like Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ogbakor Ikwerre, Ogbakor-Etche, Ijaw National Congress (INC) among others for promoting ethnic jingoism for their selfish interests.
“The formation and continued existence of these ethnic groups in Rivers State has hampered and deterred the development of the State as they champion their respective ethnic interests rather than Rivers interest”, he lamented, adding: “Unless we unite Rivers people to build Rivers State, we will remain under-developed as a people and as a State due to conflicting interest and allegiances, while others enrich themselves with our resources”.
Sokari, who is acclaimed to have convinced former President Shehu Shagari to approve the Oil Derivation Fund at the Civic Center, Port Harcourt in 1981, after late Governor of Midwestern Region, Prof. Ambrose Alli had failed to achieve same through the courts, further advocated the formation of an association forum of past governors of Rivers State where issues concerning the development of the State would be discussed, approved and implemented for the good of all Rivers people and those that reside in the State.
“As a selfless Riversman, I suggested to the then military governor of Rivers State, Governor Anthony Ukpo to site higher institution in Bori and not Kalabari where I come from. Even before his assumption of office as first military Governor of the State, I met with His Royal Highness, Alfred Diette Spiff at 25 Queens Drive, Lagos to discuss the development of the entire Rivers State and not Ijawland”, he disclosed.
