By: Felix Ikpotor
Member representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Doctor Farah Dagogo has warned that Rivers State ‘is too big for any individual attempting to micro-manage its affairs and fortunes.’
He said there is a need to address the fundamental and disturbing occurrences where the voices and desires of the majority to choose are mortgaged by a few.
Dagogo who is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, stated this in Port Harcourt, when a socio-political group, One-On-One-Network, paid him a solidarity visit.
He challenged them to be determined in recreating history by returning power to the people where they can truly decide who represents them and govern over their affairs.
” Rivers State belongs to us all. We cannot continue to pander to the wishes of a few who have turned themselves to dictators with the desire to continue mortgaging our rights to choose and decide who will govern us. We have to recreate history, we have to liberate ourselves from this shackle by ensuring that people who have the good interest of the state and its people at heart are supported to govern.
” Let us end dictatorship, let us end it now. Democracy is competitive. I want a situation where we have contestants in the Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly (primary and general elections. Let us go and exercise our franchise so that the people will elect their persons.
He urged them to go and canvass for support from people in the various communities that make up the state.
“Go back home, talk to the people, this is Rivers State. What we are discussing is Rivers State. It is no longer going to be someone dictating to us, in your Senatorial District, or Ward or Unit that it is this person I want. We have gone passed that level.
” This is the 21st Century. I remembered that in 1885, officially, slavery ended in the world. Regrettably, at this point in time, I still see some people chaining themselves, dragging themselves to somebody, a slave master, to drag them along. Does it make sense? Just as the last person said, how can our parents worked for thirty something years and are yet to be paid (their gratuities). What are we doing in Rivers State?
” The battle we are facing now is light versus darkness. Can darkness defeat light? I believe we are there ( Government House). By God’s grace we are going to Government House together, all of us. No segregation, no sentiment. They promised (their people) that no (PDP) form will come out. But today the only form they said will come out is the one we have. So, automatically, we are potential candidate of the PDP. By God’s grace, and with the support of all of you, we are going to move beyond being the candidate of the PDP to face whoever that will contest against us from the other political parties. Our candidature has given them serious problems. I know we will emerge and we are going to win the general elections.
” Let me reiterate that I will not be seeking re-election to the House of Representatives. At the Green Chambers, with your support, and other human elements, we made major inroads with landmark quality bills, motions, human capacity developments and attraction of projects and we did all these in just over two years, we are not up to three years at the House of Representatives yet.
” With your support we will get it right. We will encourage and allow all our Local Government areas to develop by activating all necessary modalities, particularly large scale infrastructural developments. I believe I have what it takes to make our dear state better than it is now. When we want to talk of the best state in Nigeria, Rivers State should be the reference, it should be the parameter and that is what our government in Rivers State will aim to achieve,” he told the mammoth crowd.
Earlier, the Director General of the group, Hon. Lovegod Nweje said Farah Dagogo’s courage and boldness to throw his hat into the ring at a time it seems the courage of Rivers State politicians have disappeared strengthened the group’s decision to support him.
” Come rain, come shine you have our support. We are as well committed to this quest to change the narrative of our dear state. We will go to all nooks and crannies and canvas votes for you. We will key into the rebirth of a true Rivers State that would align with the lofty visions of our forefathers, ” the DG added.
