From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Former Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) States Assembly Forum (ASAF), Fubara Dagogo, has urged the people of Rivers State to present former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mike Mbama Okiro, as its consensus candidate for the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Recall that the Imo Obi and general assembly of the body had declared that it was the turn of Rivers State to produce the next Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General when the turn of Imo State ends on January 10, 2025.
Dagogo, in a statement yesterday, described the former IGP as a candidate who would deliver a lot of dividends to both the people of Rivers State and Ndigbo in general when given the opportunity to lead the Ndigbo apex socio-political body.
He noted that Ohanaeze Ndigbo “stands to gain a lot with Okiro’s presidency,” stressing that his wealth of experience and vast knowledge of the operations of such a body would be an added advantage to the stabilization and further integration of Ndigbo in the Nigerian system.
The ASAF Director-General further explained that the people of Rivers State would, especially at this present time, require a personality like the former IGP to reach out to its other neighbours in the South East and South South regions for total co-existence and a relationship that could help reduce the current political tension in the state.
“I think the cap fits Sir Mike Okiro so well. The former IGP is highly needed, especially at this stage where Rivers State and the entire Ndigbo need lasting peace.”
“Okiro is a man of the people, who has never aligned himself with any of the political divides in the country. Having served the country to the peak of his career as a gentleman police officer, it’s my conviction that he would be a much-needed asset to Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”
“He has garnered a lot of experience in both security, international relations, as well as other needed virtues that would be required to lead Ohanaeze Ndigbo to the next required level.”
“I, therefore, urge the government and people of Rivers State, as well as Ndigbo in general, not to miss the opportunity of calling out Chief Mike Mbama Okiro to serve them at this critical stage.”
“Ohanaeze needs a man of service and character, who has the qualities and charisma to move the entire Ndigbo forward, irrespective of the state or zone, and I believe that the group has a quality in Mike Okiro to actualise these, which it must not miss,” he said.