Towards 2011 elections in Rivers:
Abuja group adopts new strategy
Following the shocking revelations of the undemocratic plans of the Abuja opposition group to unseat Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi 2011 general elections in the state, Midweek Telegraph was informed that the group met on the eve of new year, 31st Dec.2009 at a venue in Maitama area of Abuja, to strategize and map out a new set of plans to grab the power in the state.
According to our feeler, the meeting was purposely convened to improve on the earlier plans which hitherto were exposed by this publication.
The group in its deliberations, our correspondent gathered had, top on its agenda how to decentralize its strategy.
In the new plans, our correspondent was told that Association of Market Women, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and few local newspapers are to be used in executing the plans.
Midweek Telegraph reliably learnt that three working committees had been set up by the group to work out the modalities on how to reach out to the leadership of those bodies and engage them in not-to-fail dialogue and secure their compliance.
The new strategy which was tagged: “Decentralization strategy” is to work on these bodies and secure greater percentage of their followership and commitments against 2011 polls.
It is the new development, our source said that informed the upward adjustment of the budget for the project which was earlier reported to be five billion naira to ten billion naira.
A woman, whom our source confirmed to be a proprietress of a three star hotel in Obio/Akpor local government area of the state and one-time beneficiary of the immediate past administration, is the one given the responsibility to co-ordinate the association of market women in the state, while NURTW leadership had already been contacted, but their compliance was yet to be confirmed, said the source.
The three local newspapers in the state were said to have been wooed to play the propagandist's role at a fabulous price, but Midweek Telegraph's investigation revealed that the deal is yet to be sealed.
The recently disrupted NANS election has therefore given the group concerns over its plan to consolidate the arrangement with the body.
According to our source, there are three exotic positions in the NANS executive that are being sponsored by the group in anticipation for pay back period during 2011 general elections.
Meanwhile, the possibility of engaging the services of ex- militants by the group cannot be ruled out in the forth coming 2011 general election, because the issue was extensively discussed at the meeting, but no conclusion was reached, our source noted.
It could be recalled that Midweek Telegraph in its lead story in the Mid-week edition of December23rd, 2009 had reported that the Abuja- based opposition group was making dangerous moves to murder democracy in Rivers state.
