2027: Group Moves To Reposition Political Leadership In Rivers

Ahead of the 2027 general election, a pressure group, under the aegis of Rivers Liberation Movement (RLM), has emphasised the need to reposition the political landscape of Rivers State.

The appeal came at the group’s inaugural summit with the theme: “Leadership, Followership and Loyalty:

The Rivers Democratic Experience,” in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday.

The group emphasised that Rivers State, has continued to lag behind other states such as Lagos which was created the same time with it due to bad leadership.

In his welcome address, convener of RLM, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, pointed out that the summit is aimed at rebuilding the state through positioning good leaders at the helm of affairs in the next political dispensation.

“Today is not just another gathering. It is a defining moment. For the first time in our recent democratic journey, we have assembled not to complain, but to accept responsibility for rebuilding our own state.
“In this room are women. In this room are men of courage, of competence, and integrity that can shift the destiny of Rivers State. It is a call to rebuild.

“Rivers State is blessed with natural wealth, human talents, and strategic advantage, yet our people struggle, not because God withheld his gifts, but because leadership lost accountability and followership lost courage,” he said.

Nwebubasa mentioned that RLM was not borne out of anger, but out of purpose. “We believe peace is the seed and prosperity should be the harvest. We believe true wealth is collective. We believe the future of Rivers is not tomorrow, it is the work we begin today in this room. The era of spectatorship is over,” he said.

Nwibubasa tasked members of the group to stand firm in their resolve, saying, “A new Rivers state will not be handed to us. We must build it with our own hands.”

He emphasised that Rivers State must shift from politics of control to leadership, grounded in vision, compassion, and competence. “For too long, our followership has been shaped, one, by fear and dependency. A new Rivers state requires citizens who speak truth, and many of them are in this room. Citizens who demand accountability and choose principle over sentiment.

“Loyalty is not blind submission to individuals. Loyalty belongs to truth, justice, and collective well-being of rivers people.Any loyalty that destroys the future is betrayal. Any loyalty that silences citizens is oppression. Rivers deserve better. We need leaders who understand policy, respect institutions, and think beyond election circles. We need education, not theatrics. We need competence, not godfatherism. Rivers State must elevate vision over violence, and character over chaos.

“Leadership must not be reserved for those with money, instead of merit. Nomination must not belong only to the connected, but to the competent and prepared. Loyalty must not be purchased with poverty, but earned through service,” he stated.

Delivering a Lecture on the theme of the summit; ‘Leadership, Followership, and Loyalty: The Rivers Democratic Experience”, a professor of International Relations, and Head of Department, Political Science at the Ignatius Ajuru University, Prof Vincent Elemanya, decried that Rivers State has failed to make the desired progress despite its rich human and natural resources.

Elemanya, who was represented by Dr. Chibo John, added that for Rivers State to be at par with other states of the same creation time, it must work to avoid political and leadership disruptions and set a blue print for successive administrations to follow.

Earlier, chairman of the occasion and former federal lawmaker, Amaopusenibo Randolf Brown informed that the aim of the summit is to share ideas and knowledge, and chart the way forward for Rivers State.

Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of local government leaders of the body. The gathering drew participation from professionals across all walks of life, women, opinion leaders and youths.