Rivers Conscience Initiative Holds “Open Forum” With the Charge of Voting the Right Candidates In 2023

The Rivers Conscience Initiative (RCI) had organized her maiden edition of “Open Forum” on Thursday August 18, 2022 at Mina Hotels in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers Conscience Initiative, RCI as part of sensitize members of the public on our vision and objective and especially getting Rivers State back on track in governance. The Rives Conscience Initiative comprising dedicated indigenes from various back grounds and professions, convoked to objectively evaluate the polity and speak up against retrogression wherever they manifest.
We have picked up the gauntlet, to begin the process of restoring our dear state to the dreams of our founding fathers. We want politics in Rivers State to be elevated to the noble mission of service.
The Spokesperson of the group Dagogo Ezekiel Hart said “We find it easy, but because “realizing in Rivers dream” is still possible. It is time to plan for posterity and to secure our people from the caprices of tyrants, and the jokes of perpetual poverty. We are convinced that if put to work, democracy functioning through the three arms of government, the executive, legislature and the judiciary would enable the state tap from its best minds, communicate a common purpose, challenge outdated paradigms and define templates for growth. We acknowledge that it is the business of democracy to ask questions and it is the duty of government to provide the answers.
In RCI we believe democracy is principally about protecting society from ambush by civil tyrants. Thus, where democracy’s purpose is stifled by concealment and gimmickry, it is clear to see how society’s advancement can be halted.
Today, Rivers State faces a most disturbing situation one unlike any other, since the Nigerian Civil War.
Sadly, over 90% of enterprises owned and managed by Rivers State government in the 70s and 80s are now moribund, with the attendant socio-economic implication of high youth unemployment, insecurity and economic stagnation.
The Rivers culture of political boldness, egalitarianism, and fair mindedness pales and shrinks in the face of the new era of impunity. A dark culture of silence and cowering before transient power bestrides our dear state, the same state that produced the likes of Chief P G. Warmate, Chief Dappa Biriye, Chief Melford Okilo, Chief Obi Wali, Chief Godfrey Kio Jaja Amachree, Bishop E. T. Dimeari, Chief Emmanuel Aguma, Chief Birabi, Chief Bekimbo Graham-Douglas, Chief Opuoguaya and Kenule Saro Wiwa.
Under this new political culture, the deification of political party leadership has been elevated to an art form, where sycophantic adulation emerged as a new source of livelihood for political jobbers and misguided youths and those mandated to speak for us in the State House of Assembly have abandoned their assigned responsibility.
“We will no longer stand back or be silent.” Dagogo Ezekiel-Hart stressed.