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Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Rivers State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, has credited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, with transforming Rivers State from what was once notorious for election-related violence into a united political force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Rainbow Coalition Luncheon for 2027 political candidates in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Akawor described the emergence of the Rainbow Coalition as a product of deliberate “political engineering” that has fostered peace and cooperation among previously rival political groups.
According to him, Rivers State was once plagued by intense political tension, violence and fear during election periods, earning the infamous tag of “Rivers of Blood.”
“What has happened today is what I call political engineering. There was a time Rivers State was known as ‘Rivers of Blood’ because elections and even party primaries were characterised by fear, violence and uncertainty. People would leave the state because they were afraid for their lives,” Akawor said.
He, however, noted that the situation has changed dramatically with the formation of the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance bringing together different parties and stakeholders under one platform.
Akawor attributed the development to the leadership and political influence of Wike, whom he said championed a broad-based coalition aimed at promoting unity, stability and development in the state.
“Today, people from different political backgrounds are sitting together, discussing the future of Rivers State and working towards a common goal. That is a major achievement and a clear departure from the politics of division and violence,” he stated.
The former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea expressed confidence that the atmosphere of cooperation among political actors would pave the way for peaceful and credible elections in the state.
“Never again should Rivers State be associated with violence. What we are building is a Rivers of Peace. We want a state where politics is about development, not conflict,” he added.
Akawor also praised Wike for aligning closely with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and promoting the Renewed Hope Agenda in Rivers State.
He said the Renewed Hope Ambassadors had intensified grassroots mobilisation across the state to educate residents on the programmes and achievements of the Tinubu administration.
According to him, the group has already inaugurated coordinators in all the 319 wards across Rivers State to strengthen support for the President’s policies and programmes.
“We have established structures across the state and empowered our coordinators to take the message of Renewed Hope to every community. Our goal is to ensure that people understand what the government is doing and how they stand to benefit,” he said.
Akawor further commended President Tinubu for appointing Wike as FCT Minister, arguing that the appointment has created opportunities for Rivers people and strengthened the state’s influence at the national level.
He also pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects being executed by the Federal Government and agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as evidence of the benefits accruing to Rivers State under the current administration.
The Rainbow Coalition luncheon attracted political leaders, party stakeholders, candidates and supporters from across Rivers State as preparations gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
