A Rivers State political chieftain, Sir Korka Waadah, has warned that Nigeria is approaching a critical juncture, expressing concern that worsening economic hardship and political uncertainty could threaten the country’s stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Waadah, Executive Director, Compassionate Heart Foundation, Canada, who spoke on the state of the nation, said the economic policies of the Federal Government had placed severe pressure on Nigerians, with many struggling to meet basic needs.
He said, “We are at the most critical juncture of our history as a country. Uncertainty is as high as ever.
“The fortunes of our country are fast eroding, and if nothing is done to stop the bleeding, after 2027, we may not have a country called Nigeria.
“The economic policies of the Tinubu administration have strangled life from all Nigerians. Folks are barely surviving the hardship.
“In fact, it is safe to say that a huge majority of Nigerians are living on life support. It is so pathetic that the few who even earn a salary find it difficult to have two meals a day. The level of unemployment is higher than it has ever been.”
The chieftain, however, said the situation was particularly difficult in Rivers State, where he attributed part of the state’s political and socioeconomic challenges to what he described as the continuing political “overlordship” of former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
According to him, “Rivers people are the most hit as they haven’t felt the way they did 12 years ago during the Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi’s days in office as governor.”
“The state has been captured by one man who sees self as a deity and positions himself as God over the state. He speaks and handles himself as one who owns the state and all its resources.”
Waadah also expressed concern over the political permutations ahead of the 2027 Rivers governorship election, particularly the emergence of candidates from same ethnic bloc on the platforms of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“The most painful of it all was trying to blindfold Rivers people by bringing forth two Ikwerre sons as flag bearers for the APC and PDP in the state,” he said.
He alleged that the political calculations surrounding the 2027 election could have implications beyond the immediate contest.
“Anyone who has studied Wike’s antecedents would agree with me that his reason for bringing these candidates is not for either of them to win the election and be sworn in as governor.
“Far be it from that. It’s not for them to win the election. He wants them to fail, knowing they can’t stand against the ADC governorship candidate, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson, who would win, so Wike could then project his favour preferred Ikwerre political son for governor in 2031,” he alleges.
He referenced Pidomson as a formidable candidate with expected bloc support from Ogoni communities, saying the political dynamics in Rivers required closer attention ahead of 2027.
The chieftain urged Nigerians and Rivers people to remain vigilant, saying the country needed urgent measures to address economic hardship and political uncertainty.
His concerns, he said, were ultimately about the future of Nigeria and the need to prevent current challenges from deepening after the 2027 elections.