Posted by thephctelegraph on
Signs that Senator I.S. Martyns-Yellowe who has made a name sponsoring several bills that are helping the economic reforms....
Signs that Senator I.S. Martyns-Yellowe who has made a name sponsoring several bills that are helping the economic reforms introduced by President Olusegun Obasanjo to succeed might be in for a strong race have emerged.
Martyns-Yellowe has had a fruitful stay in the Senate, emerging twice as the best Senator in Nigeria as a result of his contributions and resourcefulness on the floor of the upper house.
Although the senator is yet to formally declare, imposing billboards carrying his image have appeared at strategic points within the Port Harcourt metropolis, with the inscription, which simply says the hat fits us.
Somehow, the Bakana-born senator has succeeded in erecting a team that is championing his campaign and Government House sources hint he has briefed the Governor, Dr Peter Odili who is the leader of the party in Rivers State about his intention.
Apart from being a good friend of the president, Martyns-Yellowe who has not hidden is ambition to govern Rivers State believes his mission is to extend the frontiers of development begun by previous governors in the State.
To achieve his ambition, the senator who from every indication is a completely detribalized person has been consulting widely and reaching out to stakeholders in the Rivers project.
Said a close associate of Martyns-Yellowe, "The senator as you know is a stickler for excellence, and I can tell you from what I have seen, he has very good plans for the Rivers people whom he wants to lead."
Among many who have been his patients, the feeling is that medicare would get an added boost should he emerge governor.
In the Kalabari areas where he hails from, the distinguished senator has Chiefr Paworiso Samuel-Horsfall and possibly Chief David Briggs to overrun before coming to the centre for the primaries that would take place soon.
Among the Kalabaris, there are voices that are suggesting all other aspirants seeking the governorship should step aside and allow Martyns-Yellowe to emerge from the area unchallenged.
The thinking is that he is better qualified, better exposed and better connected to the who-is-who in Nigeria.
All said, the senator's greatest challenge for the governorship would come from Speaker Rotimi Amaechi and Sir Austin Opara, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.