Former House of Representatives member and African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Dr. Farah Dagogo, has declared that the political strength of the group known as the Rainbow Coalition will be tested by Rivers voters during the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a strategic stakeholder consultation meeting in the state, Dagogo accused members of the coalition of placing political interests above the development and welfare of Rivers people.
According to him, the coalition has failed to meet the expectations of residents and does not represent the true aspirations of the state.
“The truth is, it is the Rainbow Coalition against the entire Rivers State because the Rainbow Coalition people are bearers of the chain of bondage militating against the state,” he said.
The ADC governorship hopeful said he would lead a political movement aimed at providing a new direction for Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We will put their name, Rainbow Coalition, to the test in the 2027 general elections. Rivers people are tired of recycled failure. It is time to break this cycle and set our state on the path of real development,” Dagogo added.
He also dismissed claims that the Bodo-Bonny Road project should be credited to a single administration, arguing that the project was the result of contributions from several governments, traditional rulers and private sector stakeholders over many years.
According to Dagogo, the project dates back several decades and progressed through the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan before later advancing through a partnership involving the Nigeria LNG (NLNG).
He further alleged that political disagreements surrounded the project’s groundbreaking ceremony in 2017, claiming there were attempts to prevent the use of public school facilities for the event.
Dagogo said politics should never stand in the way of projects that benefit the people.
Outlining his vision for Rivers State, the ADC aspirant promised to prioritise education, healthcare, security, electricity, job creation and affordable housing if elected governor.
He also pledged to introduce the STEAMS model — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Sports — into the state’s education system.
In addition, Dagogo promised to dedicate five per cent of the state’s annual budget to youth entrepreneurship, skills development and job creation.
“Our youths are not the problem. They are the solution. Five per cent of our annual budget will go directly into youth entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and job creation,” he said.
He added that his administration would also focus on infrastructure development, agriculture and support for small businesses across Rivers State’s 23 local government areas.
