Soni Daniel, Port Harcourt

Other things being equal, the current Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Lands, Mr. Godspower Ake, is to take over the position of the national vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party for the South-South.

The position became vacant following the assassination of the occupant, Chief Aminasoari Kala Dikibo on February 6, 2004 by unknown gunmen on his way to Asaba for a political meeting.

Despite a spirited attempt by the government to find the killers of Dikibo, the identities of the murderers are yet to be unraveled and the remains of the late politician were interred in his country home in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State on May 22, 2004.

Our correspondent gathered that Ake, a close ally of Odili for many years, had already been nominated by the state chapter of the PDP and his name forwarded to the party hierarchy in Abuja for ratification.

A Government House source confirmed to our correspondent on Monday that the choice of Ake was based on his commitment and dedication to the party and the state.

In spite of his nomination by the state chapter, Ake is expected to be elected at a congress of the south-South zone slated for Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital in due course.

By this appointment, Ake becomes the third political leader from the state to occupy the position in the ruling PDP.

The late Marshall Sokary Harry was the first to occupy the position from May 1999 to March 29, 2002, when he defected from the PDP to the ANPP.

He was killed by yet-to- be- identified gunmen in his residence in Abuja on March5, 2003.

Dikibo, who took over from Harry was later killed in a similar manner by unknown gunmen in near Asaba.

The chief Press Secretary to the rivers state Governor Mr. Emmanuel Okah confirmed the nomination of Ake in a telephone chat with our correspondent on Monday.