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A governorship aspirant in Rivers State, the Rev. Asoliye Douglas-West, has suspended his ambition in the 2023 general election.

Douglas-West disclosed his decision to quit the race during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos yesterday.

He, however, stated that he remains committed to the mission of changing the narrative and inventing a new future for Rivers State using the alternative platform offered by his pastoral engagement.

Recalling how he joined the governorship race some months ago, the cleric said: “I have been particularly humbled and persuaded by the feedback I got from a series of consultations and dialogue that took place after signposting that initiative. I was deeply affected by all who genuinely expressed confidence and identified with me in pursuit of this noble cause, as well as those who further went the extra mile to demonstrate a huge extent of solidarity out of their own volition, pledging commitment and willingness to make sacrifices by considering me worthy for potential acceptance.

“I must confess that I am deeply honoured and grateful to God Almighty for the inspiration and audacity against all odds, and for all the offering of counsel, goodwill, kind-heartedness and criticisms from people of like-minds and well-meaning Rivers and non-Rivers indigenes. But the opacity, intrigues, unrighteousness and indescribable complexities associated with governance are a mirage. By no means was I unaware of, nor take into cognizance of the cache of mines buried in the political landscape.

“Nevertheless, I remain fully focused and committed to the mission of supporting concrete efforts directed at sensitising and galvanising people of Ijaw-speaking descent in the eight local government areas of Rivers State namely, Asari-toru, Akuku-toru, Degema, Andoni, Bonny, Opobo/Nkoro and Ogu/Bolo on the urgency to reconstruct our politics and politicking for the purpose of capturing power as a viable tool for fostering development in the coastal area.”