It was Senator Jonathan Zwingina, I understand he has passed away, who told me in an interview as a reporter that politics is an opium. He said no one tastes it and wants to give it up. In a dime, it is even more compelling given that politics is all about the distribution of state resources. Every time one sees predecessor- Successor tussle as correctly prevalent in Rivers State, one is one is reminded of Jonathan Zwingina’s comparism.
The tussle between successors and predecessors did not begin with Rivers state. But it is critical to note that such tussles come when the predecessors deployed his resources, political connections and structure to bring the successors to power. Such politician still wants to pull the strings and control the governmental he instituted. For them politics is an investment which is bond to yield returns. The returns come by way of still controlling state resources, nominating contractors, appointees and generally being in the commanding heights from the background. Way back at the inception of the current democratic dispensation the matter came up in Enugu state where former Governor of old Anambra state, chief Jim Nwobodo deployed his influence to help Chimoroke Nnnamani to clinch the governorship of the state. Nwobodo tried to call the shots but Nnamani stood his ground and asserted himself as the governor of Enugu state. The two gladiators battled for control of the state until Nnamani took control and bestrode the political space like a colossus.
In Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who was governor at that time used his political capital to put his successor in office. Former Governor Theodore Orji also stood head-to-head with his Predecessor. He applied some tact given that he waited one year before he began to put his foot down on his office. The matter dragged until Theodore exited office and went to the Senate to meet his former boss. Both men served in the Senate to represent various zones of the state. I do not know if they have consigned their political opposition to the past.
These are several examples in our clime. The latest is springing up in Rivers state where current Minister of Federal Capital Territory wants to reap from deploying his political capital to install Governor Sim Fubara into office. The former governor seems to want to hold sway in the political life of the state. He was strategic in his move, given that he, allegedly, sponsored more than ninety percent of the state House of Assembly members into office. He allegedly bought nomination forms for them and funded their election campaigns. That was strategic given that they became loyal to him and, thus stood by him.
When push came to shove, and the governor, now suspended by the President wanted to stand his ground, the Assembly men stood by their sponsor. The governor could not sway them. They were ready and willing to protect the FCT Minister’s interest. When the battle got to a head, the governor told all appointees into his cabinet to make a decision to remain with him or back out. Some of them backed out to remain with the FCT Minister. The political crisis in the state had become obvious. Both parties would not back down.
President Ahmed Tinubu called for a meeting between the warring parties and from what he said in the speech he read, when he declared state of emergency in the state two days, Both parties ignored him. They held on to their swords, refusing to shield them.
‘’I have made personal interventions between the contending parties but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought and patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best intention at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail … the lattest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday (Monday) and today (Tuesday), there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the Governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course, given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines …‘’
On account of the foregoing and ‘many more’ as President Tinubu put it, he invoked the power given to him by Section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to declare a state of emergency in the State.
By that declaration, the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the state House of Assembly have been suspended for an initial period of six months. Vice-Admiral Ibokette Ibas(Rtd) will step in as administrator.
Matters have finally come to a head. In a previous comment on this matter, I had noted that president Ahmed Bola Tinubu, given his political antecedents in Lagos, where he has a firm hold on the political life of that state, is not in a good moral standing to mediate on the matter. His Minister of the Federal Capital Territory seeks to replicate what the president has done in Lagos. It would, therefore, be difficult for him to intervene dispassionately. Wike wants to be the Tinubu of Rivers State and the President would be unfair to seek to stop him.
On the surface the current situation is titled against the suspended governor, given that Minister of FCT would still be in office and have more power to wield influence over the state political actors. No where in the speech was he mentioned even in the glaring evidence that the legislators are loyal to him. He beats the drum for them, the same drum he wants the governor to dance to.
But his appointment is a presidential reward for his role in the election that brought the President into office. Those in the know are aware that Wike’s intervention largely made it possible for Tinubu to emerge President. Mr Peter Obi was reportedly sailing home to victory in Rivers State before Governor Nyesom Wike, as he then was, intervened and used his machinery, at the last minute, to swing victory to the President. In the Circumstances, it is doubtful that the president would turn his back on his utilitarian minister in times like these.
But beyond the foregoing, it is critical that the President protects the nation’s cash cow, the Oil wells from where Nigeria still makes a substantial revenue. He cannot sit back and watch oil wells Vandalized. It is also also a political battle for the president, given that the positioning for the next election has started. He has to make the best use of his position to secure his future.
Rivers State is important in the political calculation of the presidency. Wike seem to be the gateway to that state. It is becoming glaring that he would eventually move to the ruling party, in spite of his insistence that he remain in the people’s Democratic Party.
Some lawyers have said the constitution did not empower the president to remove a sitting Governor from office. Perhaps Legal battles are in the making. But for Wike to remain in office while Fubara is suspended is an indication that the president seems to have taken sides on this matter;
The appointed sole Administrator must not pander to any sentiments, although he was nominated by the President. If the FCT minister is encouraged to be the colossus bestriding the politics of Rivers State, it would not make for smooth operation of democracy because godfathers rather than the people, would chose leaders, a situation that further diminishes the eroding confidence in elections in our clime.