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I have in the management of this space tried to keep away from topics I consider “small” issues even though in development those small things do matter a lot. Out of deliberate decision I have kept attention to what I would term “global” matters by which I mean focus on the super structure.
I have not given attention to personalities yet this is a crucial factor in the development of every society not just the nation. The nature or what political science describes as “class character” of the ruling group to a very high extent determines the face and pace of development in a place. If the class character is visionary and progressive it will show.
On the contrary,if what is prevalent is hedonistic, wicked, short-sighted and kleptomaniac,it will produce after that order. I don’t have any conclusion to make in this regard, those who desire conclusions or deductions can look at the political players, place them within different eras, see where the country is development wise and the convulsions then reach their own conclusions. I point I wanted to make is to say why I have not given any attention to political players and activities in our States. There are bigger matters of vision and pathways to national development. Today we are changing course and this is because it is becoming increasingly clear we must begin to deal with the issues we hitherto considered of lesser significance.
Our political players have caused us great harm. Our constitution recognizes three tiers of government but every attention has been on the federal government leaving out the states and seven hundred and seventy four local governments across the country. They receive huge allocations.
I am beginning a refocus of attention to those units with this outing with Rivers State for many reasons. My local government area Ukwa West LGA in Abia state shares boundary with Rivers State infact those in the bid to hurt the Igbo who after the civil chose to bastardize the inherited national political administrative architecture took a part of my area,Obigbo which they renamed Oyigbo and added to Rivers State,a predominantly Ijaw group. This has kept the area in our hearts.
More than this the state is beautiful, Portharcourt the state capital has from colonial times been a melting point. It was once called “Garden City”. I don’t know if it goes by this appellation today. It is a good spot for those who want to want and “chop” life. It offers economic opportunities and it is socially alive. The owners are very hospitable. I have enjoyed their warmth. So naturally I am a bond with the area. Now you my reader understand. More than that it in everyone’s interest to ensure every part of this great country stay very peaceful.
The thing about the state is it has been developing very well but intermittently the peace is broken. The people have no hands in this but the leaders and bad politics. At a time Governor Chibuike Amaechi squared up dangerously against wife of the country’s president at the time Goodluck Jonathan who hailed from Bayelsa state but married to a Rivers State indigene, naturally the sphere of influence of the President would include Rivers State.
So many can’t even up till now say what the bone of contention was but what was clear was evidence of a raging war. To be frank it caused quite a devastation. Gangs emerged and negative things that weren’t happening before began to take place. Killing become an issue. Residents lived or stayed on, on edge. Governor Nyesom Wike by the assistance of the Jonathan mounted the seat of Governor the tension didn’t cease. He told advantage of the vacuum to establish himself as the Lord of the Manor. Wike still tells us the state is in his pocket.
It could be true. He betrots the land like an emperor and his fear in the sphere appear the beginning of wisdom. We in the country claim to run a democracy but each passing day evidences throw up themselves proving that what we run is far different from democracy.
Wike who is currently the Minister of the federal capital territory,an office that has all the trappings of a state Governor if not more has said severely he put all political office holders to power. From his speeches and what the citizens observe it would seem the people who are the real sovereignty have little or no role in the manner public office holders emerge.
He is not the Governor of the state but he insists those he put into power but take a recourse to him before they can set any foot forward. He says Simi Fubara whose last office was the Account General of the state was an “unknown” entity before he picked him and pushed through to be governor so he has to be beholden to him in the interest and survival of the “structure”.
Power has its lock points when you open things flow and when you lock the flow ceases. Not too many political players know this secret so they just gravitate, having to pay by being chaperoned to run other people’s agenda. Clever ones know and they keep to holding or having their hands on the keys.
Wike is one them. In his case he took all the keys and kept to himself. He still holds them insisting anyone who will take would have to kill him first. In plain language he is holding tight to all members of the state house of Assembly. One man. This speaks to the kind of democracy in operation in the country. The local government chairman who were elected recently weren’t nominated by the state Governor but by Wike’s group. These officials don’t know if they have a state Governor.
Wike last week told whoever cares to listen that no political party exists in the state what they have is a coalition who already have agreed to vote for the reelection of the incumbent president Bola Tinubu. It appears like the state in the image of one man. Even dictatorship has an oligarchy. The chemistry of the Rivers system is quite different. Muffled, confusing and soffocating. This is where the trouble is.
Fubara was or he still a member of the group hear sounds and perhaps sees things but from the look of things it doesn’t seem he comprehends what the whole sounds and objects around him are about. His senses can’t make out anything from the order weaved round him. If I had the privilege to explain to him what is happening I did tell him,”brother, from the day you accepted to join especially when the biggest trophy was handed to you to safe keep for members of the group you became a lawful captive”. The air is hot and Fubara isn’t comfortable and has shown he wants to jump ship but his co- travellers won’t have him run away clutching to the ill gotten gain or better still their property. They want him to relinquish it or stay at their own the agreed terms. Difficult choices not so?
Like we have observed Wike is holding on to the members of the house of Assembly and the local government chairmen. He has succeeded in dismantling the major political parties. This confirms him as the numere uno in the state politics,he holds a strategic office given to him by the President to an extent he holds the the forte. President Tinubu has kept Fubara going and abit alive I pray he won’t let the binding fall very late in the day. He may not because he knows the implications of Wike controlling the resources of that state.
The president will keep both men. If I were to have the opportunity to speak to Fubara I would suggest to him to stoop low to conquer. Wike is tempestuous but he can be handled. Where both are today they are all vulnerable. Wike would want some respite too. There would be issues of outlandish demands no doubt but every situation has an answer.
Fubara should pally with them,see areas he can make further compromise and concensuons without this time jeopardizing his future. Assembly men may want to recontest definitely not only half can be accommodated including Wike’s son who stories claim wants to run for office. The biggest challenge could be what happens to Wike.? As for the “structure” and stranglehold on Rivers State that one is gone. A new order would emerge no matter what happens going forward.
