I have watched with interest the political development in Rivers State since His Excellency Sim Fubara became governor of the oil-rich state– an exalted position bequeathed to him by the now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Though not Igbo by his own affirmation, Wike exhibits every trait of ‘I before others’ which can be easily gleaned from his characteristic boldness and masculinity in the execution of causes which though may be considered unjust. There is no question whether Wike was the godfather and if Fubara was his godson.
There was no question whether there were pledges of loyalty and allegiance; after all there were many others angling to be anointed as governor but Wike chose Fubara, and this was not for nothing. As a political personality, Wike was powerful and domineering and wants to remain powerful and domineering in Rivers politics even outside office.
The state and the allure of her wealth as the jewel of Africa are too precious for him to give up without a fight, but the fact of life is that there is time for everything. The reality is that this is time for Wike to let go of his godson, save Rivers State from this spiralling doom and allow the people to breathe. Wike sold Fubara to Rivers. When you sell the goat in the market, you don’t hold on to the leash.
You let the new owner go home with the goat and the leash. The only people with entitlement to hold the leash at this time are the people of Rivers State who must hold Fubara accountable for his stewardship. If he does not give account now, in the next three years he is bound to face the electorate. In the next three years, you and your supporters may take your pound of political flesh.
Making Rivers State ungovernable, burning down government facilities, using the police to breach public peace and security and manipulating the judiciary with willing and compromised judges and leaving Rivers in ruins and pains are needless things to do.
These are actions that demean your personality, distort our democracy and are not fair to the president who entrusted you with the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. As a student of power and politics, I know how you feel, particularly when challenged by your supposed once upon Man Friday. Forget that text book title that read: ‘Obi is a Boy’.
The fact of life is that ‘Obi is not always a boy’. Obi grows up, gets wizened up and may even become vicious and rebellious. Again, there is nothing to regret if this happens to be the case. Take it as poetic justice.
I recall how Senator Orji Kalu fought tooth and nail to make TA Orji the governor of Abia State. TA was OUK’s Chief of Staff and candidate for Abia governorship election. Obasanjo desperate to destroy OUK’s political dynasty muscled him out of the PDP. OUK formed the PPA and fielded TA Orji as candidate. Obasanjo used EFCC to hound TA into detention.
He was detained at Kirikiri Correctional Centre while OUK led his campaign. He campaigned for TA much more than he campaigned for himself. In the end, TA from prison won the popular votes and was sprinted out from Kirikiri and was immediately sworn in as governor and robbed with the cover of immunity and out of reach by EFCC.
You are wrong if you thought the honeymoon between OUK and TA Orji would last forever. The friendship broke down irretrievably within months. At the peak of their animosity and cold war, I had a sit down with OUK to get his own side of the story which he freely rendered. I doubled down to ask him if he has any regret making TA his successor, and he quipped: “No regrets, nothing to regret.
There were many who wanted to succeed me including my deputy but my political family zeroed in on TA Orji, and we worked hard for him to become governor because that is what God wanted.” Peter Obi was a man I respect and hold dear. I knew Willie Obiano through him. Somehow fate played a fast game on him, making way for Obiano to succeed him.
That Peter and Obiano’s relationship will go sour manifested soon after the swearing-in of the latter as governor. I recall writing to Peter Obi and publishing an opinion where I urged him to leave the leash having sold the goat. Despite some harsh rejoinders in my opinion from his media handlers, I am glad Peter Obi left the leash and today walks tall in the eyes of the people.
I gave these two specific accounts with hope that it will help Wike to sober up and quit wrestling in the mud with Fubara. Wike as a person is a member of a noble profession – law. His supportive wife also trained as a lawyer. Between them they have very gifted children. As a political personality Wike has grown from an obscure local government chairman to Chief of Staff to the Governor.
He rose to become a Minister of Education and then Governor of Rivers State for eight years. Upon the end of his constitutionally allowed tenure as governor, he installed a successor of his choice. Nobody imposed Fubara on him. It was his choice and a choice he must now live with.
The only position Wike has not occupied in politics is President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is not the president because there can only be one president at a time otherwise Bola Tinubu will be president on the one hand and Wike will be president on the other hand.
Without being the president, Wike is not left empty in the current political equation. He is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, a very influential and powerful cabinet position, almost as powerful as the position of governor of a state and with his own budget.
As minister of the FCT, I need to remind Wike that he is doing a great job. Even the blind could see his efforts and notice that we have a working minister long after Mallam Nasir El Rufai. Wike I will strongly advise that you leave Rivers politics and face your current job as FCT Minister. You have fought too many battles in the past 10 years and it is time to stop and count your blessings.
Karma they say is a bitch with everyone’s address. She can visit at her own time and serves dishes that could be unpleasant. Now, recall all the advice you Wike gave to former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to resist his godfather then who is now the president and your boss. I had told Ambode then that you do not fight your boss. A fight with the boss doesn’t end well. It often ends in bruises.
Recall all the cautions you gave to former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi as then Minister of Transport trying to use Abuja as you said to destabilise the state under you. Your words then were near prophetic and it was as if you saw the future and mirrored yourself today. No one will tell the story of modern Rivers politics without your name being prominent.
That Peter and Obiano’s relationship will go sour manifested soon after the swearing-in of the latter as governor. I recall writing to Peter Obi and publishing an opinion where I urged him to leave the leash having sold the goat. Despite some harsh rejoinders in my opinion from his media handlers, I am glad Peter Obi left the leash and today walks tall in the eyes of the people.
I gave these two specific accounts with hope that it will help Wike to sober up and quit wrestling in the mud with Fubara. Wike as a person is a member of a noble profession – law. His supportive wife also trained as a lawyer. Between them they have very gifted children. As a political personality Wike has grown from an obscure local government chairman to Chief of Staff to the Governor.
He rose to become a Minister of Education and then Governor of Rivers State for eight years. Upon the end of his constitutionally allowed tenure as governor, he installed a successor of his choice. Nobody imposed Fubara on him. It was his choice and a choice he must now live with.
The only position Wike has not occupied in politics is President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is not the president because there can only be one president at a time otherwise Bola Tinubu will be president on the one hand and Wike will be president on the other hand.
Without being the president, Wike is not left empty in the current political equation. He is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, a very influential and powerful cabinet position, almost as powerful as the position of governor of a state and with his own budget.
As minister of the FCT, I need to remind Wike that he is doing a great job. Even the blind could see his efforts and notice that we have a working minister long after Mallam Nasir El Rufai. Wike I will strongly advise that you leave Rivers politics and face your current job as FCT Minister. You have fought too many battles in the past 10 years and it is time to stop and count your blessings.
Karma they say is a bitch with everyone’s address. She can visit at her own time and serves dishes that could be unpleasant. Now, recall all the advice you Wike gave to former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to resist his godfather then who is now the president and your boss. I had told Ambode then that you do not fight your boss. A fight with the boss doesn’t end well. It often ends in bruises.
Recall all the cautions you gave to former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi as then Minister of Transport trying to use Abuja as you said to destabilise the state under you. Your words then were near prophetic and it was as if you saw the future and mirrored yourself today. No one will tell the story of modern Rivers politics without your name being prominent.
You built Rivers State and elevated pragmatic governance. You loved the people and they loved you. Those public facilities being burnt down today by hoodlums claiming to be your supporters were built by you. The lives being wasted on the streets by rival gangs were your boys.
You created them, you fought for them and they stood by you. Why destroy the house and city you built? Why allow anger and vengeance take the better part of you, when you can just let go knowing that he who fights to run away, lives to fight another day. More so, it is not every battle that you must win. This is likely one of such. Do not let Fubara further demystify you.
I watched you on Channels Television struggling to extricate yourself from the violence in Rivers State, trying hard to disown those protesters chanting: “No Wike, No Rivers!” Guess you made them see how wrong they were and how easily they can be thrown under the bus. But guess what? They were right! “No Wike, No Rivers!” They may be wrong or misled, but they did all they did in your name and for the love of you. Having sold the goat, you must let go of the leash. Let Rivers be. Allow peace to return to the state. Let time and posterity be the judge.