Akpan Kennena, having traced the history of the political crisis in Rivers State, gives some suggestions on the way forward That house was one of the most unified in the nation until the removal of the duly elected chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. Five members of the house objected to the process used in removing him and they described it as undemocratic because it did not follow due legislative process. The other 27 stuck to their gun. The state government denied involvement in what was purely a legislative action.
The governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, appointed a caretaker chairman who took over from the elected chairman. It later emerged that the removed elected chairman was sympathetic to the Minister of State for
Education, Nyesom Wike, who is believed to have been instrumental to his getting the ticket to contest. The other five legislators are also beneficiaries of Nwike's influence as Amaechi's Chief of Staff and the most powerful local politician of those days. Those seeking a solution to the crisis should also look at the Obio-Akpor situation. It needs resolution because I don't believe the constitution envisaged a situation where an elected LGA chairman will retain his seat at the mercy of state legislators. If that is the case, we need urgent amendment to the constitution. That it was called "suspension" suggests to me that a loophole in the state
laws was used to effect the removal. What Does Wike Want? He was a local government chairman under former governor, Dr. Peter Odili. When Amaechi was shoved aside by former President Olusegun Obasanjo after he had won the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PD), Wike had faithfully supported Amaechi. Obasanjo, in rejecting Amaechi's candidacy then, had described his due nomination as having K-leg, whereas others linked up with Sir Celestine Omehia, who was picked to replace Amaechi, Nyesom, Majority Leader, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, and a few others were loyal to Amaechi's cause. When Amaechi was restored, he promptly compensated Wike and not only made him chief of staff but also the most powerful man in his administration's first tenure. Most people familiar with the government will tell you that Wike was influential. He acquired stinking wealth and political goodwill. But then Amaechi has always been a strong character himself and could think for himself.
In 2011, Wike wanted to go to the Senate, but Amaechi reasoned that if Wike should get that seat, he will not agree to relinquish it in 2015 for him. He opted to put a "controllable" candidate who can be quietly
eased out in 2015 for Amaechi to become senator. To compensate Wike, he offered him Rivers State ministerial slot and actually nominated and pushed his candidacy with President Goodluck Jonathan. Unfortunately, some guys at the presidency were too scared of Wike and didn't want him closer than necessary to the president. He was appointed a junior minister of education. What does Wike know about
education, talk less of the humiliation of being junior to a female minister? The man must hate his current job passionately and has nobody to blame but Amaechi. That was how he became a willing recruit in the hands of those who had issues with Amaechi. Payback time! Two principal issues Amaechi had with elements in the presidency include his confrontation with Mrs. Patience Jonathan, over the demolition of Port Harcourt waterfront. Mrs. Jonathan is from Okrika and in her maiden visit to her hometown as the president's wife, her people inundated her with tales of how Amaechi demolished the waterfront and expelled their people from their homes.
Those were the same people that have already collected millions from Amaechi as compensation. Only God knows what more they want. If you know the Port Harcourt waterside in question, you will praise Amaechi's courage and determination to demolish it. It was a criminal enclave and a major recruiting point for militants and sundry criminals. The likes of the late Soboma George were forged in the crucible of the Port Harcourt waterfront. Amaechi's cardinal objective in his first tenure was security of lives and property. He pursued it with uncommon zeal. He would have scored zero if he didn't demolish the waterfront. But like every multi-ethnic environment, some people stoked the fire and alleged ethnic bias against their people. They ran to their most prominent daughter and complained bitterly.
Sadly, the woman they complained to shares a common attribute with Amaechi’s abrasiveness. She forgot protocol and publicly chastised Amaechi right before his subjects at a public event. Even I pitied the governor who was publicly humiliated by the wife of the president without hearing his side of the story. But then Amaechi would have done same in a reversed position. They have that in common- "yawoyawo".
Regardless of the foregoing, Amaechi still worked with Jonathan and was everywhere campaigning for him. He delivered over two million votes which were key in ensuring victory for Jonathan in the 2011 presidential poll. As a Niger Deltan, he has done his bit and can be proud of that. But even that was not enough to earn the respect and trust of the madam at the top. She never pretended to like or approve of him. It was only a matter of time before the two large egos will clash again. This time, madam's team has a good recruit called Wike. They started stalking Amaechi and imputing wrong motives to ordinary actions and utterances. Of course, he didn't help himself. He talks too much at times. And then, the issue of Rivers-Bayelsa oil came up. Don't forget that Rivers previously had issues with Abia and Akwa Ibom on border delineation and ownership of oil bearing land.
It is common knowledge in Abia that many of the oil wells credited to Rivers actually belongs to Abia and even some found right within Abia are being horizontally drilled and credited to Rivers. Akwa Ibom adopted a fire-for-fire approach in their dispute with Rivers and delivered a humiliating blow that cost Rivers billions in derivation revenue and effectively made Akwa Ibom the most liquid state in the South-south. The blow was too much for Amaechi to bear and there were suspicions that Akwa Ibom had help from above. "Above" in this case can only mean the all powerful presidency. It was therefore not surprising that when another dispute arose between Rivers and Bayelsa, Amaechi went all out to avoid further loss of land and revenue. Rumours had it that Amaechi said some things that were not so complimentary of the office of the president at a state council executive retreat at Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State. Someone took the tape to Abuja as evidence of anti-presidency stance of Amaechi. That was quickly added to the "sins" for which he must be
dealt with and he was treated as an enemy to the presidency. Those who have personal and political issues with Amaechi seized on the theme to draw up a road map for his humiliation. The vice-presidential ambition propaganda was manufactured and sold to the president and the public, even without any concrete evidence of Amaechi being interested in any such position.
Rather than quickly meet with the president to explain his own side, Amaechi dug in and tried to fight back and protect his dignity as a person. Of course, he employed all the experience of his long studentship at Nigeria's political school to ensure he stays afloat. Nigerian people love the "underdog" and hence were sympathetic to his cause. On the other hand, Jonathan's political opponents saw an opportunity to divide his political base and make his re-election difficult, if not impossible. They stoked the fire endlessly and offered Amaechi a phantom shoulder to lean on. All they want is to use the crisis to mess up the re-election of the president, while the likes of Wike have seen an opportunity to pay back Amaechi and possibly get the senate
seat they want in 2015. To booth, moribund politicians like Peter Odili, Celestine Omehia, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche and Abiye Sekibo are now together in the true spirit of my enemy's enemy is my friend- the same gang that raped Rivers State with impunity for eight years. God dey!
Way Forward
Amaechi should immediately take steps to douse the tension and make up with President Jonathan himself. Forget the wife and her antics. Forget third parties. Do it yourself. Approach the president and explain your position. If necessary, apologise profusely and offer your support for his 2015 project. It is unthinkable for the Niger Delta to lose the presidency and settle for anything less under any guise or arrangement. It is terrible politics else, you will be on your own. All the professors in the world and the media of the world will move on and find other engagements. Political oblivion beckons and must be avoided at all cost. There is
nothing Lloyd and his murderous gang can do to save you. Most likely they will negotiate for themselves to remain in power and avoid long jail terms. Removing a governor is as simple as the method applied in removing Obio-Akpor LGA chairman. In Nigeria, the process doesn't have to be right and after the initial uproar, everyone will move on to other things. Amaechi should be guided. Restore the Obio-Akpor LGA chairman as a confidence building measure. You can no longer claim "legislative affairs" given your physical
intervention in favour of the 27 at the state House of Assembly. If you can intervene in a legislative fracas to save the majority, then you must also intervene to restore the chairman. There are other ways to asphyxiate the man if you no longer like him. Moreover, the next LGA election is only a year away from now. He who goes to equity must go with clean hands.
Concurrently, you must visit the battered Michael Chinda and not only offer your sympathies but also make sure he gets the best possible medical treatment available in the world. Condemn without reservation, the barbaric actions of Llyold and your security aides. He will do same to you if the heat starts getting hot. Don't forget that Chinda is also an Ikwerre man like you and all the 32 legislators are your subjects and previously worked for you, just like you worked for Jonathan previously. There is no permanent friend or enemy in politics and a wise man is the one who remains politically relevant. Brave men don't last in politics and only those with staying power can run their laudable projects. The other side is lonely, my governor. Don't go there with your two eyes open. This is the time and opportunity for Mr President to show statesmanship. He must remember that a house divided against itself cannot stand. No sane man uses all the powers he has and a forgiving spirit is the true hallmark of a great leader. Removing Amaechi or even destabilising his government might be as simple as ABC but the ripple effects might not be palatable. There are sub-ethnic connotations that have recently come to the fore. People are talking about Ijaw versus Ikwerre in high and not so high places. Ogoni people are queuing behind Amaechi because they know only his completion of his tenure can guarantee the next governor being of Ogoni extraction. Remember their long held suspicions of the Ijaws including the wars of the 90s. Don't divide the state and Niger Delta because you must show Amaechi where the real power lies.
Most importantly, Mr. President, you will need more than two million votes from Rivers State to wedge against the opposition that has gathered against you. If you get 74% of Rivers votes you will lose the election sir. No Niger Delta or South-east state should deliver less than 76% of the votes to you for your presidency to be assured in 2015. Mr. President what shall it profit you if you win the battle against Amaechi and lose the 2015 war? Where on earth are the so called traditional rulers and elders of the Niger Delta? Why are they keeping quiet while Rome burns? Why are they taking sides in a fight between two brothers? When will you all gather and take Amaechi to the president for reconciliation? Are you waiting for anarchy tbefore you show your partisan faces? Have Ghana-must-go bags turned you to unreasoning men of timber and sawdust? I don't want to mention your names but you know yourselves and must know that it is now or never. If you do nothing, next week might be too late. The die appears cast for a full and final showdown.
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