FLY AWAY PETER OBI By Osondu Ahirika Theirs should go on record as the fastest own goal in the history of feuds between godfather and godson in Nigerias power game. Alas, former Governor Peter Obi and his preferred successor, His Excelleny, Chief Willie Obiano have parted ways. On March 17, 2014, Peter Obi vacated his seat after what was a turbulent, but successful two terms in office. Obiano was sworn in same date. He fought hard, and some say, he imposed his preferred choice, Willie Obiano on the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. By the time he celebrated his one hundred days in office, on June 27, 2014, a habitual charade in our clime, Obiano had technically expelled his benefactor and predecessor from his radar. How did they come to this sorry pass. Soft spoken, gentle in mien and almost effeminate in portrait, Peter Obi always loved to project a populist leaning to the outside world. Given the hard and long road he travelled to reclaim his mandate from the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, with then Governor Chris Ngige as the usurper, Peter Obi did all to assure bookmakers, that he was on a rescue mission. That being, to release Anambrarians and her political destiny from the misfortune of hijackers, power mongers and greedy political godfathers. In the same state we heard of Sir Emeka Offor who undermined Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju causing him to serve just one term in office(May1999-May 2003). There was also the stormy short term of Governor Chris Ngige. His godfather, Chief Chris Uba, who he rebelled against told the whole world, he(Uba), rigged him into office. He was purportedly abducted on the orders of Uba at some point early in his administration. Ngige was removed by the Court on March 17, 2006. Thats how Peter Obi won a hard fought litigation to become governor. The forces against him was massive. On November 2, 2006, Obi was impeached by the Anambra State House of Assembly. To the Courts he retreated again, and had his impeachment overturned of February 9, 2007. Another interregnum came for Obi when Dr Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba( Andy Uba) was elected and sworn in as the governor of Anambra State on 27th May, 2007. Obi returned to the Court, and Uba was removed by a supreme court decision on 14th June, 2007. Uba governed the State for 14 days. Obi thus bounced back. It has been for him a fairy tale tenure to the very end in governance. Such a folk hero is expected to retire in peace and say like Paul, I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Sad! He didnt. Rather, he sowed the wind that now brought the whirlwind that has blown him away. How do I mean? Eager to leave a whistle-clean image for himself, Mr Peter Obi, announced that over twenty billion naira would be left in the treasury of the state by the time his administration winds up. Obi said this during the valedictory service put together for him by the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi. We applauded. But, he erred. He should have left that for his successor to celebrate. To say so was to erect barriers to the smooth take-off of the new administration. He was merely telling the people, to hold the new governor as a failure, if he stumbles while trying to put his acts together in the new dispensation. That was the coded and unspoken message wired in that self adulation. Obiano was not fooled. Then, Peter Obi made an indecent hurry to organize local government elections less than two months before the expiration of his administration. It was for me, a mean, selfish and wicked act. The state had not been able to organise any election at the third tier for 12 years. Obi himself stoutly resisted every call by his National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh and other stakeholders to hold Council elections for the eight years he reigned. How come he realized the possibility, or propriety of doing so with two months to go. It was a conspiracy to set up his own structure at the grassroots and let Willie Obiano float on it. Wrong politics. Obiano kept mute. Obi also embarked on a Father christmas spending spree as his administration was winding down. of N380 billion. Obi commenced a new project, The old Ikenga Hotel in Awka, code-named a shopping mall, which is estimated to cost 2.2 billion naira in the twilight of his era. Pundits say, the reckless manner with which Obi spent money at that time was unusual. Even on the morning he was to handover, Obi had shared a good number of Government vehicles to organizations and groups as early as 8.30am. The gambit was not lost on Obiano. He tarried with it all. It is even alleged, Obi picked a cabinet for Obiano. Obis Secretary to the State Government, Oselloka Obaeze, was retained. Other loyalists of the former governor grabbed juicy portfolios. So, Obi would have created a dynasty? Wrong. The cookies are crumbling, and very speedily too. Obiano has since asserted his authority and Obi is not finding it chummy. He has since resigned as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of APGA. The cold war is like a hurricane, and will soon blow off every vestige of his image in the power calculus of the emergent new order. I told some friends back home in Imo State, and a few colleagues here in Uyo, that, Obi had become careless in managing his disengagement, when he started those issues I have heretofore highlighted. They doubted my misgivings. Today, Im vindicated, and too early in the life of the Obiano administration, that Obi goofed big time. Cost it what it may, Obiano would soon disentangle himself from all those webs of conceited politicking, he was bottled into by the wiles of Obi. Its sad, that a man whose experience should have schooled him better, would make the same mistake he did not brook from any quarters. That is: try to play the towering kingmaker and godfather to a sitting governor. Im yet to see it work anywhere in Nigeria. The shock is, theirs came too early in the day. Their background makes it more ironical. Both leaders came from Fidelity Bank Plc, where Obi held sway as the Chairman and Obiano as the Executive Director before they invaded the political arena of Anambra State. Loyalty and trust built over the years in the boardroom politics of the Banking Hall, squandered by the deeper intrigues and stakes of real political sweepstakes. Obis deactivation in the Anambra power game reminds me of the nursery rhyme, every child of school age in Nigeria learns by heart for starters. The poem, There were two black birds sitting on the wall, also renders the line, FLY AWAY PETER. If you ask me, thats what Mr Peter Obi needs to reconcile himself to as his erstwhile political soulmate, Obiano unfurls his vision for the people of Anambra. You cannot eat your bread and have it. I have a word for any Governor, President, Prelate or leader at whatsoever level, who is living the illusion of basking in eternal fame. Your reign as surely as the sun rises and sets, will prove short-lived. Installing your successor is a great stride and a blessing. Seeking to cage him and overshadow his ambience is fatal error and will turn around to haunt you. Maybe, I should call our attention to Englishman, Alfred Housmans poem, with the title, To an athlete dying young. The poem, laments the brevity of life, and indeed, all its vanities of fame, power and glory. The poet laments the death of a famous athlete who won several laurels and brought glory and honour to his community. He had his day(s) in the spotlight. Shot his community to the limelight. Shoulder- high, he was carried by celebrating fans before the klieglights. Of the young athletes fame, Housman wrote, in stanza one, The time you won your town the race, we chaired you through the market place. Man and boy stood cheering by, and home we brought you shoulder-high. By the second stanza, the athlete had died, still in his prime of life. The poet noted that antithesis of all life and fame, as he also wrote, Today, the road all runners come. Shoulder-high we bring you home, and set you at your threshold down, townsman of a stiller town. Down the other stanzas, Housman deployed paradoxical tit bits that define the ephemeral nature of worldly acclaim. Hear one of them: ...early though the laurels grow, it withers quicker than the rose. Of the athletes legacy he surmises, ...and the name died before the man. Folks, go to Anambra as we speak, the name of Peter Obi is a write-off, even before he could fathom why. Every segment now plays coy to the new man in power. That is the world for you. Or should I say, that is politics for you.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 14:55:05 +0000
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