THE LOOMING LEADERSHIP CRISIS IN RIVERS PDP? Between Chief Hon Nyesom Wike, Peter Odili and Hon Danagogo, who is the leader of PDP in Rivers State? The new dimension to Rivers PDPs well-documented internal wrangling will come by way of an answer to the above question. Over a week ago, we saw Patience Jonathans characteristic meddlesomeness on national TV, when she, before eagle-eyed cameras, with bewildering magisterial swagger, handed over Hon Nyesom Wike, immediate past junior Minister of Education to former Governor of Rivers State, Peter O. Odlili, and proclaimed with a possessed air of authority thus: I have handed you over to the leader of PDP in Rivers State. Thats on one hand. When Danagogo was sacked from Amaechis government and got a lottery-winning- sort of appointment as Minister of Sports, sources close to the Minister revealed that he started fancying himself as the leader of PDP in Rivers State--and rightly so too. Even though Nyesom Wike was still very much around in Jonathans cabinet then, status-wise, he was a junior Minister, and by protocol, inferior to a substantive senior cabinet Minister. Danagogo understood that protocol, knew the right thing, but expectedly, waited for the right moment to assert his status-conferred position. For a fairly ambitious person, waiting for the right time to exercise power that should rightly reside in you by virtue of your office could be an agonising wait. But that long-awaited right time came in the form of the resignation of Nyesom Wike from the federal cabinet to pursue his inordinate, rabble-rousing ambition to become the next governor of Rivers State. Sources close to the sports Minister revealed that he has been infuriated and distressed that weeks after Wikes resignation from the cabinet, the latter is still called, regarded and treated as leader of Rivers PDP by party faithful in the state. That, according to sources, has to change, and the Sports Minister has started putting machinery in place in a well-choreographed power show that will force the recognition of his office and place as a serving minister upon Rivers PDP operations. Thats on the other hand. Jerry Needam, Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers PDP chairman in official press releases from the party has continued to address Nyesom Wike as the leader of the PDP in Rivers State, a situation that doesnt go down well with Hon Danagogo. Enter the Peter Odili angle. To onlookers far-off, the new found and well-oiled relationship between the former governor and immediate past junior minister may appear to be at its blossoming best, but beneath the facade is Odilis unquenchable love for power and control. He is a man not used to fancying a portfolio without the power that comes with it. He doesnt enjoy the glory that comes in the name of a position which power, influence and authority is wielded exercised by someone else, no matter how close the person may be him. What was running riot in Odilis imagination was finally let loose by Patience Jonathans braggadocio which pronounced Odili the leader of Rivers PDP in front of beaming light of TV cameras. Now, the man wants the influence and authority that comes with that name. He detests an empty trophy, and would want the one that has been fortuitously given to him by the First Lady to be filled with every thing that should go with it! There is the subtext of the looming leadership crisis in Rivers PDP, a reality that will further escalate the fragile situation of the party and make it more vulnerable. Danagogo wants to take his rightful place as the leader of PDP in Rivers State. You cannot blame him. He is the highest-ranking government official from Rivers state as at today. Nyesom Wike feels that he has contributed so much for the party that relinquishing its leadership is tantamount to suicide. He cannot trust what Danagogo will do with the opportunity of exercising the power of the leader of the party, especially so at a time when his Kalabari brothers are angling to lay claim to the guber ticket of the party in 2015. Odili, the witty power player wants a platform that will resuscitate his dead machine of influence in the state, and Patience Jonathan has just spilled blood in the ocean inhabited by the old shark. Odili is gearing to step it up. If you hear another hullabaloo from Rivers PDP, the leadership tussle is the thing that will provide fuel for it. Friday Kennedy Barileilo
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 17:18:26 +0000
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