RIVERS STATE: WHEN TROUBLES BLOW Rivers State located in the heart of Niger Delta region, South-South Nigeria, until now was known for her large deposit of crude oil and quietude. Then the state’s infrastructure which was untiringly labored for by previous administrations in the state and the Rotimi Amaechi led government spoke volume of a state, whose attainment of its set goals was in the offing. Then Port Harcourt city which prides itself as the Garden city was indeed, a Garden saturated mega city; with large presence of Nigerians, who in their quest for a better secured, infrastructure infested and economic driven milieu desired to tarry in Rivers State. Then they saw in Rivers, a state with viability to house every Tom, Dick and Harry; a state with the political will and might to contain and address every challenge posed by any unforeseen and even, foreseeable circumstances. For these set of Nigerians, Rivers was their next destination- hence they tarried therein. But surprisingly, events in the recent past have proven these set of believers wrong. Just recently, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers sate was widely reported by the National dailies as having ambition to vie for the 2nd to the oval office (vice presidency) in the country come year 2015; an act which has squared him up in a frontal collision with the Federal government- with President Jonathan as its helmsman. Simply put: It was the above reports that brought about the under listed plagues on the Governor and his state: the fatal crashing of the NGF election where Amaechi sought re-election; with the duo of Amaechi and Jonah Jang of Plateau state claiming victories having polled 19 and 16 votes respectively; the fractionalization of Rivers PDP by the highest echelon of the party, with Amaechi’s faction been declared illegal; Gov. Amaechi’s suspension from PDP following his insistence to re contest the NGF chair after his party’s (PDP) attempt to prevail on him to drop his aspiration of occupying the NGF chair twice proved abortive; the emergence of PDP Governors forum chaired by Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state in other to help clip Amaechi’s political wings; and last but not least is the unending unguarded verbiage and vituperations being exchanged by both Amaechi and the commissioner for police, Rivers state, Joseph Mbu. According to news reports: Amaechi had penultimate week described the Police Boss as “a security risk” in the state. He also accused him of conspiracy with the Jonathan led Federal government to truncate every efforts of his, aimed at containing the security challenges in the state. He said the police chief has made it his duty transporting every security intelligence details of his administration to the federal Government; an act he said worsened the security situation of the state. But in a swift reaction to the Governor’s claim, Mbu sternly refuted the allegation; describing the Governor as “a dictatator” of the state. In a succession to the above exchange, yesterday the NYSC Board chairman of Rivers state, Mr. Gordon Bozimo while on a courtesy visit to the Governor at his Port Harcourt office alleged that because of the degenerating security situation in the state, four NYSC members had been abducted by unknown gun men; leaving no traces to the captives’ whereabouts. It was here the Governor let hell loosed again. He restated his firm resolves that until the “political police commissioner” is replaced with a professional police chief, the state wouldn’t know peace. He then called on the inspector General of police to come to the aid of his people by hearkening to his voice of reason or else, he would stop funding the police. Here again, I got irked. And then my queries: who are these public office holders working for? Who are there pay masters? What is their primary assignment? And how did we end up here? In civilized democracies, interest of the people supersedes every other. In this part of the world, Power rests in the people- hence they are the first citizens of their various societies. They are the thrust of governments; and the very essence of it. The people are in no measure relegated to the background; instead they determine and run their governments while public office holders are merely seen as representatives. But in Nigeria, this orderliness, even though copied from open democracies is obeyed in the breach. The people’s interest comes preceding; while the egotistical political ambitions and vendetta of their office holders come first; thereby leaving the machinery of government to roll at the mercy of onlookers. There is a saying that “when two elephants fight, the grass suffers”. In the case of Rivers State, the fighting elephants are well defined- the presidency and Governor Amaechi. While the feeble people of the state are used to patch up the political tussle. In view of the forgoing, I call for a cease fire between these combating titans. While I advise that the presidency should burry whatever hatchet it has against Amaechi and allow the Federal institutions in Rivers state to work in the interest of Nigerians in Rivers state; I also appeal to Governor Amaechi to focus on the mandate already given to him by the good people of the state, and spurn whatever political interest he harbors in the future since his people are keen to seeing him justify his 2nd tenancy at the Port Harcourt government house; as only peace and cordiality among every levels of government can deliver the much needed dividends of democracy to the people. A FEATURE STORY WRITTEN BY GWIYI SOLOMON EJIKEME.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 15:58:20 +0000
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