December 18, (THEWILL) – “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning” – Winston Churchill.
“This is the lesson: Never give in, never give in, never, never, never – in anything, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the overwhelming might of the enemy.” – Winston Churchill.
“No one’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen”. This statement was made by the former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, reacting to the crisis.
The above speeches form the basis of this writing regarding the rising political crisis in Rivers State between former Governor, Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.
These problems started when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Wike, ceded power to a man with whom he was well pleased. So, what went wrong midway? Why is the immediate past Governor battling the incumbent? This can be described as politics taken too far in Rivers State.
Chief Wike refused to let the world know when he officially joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As it stands now, no one can attest if he is a member of the PDP or APC.
The problem rocking Rivers has assumed a different dimension that on Monday, this week, 27 Rivers Assembly members defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC, and about nine Commissioners resigned their appointments.
On what appears to be absurd, Governor Fubara has also demolished a multi-billion Naira Rivers State House of Assembly building over this same issue that appears to be irreconcilable between them. I wonder why a mature man, in the person of Chief Wike, should be dancing naked in the market square instead of thinking out ways of attracting more development to his State. This has indeed created tension and division in Rivers State.
The purpose of this writing is not to separate a fight between Wike and Fubara. Should Rivers people continue to be subjected to the whims and caprices of Fubara and Wike who should have been worried over the hard times people of that State are facing, especially now the fuel pump price is high and cost of living has risen. We are wondering why they should place their political ambitions above the people’s welfare.
Look at how a once peaceful State is being destroyed. What brought about this ‘democratic deficit’ that would warrant an irate arsonist mob to desecrate the multi-billion naira chambers of the legislative arm of the government of Rivers state? Who will bear the cost for the reconstruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly? Is it Rivers people?
God has blessed this man called Wike. What else does he want? He was the Rivers State Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), former Governor for eight years and presently the landlord of the capital City of Nigeria.
I feel for the people of Rivers who are going to be greatly affected by the unconsidered actions of these bigwigs who are decidedly not concerned about the the residents of Portharcourt.
Politically speaking, Chief Wike is an inconsistent leader. This man says one thing today and does a different thing tomorrow. He is not on good terms with those in the PDP, like Ali Modu-Sheriff, Uche Secondus, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, Emeka Ihedioha and other chieftains.
The former governor only wants everyone to be his puppet and when one disagrees he starts fighting. Let us not forget that Chief Wike once said he could never settle for Vice Presidential candidate during the last election in Nigeria but we all saw how he went back and heavily lobbied for it after he lost to Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate in the polls.
Imo PDP was destroyed by Wike. I could vividly remember during the Presidential campaign, Wike gave Samdaddy and Chief Jones Onyereri the impetus to divert the One Thousand Dollars Atiku gave the State PDP during his visit.
Chief Wike also said he could never be a Minister. But surprisingly, he begged and lobbied and he got it. He announced at the PDP presidential primary ground, that he will support anyone that emerges. What happened at the end of the day? He said if God helps him and finishes his tenure, he has no business in the administration of the state. Today he is fighting to retain power for a third term. Nawaaoo!
The federal government, under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should stop associating with this man who lacks political integrity. Wike should grow up.
