Political events in Rivers State in the past seven
years which seemed to have destroyed the once powerful former Governor Peter
Odili's political dynasty of the PDP has re-enacted the return of the Ndoni-born
medical doctor turned politician who today would have been the sitting
president of Nigeria. The messy fight between two protégés of the former
governor, Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers state and his erstwhile associate and
friend, Chief Nyesom Wike which led to the coming of a strong opposition in the
politics of the state has again created room for Dr. Odili to re-launch himself
into political relevance. It would be recalled that Odili who became the leader
of the PDP in 1999 after his election, in which he beat a more formidable
candidate of Ijaw extraction, Ebenezer Isokrari of the APP; had built a
political structure which has now produced the key players in the Rivers
political terrain. Though Amaechi who served under the government then as the
two-time Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was tipped as the
preferred choice as successor to Odili but the last minute moves and entrance
of former Deputy Speaker, Austin Opara, almost marred Amaechi's chances.
Efforts by Opara to fly the PDP flag at the 2007 polls met some resistance when
Odili urged him to step down for his long term aide, Amaechi. This action by
Opara and the likes of Uche Secondus, former State Chairman of the PDP, Abiye
Sekibo and some members of Odili's family resulted to the polarization of the
governor's structure.
After series of political maneuvering and
horse-trading which led to a ten-month legal battle, Amaechi finally became the
beneficiary of the crisis as he stepped in as the Governor of the state in
October 2007 via a Supreme Court judgment which sacked Celestine Omehia from
office.
What Amaechi inherited was not only a deplorable state
lacking infrastructure befitting of an oil and gas rich state, but a state
infested with armed men known as militants and cultists as well as a disjointed
party, the PDP. Most of those who were not in favour of Amaechi's candidature
ab nitio had relocated to Abuja in the wake of cult killings and kidnapping
which had ravaged the state for almost five years. His political father and
mentor, Dr. Peter Odili whose presidential ambition was thwarted by former
President Obasanjo, had quietly left the state he once held sway and four
almost eight years, he remained in Abuja while some of his loyalists like Uche
Secondus returned to Amaechi who now called the shots.
The governor had groomed those who were formerly known
as 'The Believers' led by Nyesom Wike, the uncrowned leader of the group. While
Amaechi was on exile in Ghana, Wike who wasted no time in assuming leadership
of the supporters of the governor also sealed the nail on the political coffin
of those who opposed Amaechi. He became Chief of Staff to the governor, a
political office which is almost as powerful as the office of the governor.
Wike spared no opponent of the government as he fought tirelessly to 'protect'
his investments in Amaechi.
The face-off between President Jonathan and Governor
Amaechi presented Wike the leverage to further assert his political supremacy
as he staged an in-house coup against the leadership of the PDP led by Chief
G.U.Ake. His ambition was to become the new face of the PDP in the state, a
feat he achieved but not without the usual betrayals, back-stabbing, propaganda
and patronage. His position as the Minister of State for Education meant billions
of naira were at his disposal every year. There was a free flow of contracts
for cronies as well as those who were not comfortable with Amaechi's frugal
type of government as he consistently maintained that he was not going to open
the state treasury for those who were only in government to loot. What Amaechi
failed to do, Wike religiously did and that earned him a chunk of aggrieved PDP
members as well as the 'Abuja' politicians. As the governor left the PDP for
the APC, Wike ascended the throne which he had since coveted.
He became the rallying point for Amaechi's enemies and
opponents. In his usual characteristic manner, the former Minister 'bought'
over all those who had irreconcilable differences with Amaechi. The inability
of Amaechi and Odili to sustain their fragile reconciliation further created
room for Wike to fully return to the former godfather of Rivers politics. With
a blossoming relationship between Wike and the wife of President Goodluck
Jonathan, Patience, it was an easy sail for Odili to return to the PDP fold of
the President after a failed stint with Gen.Ibrahim Babangida.
Jonathan whose relationship with his benefactor,
former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was now soured needed to boost his South
South camp with the likes of Odili and his Bayelsa counterpart, DSP
Alamieyeseigha.
But the rebuilding of the Rivers PDP without funding
from the state governor who had defected to the APC, was not an easy task for
Wike who is said to have spent billions of naira in order to build a formidable
opposition to the ruling APC in the state. Though not confirmed, Wike was
alleged to have doled out half a billion naira to woo the former governor who
in turn ordered his associates to throw their weight behind Wike's ambition.
Though the controversial governorship candidate of the
PDP in the state had gone ahead to establish a structure known as the Grassroot
Development initiative, GDI, as a counter force to any dissenting voice in PDP,
as well as Amaechi's APC, he opened his flanks for the likes of Sergeant Awuse,
Austin Opara, Celestine Omehia and Peter Odili. Apart from Opara who has failed
in his bid to oust Wike as the candidate for the PDP, Odili has subtly
positioned his men in the campaign structure of Nyesom Wike.
The closest ally of Odili and the Ambassador to South
Korea, Desmond Akawor has practically abdicated his office to return home as
the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Organisation, PDPCO. Akawor, a
potential candidate for the post of governor, though from a minority Oyigbo community,
is said to be the alter ego of the former governor. His experience as a
diplomat would come to play as he meets daily with all the key men in PDP from
the 23 LGAs.
Gradually and unknowingly to Wike, Akawor may be
building a structure for himself and his boss, Odili.
Inside sources say Wike was not comfortable with the
choice of Akawor as the DG PDPCOn and that led to his late appointment, close
to the end of the PDP campaigns. The former minister had to succumb to pressure
as he could not afford to lose the support of Odili whom Jonathan had appointed
as the leader of the PDP in the zone.
Another protégé of Odili who has returned to political
reckoning and limelight is Emma Okah, the one time Chief Press Secretary to
Odili and Omehia's Commissioner for Information. Okah, a lawyer and a writer is
using his wealth of experience as well as his relationship with the Press to
further boost the chances of Wike at the polls. The former CPS was able to
hijack the Media and Publicity Directorate of the PDPCO.
Also, another caucus member of the Odili structure who
has an upper hand in Wike's campaign is Shedrach Akolokwu who is involved in
Strategy and Media.
Akolokwu is said to wield a lot of influence as well
in the campaign organisation.
Though many see the current Chairman of the PDP in the
state, Felix Obuah a.k.a. Go round as a protégé of Wike, the fact remains that
Obuah was made a Chairman for Odili's Local Government, ONELGA, during the
former governor's reign. He is more of an Odili supporter than Wike is man alongside Obuah is Elemchukwu
Ogbowu, another returnee to Wike's camp. Ogbowu, was a former lawmaker in
Odili's first tenure and during his second tenure, Ogbowu was appointed as a
Commissioner. In spite of his strong opposition to Wike's ambition, Ogbowu has
been positioned in the PDPCO, even more than the Sports Commissioner, Tammy
Danagogo, a protégé of Uche Secondus. Danagogo is neither a strong member of
Odili's camp nor that of Wike despite serving as Chairman of Akuku Toru LGA
under Odili.
The Odili boys are likely to have an upper hand in the
event of an election postponement which will nullify Wike's candidature. If
reports of a rumored interim government is anything to go by, then there is a
likelihood that the core supporters of Wike may be counting their losses as
Odili's men take over the party structure as Patience Jonathan's influence will
be whittled down.
According to inside sources in the PDP, the GDI may be
in for a showdown with these men who may have a sinister motive within the
PDPCO.
In all, the crisis in the state may have
increased the chances for the return of former Governor Odili, the man known
for his 'generous' mien known as 'appropriate technology'. With his second
coming, will Rivers people accept a government of generosity or a government
passionate about building infrastructure in the face of political challenges?
The stage is now set.
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