SpicyTricks

So much has been said recently on why a non- Rivers man must not govern the state again. The Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo had fired the first salvo at those who want to occupy the seat of power in the Brick House. Followed next are those who believe that they are the true sons and daughters of Rivers state. Interesting as it may sound, what is worrisome is that in this twenty first century, those who are learned and occupy exalted positions of trust, and those who know better the contents of the Nigerian Constitution are the ones throwing these tantrums. They have thrown caution to the wind in their bid to assert their supremacy over others.

What on earth would make seasoned lawyers to engage in this unconstitutional act of discriminating against those who share the same rights or better still, privileges with them? The average Rivers man believes in matrilineal inheritance, that is, "tracing descent through the female line". It is legal, scriptural and cultural. Could it be an act of desperation and a cry for help by those who are not sure of winning at the polls.

Even the Nigerian Constitution guarantees one the citizenship of any state where he or she was born and bred, lived and worked for a period of straight five years. Yet the protagonists of non-Riversness are blinded by their inordinate ambition.

On each side of the divide, are both those considered as full Rivers people as well as those regarded as 'strangers'. One's unfortunate incidence at birth does not determine his or her destiny. I recall when the likes of late Marshall Harry and Chief Sergeant Awuse were proponents of a 'Rivers' governor, during the days of Dr. Peter Odili whom they referred to as an Igbo man, from Delta State. Dr. Odili's community, Ndoni is Igbo-speaking and until 1976, it formed part of Delta State. They could not deny Odili the right to lead Rivers state for eight years.

It was a sad experience for these men who as researchers and custodians of history and tradition swung into action, revealing that they, also like Odili were Igbo people by blood and birth. It was a case of the hunter becoming the hunted.

The people behind this so called agenda may unknowingly be hurting some of those in the same political party with them. Besides, it is on record that most of the leaders in Nigeria are people who at one point or the other have been labelled illegitimate or foreigners. The likes of Obasanjo, Abiola, Atiku, Shagari, Abacha, IBB, Coomasie, Patience Jonathan, Celestine Omehia, and several others have been put on the same pedestrial, yet they have reached the top.

Yes, they may have known paternity issues but Nigerians met them here and are happy to have them.

It is said that those who live in glass houses do not throw stones but some who are unable to control their devious tendencies may actually not be true Rivers people as they claim to be.

Majority of those from the Riverine areas of the country usually inter marry strangers and settle down with them. The civil war also threw up challenges were our best women, married or single were forcefully taken from their families by the ravaging soldiers from the north who saw it as a privilege to mingle with women from this part of the country. So who is to be blamed here?

Today, many couples and single mothers have settled for adoption as a means of filling up the vacuum created by their inability to procreate. So, tomorrow someone who knows the extra miles these desperate, unfortunate mothers went to will demean these children, describing them as strangers.

I think it is primitive for anyone to describe his or her brother as a stranger, and worst still, should not be allowed to occupy the exalted seat as governor. Who in any case is the Rivers man?

In those days when impunity was not the other of the day, a child who has been disowned by his father must never return home. Having won the cloak of a prodigal son for years and having your robes changed with a fatherly pardon demands that you treat others with respect. A lot of those who claim legitimacy may not even pass a paternity test.

The whole noise about a true Rivers man as governor is not a function of tradition where some persons may not be allowed to occupy certain positions as a result of their stranger factor.

In any case, some of those behind these calls cannot claim full rights in their various communities. Some were conquered slaves while others are those whose mothers were married along side their children from the other man.

From the Christian view point, there is no limit as to who can occupy an exalted position. The likes of Jesus the Christ and Jephtha would not have made it as leaders.

I strongly advise that we keep the sanctity of family and friendship while we seek the support of the electorates.