By Oby Ndukwe
This seems to be the season of defections caused by betrayals in our political scene. For me, betrayal is not strange and I may never be worried about who betrays me cos I have been through that school, big time. Unfortunately, most of those who either defend or encourage this act have not felt its pain to the point where, you, the victim becomes scared of dealing with man.
There are, though, different levels of betrayals and if you are reading this piece, you may not appreciate it cos what you have experienced is just enough for your level. The greater your eminence, they say, the greater your enemies. But if there is nothing big about you, where you amount to an average or even less than that, you may never get a chance to feel me! Anyway, you can't say you feel me except you cry when I cry or crawl when I crawl!
While many frown at politicians who betray one another, the truth is that betrayal is part of our politics. Backstabbing, treachery, blackmail and mudslinging have formed the bane of our Nigerian political nature. Those who preach or practice morality may never get to the top in this business.
The latest news in town which to the PDP, is a big one, is the recent defection of the Rivers Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru from the ruling APC in the state to the opposition, PDP, while to the APC, it was a 'good riddance to bad rubbish', according to Eze Chukwuemeka.
However it is looked at, the fact remains that it is a political statement which can be viewed as either a betrayal or a move in the right direction. Let's face the issue of betrayal here since it could also inform a step in the right direction. The question becomes: who has betrayed who? Am sure many who are unbiased here will agree with me that the victim of betrayal here is Gov. Amaechi. This may not be the first time he has cried out over betrayals by those who have been close and have benefited from him. Those he has shown kindness beyond measure have spared nothing in giving him that kiss that is not a sign of love but a kiss of death, as defined by Judas.
Amaechi has severally said that his former Chief of Staff and close ally had betrayed him after helping him get into the Federal Executive Council as a Minister. He accused Nyesom Wike of stabbing him in the back and selling him out. While the dust over this is yet to settle, few days to the Presidential election, Amaechi's deputy, Tele Ikuru, betrayed the friendship between them when he chose to defect to the opposition, leaving the government without a number 2 man. Funny! What I don't know is if the Constitution permits such a vacuum. Well, most times, deputy governors are mere spare tyres, a position given to those who are considered not ambitious or of any political relevance and without clout. But is this the case here? Let's leave that for the politicians to answer.
I have wondered why a man like Amaechi who has been a two-time Speaker, said to be extremely loyal to his mentor, Dr. Peter Odili, was the Chairman, National Conference of Speakers for two tenures, a two-time out-going governor of Rivers state, Chairman, Nigerian Governor's Forum for two terms and currently, the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Organization will be betrayed by his associates. He has the requisite experience in our murky waters of politics, yet from the time he joined politics till date, it has been an avalanche of betrayals, from his cousin, Celestine Omehia, whom he brought to power as Commissioner for Education under Gov. Rufus Ada-George, to Austin Opara whom he helped to become the Deputy Speaker to the House of Representatives under Gov. Peter Odili, to Tele Ikuru who was his running mate in 2007 before his ticket was hexed and given to Celestine Omehia, to Nyesom Wike, his closest ally from 2006 to 2011, whom he had helped to become two-time Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA even with stiff opposition from his people, Chief of Staff and then Minister. Hmmmm! From Wike, it has moved to Tele Ikuru, even though Amaechi has not said so.
I do understand betrayal even more than Amaechi does cos I have been through it. I never wish it for my worst enemy even. It hurts so much that you sometimes wonder if truly God exists and if so, why did He allow you go through it.? Am talking of betrayal from someone you took from the lowest ebb of life and restored to glory. Someone with whom you shared your inner most recesses, who knows your strengths and weaknesses, someone who put nothing into that relationship, yet you chose to reward him or her big time. Its the kind that comes from a most trusted ally or friend, the one who knows your fears and pains as well as your dreams and aspirations. It is the kiss of death that comes from the one with whom you shared those secrets and even engaged in secret deals. I have been through it. The pain can only be compared to the sting of an ant so close to your body, it’s like the lump that grows into a full blown cancer that turns what was once a source of food or pleasure to a source of bitterness and pain. It is in your body but it gradually kills you. The pain of such betrayal doesn't come easy at all. Surprisingly, I have recovered from it but the memories are yet to leave me, that sometimes I wonder if I could trust again
Betrayal in politics could be worse for a man who has done so much for those he thought truly loved him. No, Amaechi should not have gone through this again after the thorny road to victory, during a ten-month exile in the wilderness. He should have known better.
But wait a minute, how could such a man who is known to some as 'Ninja', and to others, 'Lion of the Niger Delta' be so easily beaten by those who were meant to be his subjects? Yes, he was a student of the Odili political college but he never graduated from there! Amaechi was akin to be the 'first political son' of the Odilis. He had all the privileges of 'the son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him", Odili did accord him that. No one was in doubt that Odili would hand over to Amaechi as his successor. He was under attack regularly by those who were bent on scuttling the plan of succession. Unfortunately, Amaechi chose a path that would eventually lead to the threats he has faced, politically. As Speaker, he practically handed over the reins of legislative and financial power to his deputy, late Tonye Harry who was also counted in the number, of those who betrayed him while he was on exile in Ghana. Na waa o!
I really do not think Amaechi learnt much from his former boss, Peter Odili. Under the former governor, no one would even dare. Those who tried it never had it good. The Ogbuagu 1 of Orashi was not a man to mess with. He was very much conversant with the 48 Laws of Power, “take down any perceived opponent before he takes you down.”
Amaechi's political godfather may have also failed to tutor his son well. He probably pampered him and treated him with kids' gloves. Odili did not scold him for his frequent visits overseas, both official and unofficial. Behind the former Speaker and leader of Ikwerre politics, most criticsl decisions were taken. Even when he was around, he would oppose most of such draconian decisions like the sack of Council Chairmen without following due process. And Odili would listen to him against the wish of the larger majority. His dislike for the hard way to tackle perceived challenges earned him the title of 'amateur'. Amaechi was regarded as immature to lead the state because he would not apply force particularly with the Militants, whom he never had a relationship with.
Amaechi failed to cultivate an alliance with the creek boys who today, would have helped him to challenge the federal might or those on the other side of the divide. He treated the likes of Chief G.U. Ake with some sort of 'you are our father' attitude and that caused him the PDP structure. Those so-called big names from supposed big families were treated with utmost preference for the sake of their 'father's name'. Tonye Princewill and his likes were brought in through the back door and were treated better than his true friends and supporters. For Odili, it was a matter of respect enshrined in magnanimity which was one area Amaechi had imbibed from his former boss. Odili was generous to a fault. He called it the use of 'appropriate technology' to 'buy' any stubborn person who would constitute a stumbling block. Amaechi, though, was quite generous in his first term, but later changed for whatever reasons that are best known to him. His refusal to share the booty or open the treasury of the state to the cabal cost him a lot of friends.
He failed to apply the use of ‘appropriate technology’ like his former boss and that made him susceptible to betrayals. Even Nyesom Wike who is accused of amassing so much wealth under Amaechi did not do so with Amaechi's knowledge. He was smart!
What the governor failed to learn is that projects don't win elections in Nigeria. It is the volume of money that is shared that will bring the cabal on your side. The men of God dont need your presence in their churches, they need the donations. Peter dey pay-PDP! Paying contractors to complete projects during election period was not Odili style. The politicians need the money to deliver. What of the women who should have been receiving wrappers, sewing machines, gas cookers, freezers from Madam? No be ESI free nursery schools dem want abeg.
For Tele Ikuru, he could not have switched loyalty to Amaechi, abandoning his uncle, Uche Secondus who had done everything to lift him out of poverty and bring him to limelight. How could Amaechi have believed him in the first place? If he were in Tele's shoes, would he have done same? Odili would never have trusted Tele or any other person. The likes of David Briggs and Pawariso Horsfall had a bitter taste of Odili's pills after all, inspite of serving as his Commissioners.
Odili knew how to overlook those who were considered ‘corrupt’, but Amaechi opted to do away with such. No it doesn’t happen that way in Naija. After all, the good, the bad and the ugly are needed to make things work, they say.
Odili had a formidable propaganda team, but under Amaechi, it was the ‘establishment’ persons who have no place for propaganda or celebrated stories. In the end did it pay? I no know oo!
The flamboyance which Odili's aides and family members exhibited, and the power they wielded are not found in Amaechi's government. There is no Okey Nzenwa here and no Onyii Ileh assisting his wife. Amaechi has no home at Ubima where he could meet with his family members. Not even a Special Adviser on Home Affairs like Chief Ofili Enebeli who was handy to take care of the needs of the Ndoni people. Odili enjoyed media blitz. Under the former governor, the Press was robust. Persons like Glory Emeh were kept for their ‘nuisance value’ and he got the job done. Amaechi cannot tolerate such persons.
If it were under Odili's rein, Tele Ikuru would not have asked the PDP to go after APC members even if it means, shedding blood. Outside Odili, there were the likes of Abiye Sekibo, George Sekibo, Kenneth Kobani, David Briggs, Uche Secondus, Nyesom Wike, Emeka Woke, Elemchukwu Ogbowu, Pa Horsfall, the Asaris and the Atekes, Larry Pepple, Ade Adeogun, Oyaghiri, Tonye Harry, Isaac Onyesom and others who won't waste time to go after him.
Amaechi's army of boys scouts who have been entrenched in the spiritual are no match for Odili's army.
Chaii! What did Amaechi learn from Odili? Could it be that these defectors and the Judases have no time for divine intervention? They prefer to play the game the hard way so much that they are re-grouping again.
Who will save Amaechi from those who have perfected plots to send him to prison for daring to hide the keys to the treasury of the state, their common wealth? "Na your Papa get the money?", they ask him.
Any way, he may yet have to learn the hard way or continue to depend on the grace of God. You can't be a Pope in Hell! But the question is, "Does God play politics, yet those who kill, cheat, betray and destroy others are the ones who benefit and have the best things of life?”.
Your guess may be as good as mine!
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