Let me start by saying that as an indigene of Rivers state, I am ashamed
of the news coming from my state as we prepare for the scheduled
National Assembly and the State House of Assembly rerun elections. An
election that is supposed to be a political contest has become a bloody
warfare. It is a shame that the political gladiators and major
stakeholders are more interested in scoring political points with deaths
and instigating violence instead of using the powers at their disposal
to nip the violence that has brought shame to the state to the bud.
Nyesome Wike is the incumbent Governor, his position isn't up for grab,
Rotimi Amaechi is the minister representing Rivers state in the federal
excutive council, his position isn't on the line, yet statements
credited to them are but a shame.
Both Amaechi And Wike Are Gainers, None Is A Loser
Anyway,
my concern is the set of supporters and youths that allowed themselves
to be used as a tool to settle scores on behalf of politicians. I have
monitored the stories of the Rivers violence and the victims carefully, I
saw NO single victim that is related to Mr Rotimi Amaechi and Governor
Nyesom Wike. Hundred percent of the victims are either tagged "APC
Supporters/Chieftains" or "PDP Supporters/Chieftains". I checked again
to see who the biggest beneficiaries will be in the contest and the
names of Amaechi and Wike propped up. It is a fact that irrespective of
how the election goes, neither of Amaechi nor Wike will lose completely.
Wike will still be Governor, Amaechi will still be minister and is
guaranteed life mouth-watering benefits from Rivers state's purse as a
former Governor. The losers are always the victims and merchinaries of
political violence.
The Gladiators We Kill For Have Ways of Uniting
History
has shown that politicians in Nigeria are never enemies. They always
have a way of stoking violence between supporters and they still have a
way of coming together to share the booty without recourse to ANY of
their supporter nor victims. I will give a few instances....
Between
2002 and 2003, then PDP's Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso supporters clashed
with those of ANPP's Presidential Aspirant Muhammadu Buhari and ANPP's
Governorship candidate Ibrahim Shekarau, people lost their lives in the
process. However, thsame gladiators that people died and got injured for
between 2002 and 2003 made up in 2013 and united under APC broom.
Today, Buhari is the President under APC platform while Kwankwaso is a
Senator under same APC platform. What did those that died for them
between 2002-2003 got? Any insurance for them?
In Ekiti state
between 2006 and 2013, supporters of PDP's Gov Segun Oni and AC/ACN's
Kayode Fayemi engaged themselves in bloody clash in Ekiti state, people
lost their lives and properties. The same gladiators that people died
for between 2006 and 2013 made up in 2014 when Segun Oni joined APC.
Today, Fayemi is a minister under APC government, while Oni is the
acting National Chairman of APC. What did the families of the victim
got? What did the victim got? Any insurance?
In Osun state, PDP's
exGov Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Governor Rauf Aregbesola's supporters
repeatedly clashed between 2006 and 2010, several lives were lost in the
process. Today, same political gladiators are best of pals in APC.
Oyinlola even nominated some appointees to Aregbesola. Who loses? The
victims or gladiators?
Some of us may remember the bloody clash
between PDP's Adebayo Akala supporters and Ajibola Ajimobi in 2007(ANPP)
and 2011(ACN). There were even picket of clashes in 2015 when both
battled each other the third time for the state's number one seat, as
usual lives were lost. But what do we have today? Akala is an APC
Chieftain and an ally of Ajimobi. What did their supporters and victims
get? Who loses?
Even in Rivers state, I could recall how
Wike/Amaechi fought with Omehia group in 2007. Today, Wike and Omehia
are pals, Omehia receives full estacodes of exGovernor, but Amaechi and
Wike are dramatising to be foes. Since their supporters started
clashing, who has been losing among them? Wike is a Governor, Amaechi is
a minister, Peterside is DG NIMASA. What did the victims of the
violence get? We all know that "something" awaits the losing candidates
for the rerun election either in the federal level or state level as the
case may be. What awaits the victims of the violence and their
families? In fact, Wike will always pay Amaechi his entitlement as
former Governor.
Should I remind all that even at the peak of
clash between then Lagos state Gov Tinubu(AD/AC) and then Works minister
Seye Ogunlewe, Gov Tinubu still appointed Ogunlewe(PDP)'s brother as
his Head of Service? What compensation did their victims get? Even when
Musliu Obanikoro's supporters and those of Bode George were killing
themselves in 2007, both men still got "something" for their troubles.
Bode was retained as NPA Chairman, while Obanikoro was appointed an
Ambassador to Ghana. What did their footsoldiers and victims of attacks
get other than Obituary and Gone Too Soon?
NO political gladiator
is worth the blood of any poor Nigerian. Why should we kill ourselves
for them when we are aware that they always have a way of settling each
other? Did Fayose not openly supported Fayemi for juicy ministerial
appointment of recent? Is it not time for the youths to be wise?
Young
people and citizens of Nigeria should always be passionate about
positive political ideologies that will advance the cause of our country
irrespective of political leaning, and not cheer the gladiators when
they pitch us against each other.
As for the Rivers poll, though
I want my party to win the rerun, I shall not support winning through
violence of any form. I want a #PeacefulRivers and not a #BloodyRivers. I
want a Rivers that I can be proud to call my state.
This epistle should be more than enough for the wise!!!
May God Bless Us All and Bless Nigeria
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