The office of governor of Rivers state is a powerful one and respected across Nigeria. It has the attraction of fame, and gives the occupant unfettered access to the state’s resources. The office is so significant that, when occupied by a responsible and humane person could mean an improvement in the quality of life of those who live and do business in Rivers -the Treasure Base of the Nation. However, when the office is occupied by an unfit person- a dictator who subordinates the needs and aspirations of the citizens to his narrow interests, the people mourn.
It is therefore not surprising that, at every turn of events, scores of aspirants emerge to compete for the juicy office. At the end of the day, only one person becomes the governor while the losers are offered lesser offices or settled in other ways, depending on the disposition of the winner.
As all politicians set their eyes on the 2015 general elections, individuals and groups in Rivers state have been advancing their positions based on their political interests. While some root for the immediate past Minister of state for Education, Chief ( Barr.) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, based on his contributions to the party, the state and the nation, some are throwing their weights behind the reverine, even as yet another school of thought argue that it is the turn of Ogonis, who are yet to produce a governor (military and civilian) for the first time.
The first to fire the shot, pointing the direction of his political interest was the governor of Rivers state, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, when he declared that an Ikwerre man will not succeed him in 2015.
However, when some political activists resorted to subterfuge, throwing the kite that the President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan was working for one of her kinsmen from the riverine area of Rivers state to succeed Governor Amaechi in 2015, the First Lady reacted by refuting the story. She went further, may be to clear all possible doubts that she supports the then Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued by Mr. Ayo Adewuyi, her media assistant, the First Lady had this to say: “In the case of Rivers state, the First Lady (Dame Patience Jonathan) wishes to state categorically that the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike is the leader of the PDP in Rivers state and he enjoys the followership of the people of the state. The First Lady is solidly behind Chief Wike. The people of Rivers state are also solidly behind Chief Wike and are prepared to follow him”.
The declaration of Dame Patience Jonathan as expected provoked mixed reactions. While some citizens from across the state lauded the public support for the minister, Asari Dokubo, Ankio Briggs etc felt otherwise. Asari argues in favour Ogonis but Ankio Briggs maintains it should go to either the riverine or Ogoni but not Ikwerre in 2015, considering that Governor Amaechi, an Ikwerre man would have been in the office for eight years by 2015.
Expectedly, the scope of arguments are widening, giving credence to the principle that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and preferences. The caveat however is that, those who insist that the First Lady cannot impose her preference on Rivers people should also understand that the same principle applies to them: They should also allow Rivers people to think for themselves and make their own choices! The reason is simple: Behind every opinion is an interest, and behind every zoning formula is also a hidden agenda.
It is indeed regrettable that some of the vocal citizens are taking undue advantage of their privileged access to the media to undermine the freedom, interest and opinion of other citizens. Someone must tell them that ours is a plural society where no one has the right to impose his or her own opinion on the majority as every citizen has right under the law to his own choices.
Curiously, the same people who, in one breath have openly declared their preferences in the run up to the 2015 governorship election in Rivers state, are on the other hand up in arms against others for freely expressing their own opinions. Although they claim that it would amount to injustice to other sections of the state if another Ikwerre man succeeds the incumbent in 2015, they see nothing wrong in some persons holding political offices in this same state since 1999 till date at the expense of other interested and qualified persons in their constituencies. This selective identification of injustice is further evidence that there is much more to the agitations than meets the eyes.
While the point must be made that political offices are contested for and not just given to an individual because he or she deserves it, we believe that the constant changes in the premises of political arguments in Rivers state is laughable. When it suits some persons, they advocate zoning based on upland and riverine dichotomy, and when that is not favourable they insist it must be based on senatorial zones. The argument is endless!
However, what is clear in all of this is that people advance their arguments based on their interests; but are these selfish interests a true reflection of the cumulative interest of the people of Rivers state? Your guess might be as good as mine but past experiences and reports of votes being ‘delivered’ instead of the expressed choices of electorates are instructive.
The Rivers person wants portable drinking water, electricity, good roads, adequate security and a favourable environment that will enable people to fulfill themselves as human beings. Any politician who can share in the sorrows of the people, understand their difficulties, anticipate their wants and guarantee their welfare, according to Mahatma Ghandhi, is the choice of the people, irrespective of where he or she comes from.
Therefore, any politician who wants to be governor should be encouraged to do the needful-join a political party, collect the intent and nomination forms and contest for the party’s ticket. Those who are able to secure their party tickets can then present themselves and their programmes to the electorates for evaluation and final decision. The days of presumptions are over! Any one who is hoping that one person will be disqualified so the ticket can be handed over to him should be told to wake up; it is a new day: The days of predetermined victories which threw up strange characters are gone for good and forever.
We all know that life has different swings and people tend to respond to the same issue in different ways at different times because of their interests. It is not different in politics. While receiving some guests from Kalabari in Rivers state Government House, Governor Rotimi Amaechi ruled out the possibility of an Ikwerri man succeeding him. Not a few citizens interpreted that declaration as his personal opinion. However, at another forum when former Bayelsa state Governor, Timipre Sylva paid Rt. Hon. Amaechi a solidarity visit in Port Harcourt with a view to boosting their push against the return of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term; the governor harped on the need for people’s preferences to be respected.
Hear him: “We want to be allowed to make our choices and express our views. We want to be expressing our interest and views, the best you can do is to remain convinced in what you stand for”.
Without any prejudice, one completely agrees with the governor’s later position that citizens, irrespective of their positions in the society should be free to express their interests and views, and not cajoled to move in a given direction for any reason. The right to free choice is one of the hall marks of democracy, and we expect those who think they can deliver the winning votes single handedly- with or without the people’s votes to allow the wheel of democracy to run freely in 2015.
We see politics as a game of interests and because interests vary with individuals, those who have preferences can only achieve their goals by reaching out to others for the purpose of harmonizing all the interests in the overall interest of the state. No section of the state should be misled to think that they can ever make it without the support of others.
Iheanyi Ogbakiri Ezinwo, is the publisher of Notable Outcome newspaper based in Port Harcourt.
noutcome@yahoo.com
Tel.08068756996.
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