By Kehinde Bisi-Taiwo
The build-up scenarios to what we now have in our hands (Declaration of State of Emergency) as a temporary solution or is it the last resort? The Fubara Vs Wike unending imbroglio in the oil-rich Rivers State serves as a typical example of the danger inherent in Godfatherism and the manifestable disadvantages therein.
The Obasa Vs Meranda ‘eyesore’ may be quickly cited also in Jagaban Lagos right? However, the end is always left to justify the means in the polity and our daily life activities.
Many pundits, and seriously concerned opinion leaders are out in town condemning in totality the action of the President and Commander-in-Chief vis-a-vis the recent proclamation bringing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas on board as Sole Administrator from retirement and sending both the executive and legislative representation in the state to a forced six months recess.
While a few compared to those castigating welcomed the Rivers State development as: ‘A stitch
in time…..’ aptly important to douse the risen tension and prevent a total breakdown of the fragile law and order in place; where we have only a handful of legislators standing with H.E Siminalayi Fubara and the majority taking directives from his estranged Godfather, H.E. Nyesom Wike.
On another hand, the arrowhead of the judiciary in the state, the Chief Judge, is being dragged on an alleged irregularity of some sort.
Now, sincerely, can we then, safely say, a people-serving government is in place?
Isn’t it a wise counsel to toe the line of the well-known saying: ‘ prevention is better than cure’ from the general look of things?
While I have chosen to leave apportioning of blame alone for now because it is belated, I will in the same vein, allow the erudite lawyers around to thoroughly educate the general public more on the legality or otherwise of the gazetted decision of the C-In-C awaiting the National Assembly’s ratification accordingly.
Getting the required number at the tenth assembly for Mr President to have his way is supposed to be a litmus test for both the will of the C-In-C, and his administration on one ground, and our evolving democratic set-up on another ground.
However, the frequency and speed at which every executive request is been passed without much ado is quite instructive of what to expect, anything short of the President’s anticipation will be a classical wonder in the scheme of things as far as this dispensation is concerned.
I stand to be corrected. Meanwhile, all of you guys who dropped coins on a bet with me earlier this morning I will win una.
In all of these, It won’t be out of place for all to critically appraise the genesis of the imbroglio taking a significant cue from the submission of H.E. Ayo Fayose, which can easily be classified as both ‘prophetic’ and at the same time highly instructive as it played out.
The early warning of ‘Peter the Rock’ as he loves to be called, at the inauguration of Mr Governor, Fubara ought to be a watchword in dealing with Wike, since the sitting Governor chose, and willingly aligned with him, agreed to his styles of going about issues up until attaining his political leverage as a ‘loyal’ mente or godson, as you may want it.
Yorubas constantly concurs with the fact that, it is wrong timing for anyone to be crying and protesting about the cold after willingly stepping into the river.
How possible is it to be crying when the head is off is another salient question begging for an answer.
Good or bad, politicians are quick to say, ‘agreement na agreement’ that was in fact, the sentiment H.E Fayose was pushing for his friend that day.
The impeachment notice had been duly served and may have dragged for a very long time at the worst scenario courtesy of the intermittent winking of the FCT Minister to his loyalist.
The body language of the embattled Fubara also signals imminent danger for the oil pipelines, so also his silence.
Yes, a school of thought is fingering the 2027 election either rightly or wrongly as a remote cause of the whole palaver, being a strategy to control the state. It is a possibility anyway, but what happens to the people and the land before then?
All of these posers are enough for every mind irrespective of political leaning to reason out whose best interest the decision of a sole administrator in that state will serve, while the elected representatives will be afforded the opportunity of a rethink, to better the interest of the people whose mandate they’re holding in trust.
Indeed, an automatic factory reset mode had been activated in Rivers State since the 18th day of March 2025 by the President’s proclamation.
May our democracy evolve rightly moving forward.
Kehinde is a Writer, Author and Aide to the Executive Governor of Ondo-State. Originally from Okeigbo, Ondo-State Nigeria
