A Minister coming to my State should consult me to avoid security breakdown, but you see some of them coming without letting me know, that’s the dirty politics they play. ~ Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike on Channels TV.
Mr Wike, so if you are not informed of any Minister’s visit, there will be a security breakdown in the state? Hmm. Expectedly, you impressed me again with your knack for flippancy in choosing your words.
Can someone like Emma Okah please come to the rescue of the governor. There is what is called Diplomacy and Decorum in office. The protocol of the palace is not just about knowing the figures that are accrued to the State through Federal Allocation and Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. You should know that having been a Palace boy, you are expected to know the lifestyle of a King except you still are affected by the cloak of the Chief Butler in the Brick House.
By this singular statement, you have not only worsened the job of your image handlers, I doubt if there are any since the exit of Sir Opunabo Inko -Tariah, but you have further proved the security reports submitted to PMB to be correct, that you are in the know of those who lay ambush against the Nigerian Army during the raid of the militant hideout in Ogoni land.
You have admitted that those who have turned the Orashi region, Dr Odili’s traditional home, as a centre for ISIS operation are known to you.
By this singular statement, you have admitted that you know how it feels for a Federal Minister, such as you were under President Jonathan, to visit a State, hold meetings without prior information to a sitting governor. Remember your numerous, unchecked visits to Rivers State with Ali Modu Sheriff’s private jets, when Gov Amaechi held sway.
Mr Governor you are lucky to be on seat when sanity has returned to Aso Rock, when a man acts like a man, when a First Lady knows her limits and when the Service Chiefs minus one now respect their offices.
You are lucky to have the MD of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC pay you a visit and receive a souvenir from you without being expelled or verbally attacked by her party cos I can’t remember when Henry Ogiri, the former EDFA in NDDC, a Rivers PDP member visited Amaechi as Governor.
Unfortunately, you are the governor when allocation has so dwindled, and Rivers people are waiting to see you meander through, by cutting your excesses, reducing your security vote in order to augment for salaries and pension.
You are the governor when the President is of a different political party. Rivers people are waiting to see you attract meaningful federal projects to the State.
You are governor when the Courts are not closed down, rather they are open to obey your orders and do your bidding in throwing opposition members into jail without recourse to the constitution.
Yes, you are governor now that no one has closed the State Assembly with an obsessed Police Commissioner, yes, you can operate without a functional Budget. There is no opposition in the Assembly to plot your impeachment or try to shoot you in a rowdy fracas. At least, there are no Kelechi Nwogus to shout, “That’s the Governor, shoot him “, or a Chidi Lloyd to take the risk of being jailed just to protect you.
Better yet, you are the governor when cultists are on rampage and shooting becomes the order of the day in the State. Do you still possess the same political will to do the things you claimed to have done as the ‘actual ‘ governor when Ateke Tom was chased out of the Okochiri evil forest? Can you stop Solomon Ndigbara again? May be Don Wani of Omoku?
You are the most powerful, most influential, the talk na do governor who wields the big stick. It’s time to show your power. Save Rivers people from the hands of these blood thirsty men. I know you can do it as the all knowing governor who knows why there is a security breakdown anytime a Federal Minister visits the State.
Thank You very much!
Oby Ndukwe is the Publisher of the BEAM MAGAZINE
