Born of a humble background, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Governor of Rivers state had a dream of not just raising the status of his family but also dreamt of a better society where there would be a thin line between the rich and the poor. He may not have imagined that he would someday rise to become one of the most prominent politicians in the 21st century but he sure had a tall dream.
The audacity to dream big in the midst of glaring poverty and class consciousness may have been his greatest albatross as those who think of themselves of having a better pedigree, and are more privileged are yet to come to terms with the truth, that this young man of 50 years has performed better than them.
Even those who are his kith and kin are in doubt with the reality of his dreams come true. Like the biblical Joseph, his very kinsmen have chosen to stop his sun from shinning. Their hate campaign is similar to that of Joseph’s brothers who envied him for being loved, chosen and decorated in a special garment by their father. They are not comfortable with the fact that he represents a hard core voice who would stop at nothing to speak the barefaced truth without caring whose ox is gored. That was the second reason why Joseph’s brothers hated him.
But their hate transcended to nothing as fate would smile on him even in the dark pit where they dumped him.
He was cast away from his own family and presumed dead, and was later ‘sold’ away.
Rotimi Amaechi no doubts has his flaws just like every other man, but his divine destiny has prevailed over the demonic machinations of men.
The more he is afflicted, the more he moves forward and waxes strong! His detractors are busy trying to catalogue his ‘sins’, while the larger society gathers to celebrate him.
Amaechi’s greatest sin is his dream of 2015, to do the humanly impossible of leading an opposition party to victory. He joined forces with other progressives to change the status quo of the power of incumbency. The two time Speaker and two time Governor who was stripped of his coat of many colours is now being decorated with a royal robe and the scepter of authority.
He truly represents our modern day Joseph, whose household enemies later submitted to his authority, even in another land.
Congratulations to the one who has the backing of the King!
Oby Ndukwe is the Publisher of BEAM MAGAZINE
