THE WAR MONGERS OF RIVERS

Amaechi and Wike

It is sad to note that in spite of the failed last Rivers State legislative re-run elections in which some youths, including a member of the NYSC, lost their lives on account of election violence, the two main political gladiators in the state have not learnt any lessons. They are once again baying for blood.

On Saturday December 10, State and National Assembly legislative re-run elections would hold once again in Rivers State. In the run-up to the elections, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Transport Minister Rotimi Amaech – both indigenes of the state – are once again at each other’s jugulars. Wike has reportedly vowed that he will "capture any APC member who comes from Abuja" for the elections. This is a veiled reference to his main political arch enemy, Rotimi Amaechi. Very unfortunate that a supposed leader of a state would publicly use a word associated with violence and war. This simply shows the mindset of the Governor – that the election is war.

But if the Governor's undiplomatic statement is unfortunate, Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi's retort is even more so. Amaechi reportedly told APC supporters in Port-Harcourt "don't kill anybody but don't be killed. Shoot if you are shot at”.

The militancy in the Niger Delta is enough headache. We do not need to add election violence to it.

Chief John Odigie Oyegun, APC's national chairman went further. During the party’s rally held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt Oyegun declared that Federal might had been deployed to the state for the elections. He urged APC supporters to retaliate any act of violence meted out to them. He told them to "slap back if you are slapped".

I don't know any statements more inciting to violence than these statements coming from leaders on both sides of the political divide in the state. And to note that this is a state notorious for violence! It speaks volumes and one wonders if these people are really out to render service to the people.  

Worthy of note is the fact that none of these so-called leaders has advised their supporters to be law abiding. At the end of the day, if their inciting statements pay off and violence does indeed erupt, Amaechi and Oyegun would return to serene Abuja to have peace while Wike would barricade himself in Government House Port-Harcourt, surrounded by an army of paid militants and security forces.

And the people? Well, those who survive would rue their losses while others will bury their dead. And life goes on, and Wike, Amaechi and Oyegun would move on to their next political battle. Wike and Amaechi I know for braggaddocio, but how and when a normally urbane and sober-looking Oyegun became a political war monger, I cannot tell. Whatever happened to this hitherto political Obierika to turn him into a snarling Okonkwo?

Even more baffling in the face of the verbal indiscretion from these political leaders is that the vulnerable ordinary people who might be victims if violence actually does breakout are taking sides to support them. I have so far heard not a word of condemnation from the usual social media snipers from the same geopolitical zone who have been accusing President Buhari of having a taste for blood. I do not know how it is that the people do not understand that they are the ultimate loser in all this political scheming. Is it ignorance, crumbs from the high table or both?

Whatever it is, Rotimi Amaechi is a liability to the Buhari Administration. So is Wike to the people of Rivers State. Whatever their political value might be, it does not justify their predilection for violence, and precipitation of same too. The impact of what they are doing today in Rivers State would be felt in time to come – for Amaechi, for Wike, for APC, for President Buhari’s government and for the people of Rivers State.  Which is why I suggest that the President should temporarily relocate to Port-Harcourt to oversee the security arrangement for the elections. He should stay there until results have been announced and should return to Abuja only on the ground that there is no protest anywhere in the state.

The militancy in the Niger Delta is enough headache. We do not need to add election violence to it. Considering his plans for the Niger Delta, I opine that President Buhari needs a bridge builder as points man in the zone; not a man with polarizing personality, unless of course Mr. President does not care how his story in the Niger Delta is written. There are times when leadership should take precedence over politics. And this is the time to show leadership.

I rest my case.