Fubara: Why Nyesom Wike Is Right
BEN AHANONU
For quite sometime, Rivers State has been in the spotlight because of the seemingly intractable political impasse between the incumbent Gov. Fubara now suspended and his predecessor, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
The first time I met Wike was way back in 2015 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, and he came across as a vibrant man exuding goodwill, charm and confidence. It was a chance encounter but with lasting impression. Then he was a minister.
When he eventually became the Governor, he brought that charm, goodwill and confidence to bear on his office and was able to achieve a lot in eight years as the Governor of Rivers State.
Nyesom Wike literally changed the landscape of Rivers State with the countless roads and flyovers he constructed that made the then Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to give him the nickname, ‘Mr Projects.’
Nyesom Wike is a thoroughbred, rugged and smart politician that understands the intricacies of the game fully and pitches his tent where his interest lies because ‘interest” is the “active agent” of politics.
I am convinced that Nyesom Wike is a good man despite his perceived shortcomings, which is common with everyone because nobody is perfect.
While I do not hate Fubara as a person, I must however, point out the fact that he messed up and abused the position of Governor of Rivers State, given to him by Wike.
I know there were other qualified and competent Rivers State indigenes that Wike would have selected to take over from him but he stuck with Fubara, believing that he is loyal and will remain loyal.
For those that do not know, loyalty is everything in life, business, marriage, politics and even in Heaven because without loyalty, leadership will be ineffective thus leading to strife and confusion.
Remember, when Satan and his fallen angels rebelled against God Almighty in Heaven, it angered the Almighty so much that He cast them away from His presence and seized their powers.
It was disloyalty to God Almighty by Adam and Eve that brought death and cost man the Garden of Eden.
When Judas Iscariot became disloyal to the point of betraying his Master, he ended badly with an everlasting and irredeemable curse.
During his first term of office as the President of the United States, Donald Trump had a vice president called Mike Pence, who later became grossly disloyal in the aftermath of the election that Trump lost but which he believed was rigged against him. Donald Trump banished Pence to a distant corridor, called him unprintable names and vowed never to have anything to do with him.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo could not see eye to eye with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, because of the inglorious role he, Atiku, played in scuppering the alleged “Third Term Agenda” of Obasanjo. If it was possible for Obasanjo to drop Atiku then he would have done that but the bad blood between the two is still lingering and all because of the perceived disloyalty of Atiku Abubakar.
The same thing happened in Imo State between former Governor Rochas Okorocha and former Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso. The former Governor could not tolerate what he felt were acts of disloyalty and he organized a hurried and humiliating impeachment of Agbaso.
In fact, it needs no telling that disloyalty is wicked, tantamount to rebellion and intolerable.
Every agreement is sacrosanct and once reached must be respected and implemented to the letter.
It cannot change or be changed by circumstances and in the case of Fubara vs Wike, Fubara is guilty of disloyalty, which infuriated Nyesom Wike terribly because he felt humiliated by someone he changed his story and fortune by making him Governor.
Please I urge Nigerians to discard sentiments and evaluate the matter circumspectly.
Fubara made a huge mistake by trying to fight Wike soon after emerging as Governor – things are not done like that anywhere.
If he knew he was not going to be loyal by keeping the “agreement” faithfully, he should have contested the election without the support of Wike – that is how real gentlemen operate.
He sorely provoked Wike by playing the “Saint” and “Victim” the same time and demonizing Wike in the process but all his efforts were rubbished by Wike, who proved too strong, stubborn and indomitable.
In politics, “interest” is the rule and when your subordinate cannot protect your interest, that can best be described as clear-cut disloyalty, insult and senseless insubordination
Wike is “untouchable” because he kept his part of the agreement with Tinubu by delivering Rivers State to the APC during the last presidential election then after the election, Tinubu had no option but to keep his own part of the agreement, so nobody should be under the illusion that Tinubu will sack Wike.
I want Nyesom Wike’s detractors to put themselves in his shoes and know how it feels.
Fubara humiliated Wike – his benefactor, by reneging on the agreement, which fine details I am not privy to anyway.
Those insulting and castigating Wike like he slept with their mother are wasting their time by crying more than the bereaved. Obviously, they are ignorant of the dictates of power game.
In politics and power-play, there is no sentiment, no sympathy, no empathy as everything is underpinned by interest and keeping the terms of agreement to the letter in order to avoid the harsh consequences of a breach.
Meanwhile, following the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State, it is Fubara that benefited most as nothing on Earth would have stopped his impeachment by Wike’ s 27 loyal House of Assembly members.
The State of Emergency offers both parties a clear path to settle their differences amicably and in such a manner that it will be a win-win situation for everyone including Rivers State indigenes and residents.
It is hoped that Fubara, who is a neophyte and unfamiliar with the nitty-gritty of politics and power-game must have learnt his lessons the hard way so that when he eventually returns as Governor, which is possible, he will play by the rules.
I am Prince Ben AHANONU
…With intellectual swagger that doesn’t stagger.
Email: benahanonu@gmail.com
