RIVERS POLITICAL CRISIS: THE PRESIDENT ANSWERED YOUR CALLS

By Enyinnaya Appolos

When the political disputes in Rivers State between Gov Sim Fubara and the 27 lawmakers erupted, Nigerians called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene.

The reason for asking the President to intervene was because former Governor Wike and the Minister for Abuja appeared to be on the side of the 27 lawmakers.

Note that at the time Mr. President was called to intervene, both parties have gone to court, we are aware of this fact.

If my assumption is correct, what we wanted Mr. President to do was a political solution or an out-of-court settlement. In other words, an alternative dispute resolution.

Mr President listened to the calls and invited the parties involved in the crisis, and also invited former governor Peter Odili, whom the parties involved respect, to assist him in ensuring peace in Rivers State.

At the end of their intervention, an understanding, that was okay by both divides, was reached an agreement was signed by actors in the political melee, and peace was achieved. Parties involved in the fight have started implementing agreements reached and signed.

Even Governor Fubara came out to inform everybody that: “No amount is too big to pay for peace.” and he assured that as the governor of the Oil-Rich Rivers State, “I will continue to pay it.”

Since the resolution of the conflict by the President, people who were not part of the crisis, and were not affected, in any way, and those who were ready to take their political pound of flesh on some of the actors in the crisis, appear to be unhappy and have refused to let go. They turn around to accuse Mr President of lacking powers to settle matters already in court.

So the call for the President’s intervention was lip service? And nothing patriotic at all. No love for both sides? No love for Rivers State? The oil money in Rivers State was the target, I guess. What a bad market for those who planned to cash out from the crisis. Well, the President answered your calls.

Come to think of it, will you be surprised to hear the 27 lawmakers come out to say that they are still in PDP and have not defected to APC? After all, waving the flag of APC and singing “On your mandate we shall stand” does not in any way mean defection. Don’t forget that Senators and House of Representatives members elected on the platforms of various political parties into the National Assembly, sang the same song the day the President presented the 2024 Budget before them.

Unless there is evidence of resignations in the forms of letters of resignation by the 27 PDP lawmakers addressed to their various ward chairmen and copied to the state chairman and national chairman of the PDP, no defection can be established. The process of resignation from a political party and defection to another is documented in the party constitution. The question would be, were the steps followed? Unfortunately, this matter has been settled politically.

My take.

Politics is a game of interest and manipulation, and politicians usually take advantage of crisis to play politics, using the people, under the guise of service and patriotism.

The only time a politician is patriotic is when he is in office or benefiting. In other words, when his political and economic interest is protected. When the reverse is the case, politicians become unpatriotic, manipulative, and desperate to acquire political and economic powers against the interests of the people.

Please, let there be peace in Rivers. Gov Fubara and state lawmakers need a peaceful and stable Rivers State to govern and legislate.

Appolos, is a public affairs analyst and media adviser to former Abia state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu