All lovers of democracy should take more than a passing interest in the drama playing out in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) involving Nyesom Wike, Rivers Governor and other top guns in the party.
Ahead of the PDP presidential primary, Wike was vocal, even boastful, that he was the man to beat. He traversed various states particularly in the north where he was warmly welcomed, a gesture he misread as acceptability. But that was because, in matters of partisan politics, Wike is naïve. Yet, he does not know it. Neither would he agree that he is deficient in the wily ways of politicians.
However, it has to be stated from the onset that it was hypocritical of Wike to have contested the PDP Presidential ticket in the manner that he did, if truly he believes in equity, fairness and justice as he now mouths it.
Without any doubt, southern governors across bi-partisan lines, had met in Asaba and later in Oyo state to declare that power should return to the south after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years. On paper, this looks like a plausible proposition. But even among the southerners, there was a consensus that within the south, it must be the turn of the south east zone. This consideration was adjudged to be just, fair and equitable because Wike’s south-south kinsman, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has just left office after the PDP lost to Buhari in 2015. The south west was a no-no with their son, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, being in the saddle for eight full years and another of their son, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, almost at the end of another eight years as vice president.
Under such circumstance, the natural and righteous thing to do was to concede the position of President to the south east. Wike, in his megalomaniac self, did not consider such noble cause. He went into the fray, full chest, deluding himself that he would win. It must be him or nobody. This is the problem with power mongers and power-drunk politicians.
They have no place for selflessness. They are selfish and think so highly of themselves. In circumstances where the roulette of power does not spin in their favour, they would rather bring down the roof than allow the natural course of the power equation to flow.
This is exactly what defines Wike, a confirmed megalomaniac. A man who mouths equity abroad but cannot practise it at home. Wike is wailing over the chairmanship of the PDP and its presidential candidate coming from the same north. But it is all red herring.
Lets’ examine the make-up of Wike, the uppity man who clamours for equity and fairness. Why is Wike the current governor of Rivers state. Why did he accept to succeed Rotimi Amaechi knowing that both of them are Ikwere kinsmen? And why have the governors of Rivers always come from the upland since 1999? What happens to the good people of the riverine area of Rivers state? Kalabari, the Ogoni and other ethnic nationalities in the state are not worthy to govern Rivers? Is that what Wike esteems as equity? When Wike succeeded Amaechi against the wishes of the Ogoni and Kalabari nationalities, he did not remember equity. He did not consider it as marginalisation of the riverine people.
Truth be told, Wike is not a man who practises equity. He merely preaches it but does not practise it. This makes his wailing that PDP is marginalising the south both hypocritical and fake (to use his preferred hackneyed word).
The other word that Wike readily mouths is integrity. Except, integrity has a different meaning in Wike’s dictionary but if it still means ‘being honest, having strong moral principles and keeping to your words or promise’, then Wike should never lay claim to integrity. Has Wike forgotten how he mounted the podium on the night of the PDP primary to say, with all the strength he could muster, that he would work with anybody that emerges winner that night? Perhaps, he was sure to emerge the winner but politics happened and he lost the ticket to Atiku Abubakar. Now, the man who mouths integrity and claims to have it, has reneged on his word. He is not working with Atiku, the winner; he is working against him. Where is his integrity? A man who can easily go back on his word just because the adventure did not favour him cannot claim to have integrity. It’s all fake (again, to borrow his usual expression).
As it has now fully unraveled, Wike is not a man of integrity or someone who has character as he often accused others, especially Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP chairman and Atiku. He does not also have the spirit of equity and fairness as he has consistently accused other members of his party. Otherwise, if he was ever a believer in equity, fairness and justice, he would never have contested the PDP presidential primary against any candidate from the south east. He would never have succeeded Amaechi as governor of Rivers when the riverine people of Kalabari and other groups have not had their turn.
It is even hard to believe that Wike is a democrat. A true democrat is guided by the rule of law, spirit of compromise, tolerance, temperance, stable character and a readiness to abide by the decision of the party. In a democracy, the party is supreme; not one man, not a clique. But this holds no water for Wike. Since he lost the ticket, he has chosen, against wise counsel, to bring down the roof. He chants equity but he does not practise it. He shouts marginalisation of the south but he has effectively marginalised the riverine people of Rivers state. A man who preaches fairness did not deem it an act of good faith to step down and support a candidate from the south east; a region that has never produced the president of Nigeria.
If there were any forms of hypocrisy and betrayal in the whole PDP presidential primary saga, it was Wike who betrayed his party and the south east. He betrayed the people of the south-south who were more than willing to concede the ticket to the south east in the spirit of fairness until the party threw the ticket open.
Let it be known to one and all that Wike is not driven by altruism or love of the good people of Rivers and the entire south. He is driven by his ego and his penchant for power, a terrible character flaw which he has openly demonstrated in his state.
Wike is a neo-tyrant who brooks no dissent. The way he has treated politicians in Rivers state who disagree with him is enough evidence to the world that the ‘champion’ of equity, integrity and fairness is nothing but a hypocrite feasting on his own venom.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emoha writes from Port Harcourt
