Rivers at its lowest ebb by Lekan Fatodu

Like many Nigerians, I’m saddened by the continuing chaos, bloodletting and violent disruptions in Rivers state. Just when one begins to think that the situation is getting better, it gets even worse.

Just when one begins to assume that the estranged political siblings who are at the centre of the unabated social unrest ostensibly over the commonwealth of a state, which is not an estate bequeathed by their forebears, will sheath their daggers and get cuddly with peace, that is when they start to beat the drum of discord loudly to the hearing of their pathetically impressionable followers, who cut across all ages and gender, getting them incited to take sides in festivals of blood.

Reports have it that there have been over 200 killings in Rivers State which are evidently linked to political conflicts and elections into political offices. While supporters on the side of the immediate past governor of Rivers state and now minister of transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi would claim that most of the killings are fuelled by political aggressions from the ruling party in the state – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – which is headed by the current governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, the loyalists on the side of the governor are always quick to blame the disturbing killings and political unrest on the activities of cultists and complicity by the members of the opposition – All Progressives Congress (APC) – led Wike’s former boss and predecessor, Amaechi.

What these two political leaders and gods of Rivers, Amaechi and Wike, fail to realise, perhaps deliberately being Nigerian politicians who take pleasure in impunity, is that either the killings were politically motivated or were as a result of the recklessness and insanity of the bloodthirsty cultists, the ugly situation leaves a deep dent on the leadership they both proclaim.

That’s because there is nothing inspiring and worth emulating in political leaders who consistently employ the most appalling terms to address issues and speak disparagingly at each other. Leaders whose unguarded spoken and body languages often move people to violence and public disturbance.

Therefore in total disagreement with some public commentators who are trying to exonerate, and cast aspersions on one political leader against another of irresponsibility over the prevailing crises in Rivers, I submit that the tin gods of Rivers politics, the protagonists in the long-drawn political feud that continues to shake the root of a leading and economically viable state in Nigeria, should be severely blamed for the terrible loss of precious lives, destruction of properties and the paranoia and horror that have so far displaced peaceful co-existence and socio-economic life in the state.

Ascribing the culpability of all this mess to just one side will not produce any sustainable peace. The onus should be on both Amaechi and Wike to allay the fears that have taken over Rivers. After all, they were until recently members of the same political family and strong allies.

At a point Wike was to Amaechi what Alistair Campbell, the super spin-doctor, was to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Like Alistair, Wike has the ears and can effectively beat the eardrums of his former boss, Amaechi, to create mutually beneficial political exigencies and sounds.

I therefore believe that they both have the wherewithal and influence to stop the carnage that has unfortunately come to define the very promising Rivers state, and its hitherto enchanting Capital, that is reputable as the Garden City, Port Harcourt.
The gripping tale emanating from the state is that everyone now walks looking over his or her shoulders at every second because no one knows who the next victim of coldblooded murder will be.

I suppose the political leaders in the state are aware that a tension-soaked society is never attractive to business and investments. Little wonder that since the beginning of the unending battle and blood-fest in the state, multi-billion dollar oil investments and intending capital inflow have been reported to have taken a clever detour perhaps until there is a convincing indication of a peaceful and healthy atmosphere for business to thrive.

Isn’t it a shame and monumental anomaly that a state globally known as the ultimate warehouse of massive hydrocarbon assets, both onshore and offshore, in Nigeria is still filled with gory images of poverty and deprivation? However one needs not to wonder for so long on the whereabouts of the special fiscal allocation from the federal government to the state as an oil producing state and the huge revenue derived by the state from many big international and indigenous oil companies that are domiciled in Rivers state. It is perhaps safe to assert that the bulk of the humongous funds have been deployed to further deepen political division, sponsor political violence and used for self-aggrandizement as evidenced in the allegations of official profligacy against most top politicians in Rivers, everyday killings of political followers as well as the innocent and hapless citizens of the state.

Beyond the horrid situations serving as an arduous burden just on the state, it has presented a greater challenge to Nigeria as a whole, which is indeed needless at this moment of economic hardship and insecurity in the land. The deployment of over 5,000 police officers, not to talk of the number of the military men on ground, from the grossly inadequate security personnel that are supposed to serve the security needs of the entire country to the violence-marred and yet-to-be concluded State and National assembly re-run elections to forestall total breakdown of law and order in Rivers, is very unfortunate for the entire nation.

So we should therefore candidly speak to the leaders on both sides to drop their egos and selfish interest in favour of peace and for Rivers to continue to flow with great opportunities and service to all.