Seeing Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in the midst of All Progressive Party (APC) leaders and some rebel members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reminds me of the infamous biblical Judas Iscariot. Like Judas, who kissed and betrayed his master for mere thirty shekels of silver, Amaechi has, without knowing it, pushed himself into a similar pathetic situation which led Judas into committing suicide.
Given his self-acclaimed humble background, I would have expected Amaechis achievements to have humbled him. Well, every now and then, the truth would appear to have dawned on him that what we become in life is not entirely due to our own making. Consider the frequency of Amaechis reference to God in his speeches and utterances. But, that is where appearance deceives!
The reality is that, somehow, on the way out of his poor background, Amaechi chose arrogance rather than modesty, and pride instead of humility. Without any doubt, the image which Amaechi has succeeded in carving for himself is that of a street fighter. It may not even be necessary to go far back into his upbringing. The Governors abrasive personality came into the open after he assumed office, following the Supreme Court judgment of 25th October, 2007, which removed Sir Celestine Omehia as Governor of Rivers State.
Not long after being sworn-in, Amaechi, on November 29, 2007, inaugurated a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which sat for over one year and submitted its report in March, 2009. The findings of the Commission were converted to materials for the witchhunt of political opponents and those not in the Governors good book. Amaechi was quoted to have said that after a careful study of the Commissions report, he would chase out all those found to be responsible for holding down the progress of Rivers State over the years.
It will be recalled that in June 2008, the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, appeared before the Commission to defend his record of service during his tenure. Many other prominent sons and daughters of the State, including former Transport Ministry, Dr. Ebiye Sekibo, also appeared before the Commission. And some of these men and women, especially the politicians among them, have been clandestinely declared enemies of the State and persona non grata. Most of them have been tactically edged out by Amaechi or have, on their own, chosen to go on self-exile.
Amaechis other political battles have been less subtle, more impulsive and crude. For instance, on 25th August 2013, the first Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, pleaded with Governor Amaechi not to demolish a part of her hometown in Okrika, requesting him to first have a dialogue with the people. The Governor, as usual, responded impulsively and in the most disrespectful manner, referring to the First Lady as an intruder into the governance of the State, which was his purview. Since then, the Governor has had a series of altercations with the First Lady, almost adopting the same tactics that have driven other indigenes of the State into self-exile.
When Amaechi engineered the dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Executive, on April, 2013, he knew he was involved in an illegal act of impunity. The final outcome of Amaechis act of indiscretion was his suspension from the PDP. The suspension is yet to be lifted. Recall, also, that against the stance of the PDP on the election to the Nigerian Governors Forum on 24 May, 2013, Amaechi decided to contest the election, leading to the factionalization of the Forum. For the two years that Amaechi served as Chairman, he turned the Forum into an opposition organ and used it to challenge the policies of the Federal Government and the ruling political party of which he is a member.
That is not the end to Amaechis show of impunity. By an Abuja High Court ruling on April 15, 2013, the Chief G.U Ake-led Executive of the Rivers State PDP Chapter, loyal to Amaechi, was replaced by that of Mr. Felix Obua. Ironically, the same Amaechi and his supporters, who came into power by a court pronouncement, said they had no faith in the court judgment and without consulting the Party Headquarters, Amaechi instituted a court action against the Party. What else qualifies as anti-party activity?
The same degree of impunity has been displayed by Amaechi in his relationship with the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu, whom he wants redeployed or dismissed from service for no justifiable reason, except that the Commissioner is not doing his bidding or not dancing to his whims and caprices. The highest authority of the Nigeria Police Force has looked into the matter and found nothing wrong with the conduct of the Commissioner other than that he is an honest man and a professional to the core.
More disturbing, the Amaechi syndrome is a complex pack of bizarre and inappropriate conduct, some bordering on abnormality: why, for instance, should a State Executive, surrounded and protected by hundreds of policemen, cry out that his life is in danger? What could have led to the Governors allegation of plans to kidnap him and force him to sign a letter of resignation? Could the Governor be hallucinating? Why should a Governor, who has been informed of on-going fracas and physical disturbances at the State House of Assembly, choose to go to the venue, without adequate security? Was he on a suicide mission?
What circumstance could possibly make a Governor lead a crow of protesters into a security zone such as the runway of an International Airport? What could possibly be the explanation behind Amaechis claim that road either to his lodge or office had been blocked by the Police when each of the two locations is linked by several roads, rather than just one? Why should a State Governor operate an aircraft that is not properly registered in Nigeria?
Now, Amaechi is an ambitious man who has his mind on 2015. Ambition itself is not a crime. The problem is that Amaechi believes that he can do anything to achieve his goal. That is why he has remained with the PDP while working out strategies of how to be Vice-President in 2015. Amaechis most recent act of betrayal was his invitation to leaders of the APC to visit Port Harcourt, without regard for the sensibilities of his own people, nor consultation with his own party, the PDP.
Wait a minute! Amaechi may not be as nave as he portrays himself; he may not even be an irrational power-monger, after all, nor a genuine leader offering himself to serve the people. He may just be a crafty, ingenious and calculating politician who realizes that his tenure will soon come to an end and that given the new awareness of Nigerians, including the people of Rivers State, he might be called upon to account. If and when that happens, he would have to account for the over N1.9 trillion that he received between October 2007-September, 2013, and any additional funds that he may receive between September and when he leaves office. Is Amaechi nave to project ahead that being Vice-President in 2015 would provide him with immunity against accountability?
Accountability aside, since Amaechi started his high profile politics, he appears to have left governance behind. He is now more interested in fighting and winning political battles than in providing service for the people. He should be advised that when the people start their trouble, he would find no hiding place and it wont matter whether or not he belongs to the G-7 Governors, whether President Jonathan has or has not granted their request not to be investigated after office.
Above all, one thing that is likely to draw the wrath of the people is the betrayal of their common bond. In 2006, the people of the South-south swore to what was called the Calabar Declaration, one of the central points of which was that the zone must produce the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that the person so elected must be given full support by all the people of the region. Luckily, God chose Jonathan for that position. Only a Judas can betray that common bond.
One final advice to Amaechi: You may be clever, street-wise and be better than the rest of us in the act of political strategy. But in your sober moment, sit back, assess yourself, what you are doing and some of the possible effects on your people. I understand you read literature. In that case, take note of the adage popularized by the renowned playwright, Ola Rotimi that: He whom the gods want to destroy, they first make mad.
Mr Momodu sent this piece from Lagos.