The ideal way to identify true
nationalists and goodpoliticians is through their utterances and actions
both in public and inprivate. A true lover of Nigeria will always stand
for the unity and oneness ofNigeria whenever he talks or acts.
Goodpoliticians will ‘spit’ fire and intimidate their opponents but will
nevercompromise the unity of a nation.
Some people were surprised when the Rivers stategovernor Nyesom Wike said
the interest of Nigerians and Africans will be betterserved with the
country “remaining as one strong and united nation”.
Governor was quoted when he visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad
Sa’adwhile on a visit to Sokoto state on 31st December 2016 to
felicitatewith Governor Aminu Tambuwal on the occasion of his daughter’s
wedding. Wike said “We cannot run away from thiscountry. The unity of
this country is very, very paramount. The unity of thiscountry is
non-negotiable. I am from the Niger Delta, from Rivers state to bespecific
so I cannot see us in a divided country. No way. We stand for theunity of
this country”
Wikefurther said his administration has put a lot of time, resources and
energy toprotect national assets especially the ones in Rivers state. He
said: “InRivers you hardly find pipeline vandalisation. We are working at
all times toprotect national assets in our state. In my state, I am
governor for all thepeople living in the state. I am not a governor of a
particular political party,but a governor for all the people of Rivers
state”
Someindividuals, who don’t really understand how politics works, assume
that since Gov Wike is having a running battlewith some APC’s bigwigs from
Rivers, he will behave in irrational ways. Peoplewho have this kind of
mindset fail to realise that not all politicians in theopposition PDP take
the opposition out of context.
Wike’sassertions are classical examples for many politicians to follow,
especially electiveoffice holders who take opposition to illogical levels
with utterances andactions capable of putting the unity of Nigeria in
jeopardy.Withthat single utterance in Sokoto, Wike has won the heart of
many Nigerians, whilealso sending a powerful message to groups and
individuals who trade the unityof Nigeria for political and personal
gains.
Beinga sitting governor in the restive Niger Delta and the politically
veryimportant Rivers state, Gov Wike’s stance on some national issues is
verycritical for bringing the much needed peace and development to the
Niger Deltaand preserving the unity of Nigeria.
GovernorWike has indeed put to shame, some politicians holding positions
of authority,who have turned themselves into agents of disunity by running
their mouthswithout caution just to score political and personal points.
Governor Wike has found himself insome controversial political and
non-political situations. The controversialOctober 8, 2016 mid-night show
played out at the Government Reservation Area(GRA), Port Harcourt when he
rushed to the official residence of a Federal HighCourt (FHC) Judge,
following information that the residence was under siege byDepartment of
State Security (DSS), and the Governor allegedly got locked up inthe
process.Wikelater clarified while speaking to the leadership of
Non-Indigenes withoutBorders, on October 18, 2016, at Rivers state
Government House, that his actionwas not aimed at stopping the DSS from
arresting the judge, but to ensure thatthe right process was followed.
Secondly, on ThursdayDecember 29, 2016, an online news medium leaked an
audio of a telephoneconversation between Governor Wike and his counterpart
in Ekiti State, GovernorAyodele Fayose, in which both men were alleged to
have discussed the electoralviolence alleged to have been sponsored by
Wike during the December 10, 2016rerun of legislative elections in Rivers
State.
Politics andpoliticians cannot be free from controversies; however
Governor Wike has provento be above sentiments and lust for personal gains
when it comes to the veryimportant issue of unity and oneness of
Nigeria.Zayyad I. Muhammad Jimeta, Adamawa State,zaymohd@yahoo.com