The Rule Of Law And The Madness Going On In Rivers (CKN Opinion)

The crisis in Rivers State once again calls to the question the true meaning of the word DEMOCRACY..Democracy has been described of the government of the people, by the people ,for the people.

What this means is that irrespective of whatever anyone one feels,the minority will have their say while the majority will have their way.

Democracy is not about being the best,but rather the ability to convince as many as possible to be on your side irrespective of how saintly your opponent looks.

Under a democracy, the rule of law is supreme..The constitution remains the bible that lays out the dos and don’ts. Just like in football, it tells the numbers of players, the duration of each match.

Since 1999 when Nigeria for the second time embraced the American system of government,so much water has passed under our political bridge.

So many lessons have also been learnt, although the actors have always remained the same.

What is playing out in Rivers States now reminds one of the hay days of Chief Chris Ngige,the former Governor of Anambra State,who during his days had a running battle with his supposedly god father in politics, Chief Chris Uba.

Chris Ngige fought the battle of his life. He was kidnapped, humiliated and eventually removed.

That singular act dented the image of the ruling Party in the State then PDP which ordinarily would win any election in the State with a landslide.

Even when they through the backdoor tried to win the election, through Senator Andy Uba (the shortest governorship tenure in Nigeria so far),the people wish prevailed and Governor Peter Obi riding on an the crest of the Peoples mandate was eventually sworn in as the Governor of the State even when several attempt was made to remove him .

The crisis rocking Rivers State can be traced to the election of the Nigerian Governors Forum won by Governor Chibuike Amaechi who gallantly defeated Federal Government backed Jonah Jang of Plateau State by 19-16 votes.

Aso Rock was not happy with this development .They did all they could to overturn the verdict but most of Amaechi’s supporters in the Governors Forum stood their ground.

Today that forum has been factionalized.

The fight was therefore shifted to Amaechi’s domain with the Minister of State for Education (whom Amaechi recommended as a Minister) as the arrow head.

With the full support of Dame Patinece Jonathan (An indigene of Rivers State) married to a Bayelsa State man,the whole idea was to make Rivers ungovernable for Amaechi so that a State of Emergency can be declared.

Amaechi on his part did not help his own matter with the dissolve of the fully elected Local Government of Obiakpor.The Chairman was sacked and councilors sent packing.

The Governor said, the action was not his but that of the State House of Assembly but it’s obvious that what was playing out was the hands of Esau,voice of Jacob.

The Peoples Democratic Party wouldn’t hear of this and asked Amaechi to reinstate members of the third tier of government in Obiakpor or face disciplinary action, Amaechi stood his ground.

For this Amaechi was placed on suspension by his Party for anti party activities.

The height of the whole madness came to a head when last week, five members of the State House of Assembly tried to impeach the Speaker of the House and imposed a fake Speaker on the House.

Hell was let lose, a free for all ensued. Several lawmakers were injured.

By the time the dust has settled, the State House of Assembly was placed under lock and key.

Subsequent protest for and against the governor has become a daily routine in what use to be one of the most peaceful State in Nigeria.

The role of the Nigerian police led by one Mr Mbu is another sore point in the entire imbroglio.

The Commissioner has not only showed himself as being biased but has further dented the already damaged image of the Nigerian police.

While the actors and gladiators are sticking to their guns, governance has taken the bad stage. The people of Rivers State are becoming the worse for it.

While Governor Amaechi seems to be more matured in his statements, the utterances of Nyesom Wike and the First Lady has shown that they were not out to better the lives of the people of Rivers State.

As it stands presently, Amaechi remains the ONLY elected Governor of the State. The only way he can be removed is through impeachment or for the actors to try their luck when his term ends in 2015.

While we advice that the governor as the father of the State to be magnanimous enough by bringing all the warring parties to an amiable solution.

Let it also be told that, nothing should be done to stampede him out of office.

Any attempt to remove Amaechi through any unconstitutional means will portend danger for not only Rivers State but the whole of Nigeria.

The gladiators should be in clear terms that they should bury their selfish interest since no one is above the law and no one has a monopoly over violence.

The People of Rivers State should be allowed to choose those that will govern over them.

Dame Goodluck Jonathan should be channel her effort towards assisting her husband achieve his set down goals for Nigeria and not poke-nosing in the affairs of Rivers State since those who attempts to ride on the back of Tigers ends up in its belly.

The protest by the anti Amaechi Supporters in Port Harcourt over the solidarity visit of the Governors of Niger,Kano and Jigawa State State to Amaechi today is not healthy for our fledging democracy.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi should also trade with caution..The recent advice of the former Abia State Governor ,Orji Uzor Kalu should be heeded for peace to rain in the Garden City.

Chris Kehinde Nwandu is the Editor In Chief of CKN Nigeria