IF I WERE TO BE CHIEF BARR WIKE OUR LEADER.

…By Ezebunwo Ichemati.

Ordinarily if I were to be Chief Barr. Wike our leader, I would have PAMPERED GOVERNOR SIM and accorded him the privileges and respect that is required of the office he occupies as Governor of Rivers State, instead of exposing him for ridicule, disrespect and humiliation amongst members of the supposed family, so he will not become a weapon to be used against me, but sadly, reality is upon us today, except we mend fences, steps retraced,and caution applied early enough going forward.

Remember, we were once told in this country that, Rivers State is no ordinary State, it is a State with a Capital “S” and the Governor is with a Capital “G” who is no second class citizen, so anyone who occupies that seat automatically cannot always be a pushover, especially not when he might have been constantly pushed to the wall and his ego badly bruised internally and publicly.

Those on social media who have not keenly followed the politics of Rivers State since 1999, are the ones that’ll want to play down the powers of a sitting Governor of a State like Rivers State, especially one who already has the sympathy of Rivers people and Nigerians at large, Even our revered Elders know this truth.

If reconciliation is not achieved timely today, then this is one fight too many for our our leader Chief Barr Wike already, one that is avoidable and if not nipped in the bud now, will be the mother of all political battles in the history of our beloved great State. It is our State that’ll suffer and the youths that have benefited nothing that’ll still be used.

Rivers people fought in 2015 on the side of His Excellency Wike, because of the Niger Delta and Jonathan re-election struggle that was presented on the table.

In 2019, the Jonathan sentiments and anger against Apc was still sustained, that made Rivers people to stand resolutely with Chief Barr Wike.

Fast forward to 2023, the message of a southern Presidency and the perceived gang up against then Governor Wike, at the PDP Presidential primaries was presented and Rivers people keyed into the fight to stand with our leader Wike.

In all these years, there has been a clear cut reason for Rivers people to join Chief Barr Wike at the battlefield to stand in his defence against his perceived enemies.

Now, as the speculations for a new battle is brewing; What will be the clear cut reason for fighting GOVERNOR SIM? A reason that’ll make selfless Rivers people with conscience join in a fight against their very humble, peaceful and respectful Governor?

Forget about solidarity visits, because once this gets to a full-blown division as many are predicting & expecting, so that they can all jump down from their fence sitting position and come out from their hiding, alot of those that have been visiting Abuja for solidarity publicly and secretly, will start standing for their own personal interest and survival once the pendulum swings towards the direction of an outright war.

This is one avoidable and needless battle, if only it was handled properly & internally as it should be, without the public drama of Impeachment cum mutiny.

Remember that; Political Parties are not structures, it is the people in the political parties that make up the structure, and since humans are movable beings, then there can never be any permanent structure.

Odili had a structure but it was moved.
Omehia had a structure but it collapsed.
Amaechi had a structure and it was decimated with series of defections, because of needless battles.

Only genuine peace & reconciliation built on the foundation of give and take, can guarantee a SUCCESSIVE POLITICAL STRUCTURE but I fear, that is not the case anymore because of recent public outings, except steps are retraced now that it has not yet gotten to the red sea.

Peace Is indeed Priceless.

E. P. I. C
SON OF REBISI KINGDOM.