Rivers Political Brouhaha: History Repeated, by Tife Owolabi

Those who fail to learn from history repeat its mistakes. Wike was /still an anti-Amaechi and Gov Siminalayi Fubara is gaining prominence and sympathies today in some quarters because he is an anti-Wike.

But the only dimension to Gov Fubara’s anti-wike is that he isn’t adding FG government to his stunts, unlike Wike who was anti-Buhari but aligned with Tinubu from day one which was easier for him because Amaechi and Tinubu weren’t political allies. Just as the saying “The enemy of an enemy is my friend. Wike’s friendship with BAT’s camp was to whittle down and deplete any political structure of Amaechi which they succeeded to some degrees.

Like I said earlier in a snippet, Gov Siminalayi is only repeating history with a twist which would form his political structure but can it withstand his political godfather manoeuvring when Wike releases his Abito Shaker with Federal might? Only time will tell as they say because everything crumbs under the watch of time.

But Political historians have taught us many lessons to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and Rivers state particularly the political elites haven’t learnt much from history. Their governors have followed the same trajectories with little amends.

For instance, Former Governor Peter Odili was nicknamed “PDP” Peter Dey Pay because it was alleged he used state resources to gain prominence and seek to capture power at the centre with his presidential ambition but failed woefully. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi repeated the same. It was alleged that he used the state resources to install President Mohammed Buhari twice just for prominence and to seek to capture power at the centre but the presidential ambition also didn’t materialise. Former Governor Nyesom Wike and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory did the same. He sought to capture power at the centre and it was alleged that he paid every payable to make his ambition materialised but the presidential bid didn’t see the light of day.

Now, Governor Fubara is on the same trajectory. He is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum. The role which it said does not easily come by. It is alleged that he has been doling out a lot to maintain prominence and sustain his political fight with his estranged godfather. The question is; will Rivers State ever learn from history? Will the people continue to watch their leaders flitter away their resources for self-centredness and egos? Does this prominence seeking help the state for development? Many questions begging for answers but the people are already cut in between. It appears every Rivers man or woman has a dog in the feud rocking the state now with ethnic dimensions also playing out.

Well of course many will disagree that the feud between Wike and Fubara wasn’t about prominence but survival. That Governor Fubara stoop so low to conquer. He was pushed to the wall. That he Fubara even offered to resign instead of fight with his predecessor and godfather, but was forced to stay by Wike’s top elders, until he later decided to fight. The point is that Rivers state resources are being flittered away for self-gains.

Political historians warned against repeating history, particularly with those with dire consequences. They urged people to remember the lessons and understand the devastating consequences of a war of any nature and strive for peaceful conflict resolution.

Governor Fubara has a vital role to play here whether he continues on the path of the past governors fighting political war gaining prominence with state resources or backing down and save the state resources because there is no war without spending. The money for development always goes into the prosecution of the war, take it or leave or ask any political agitators what it takes to maintain political structure and foot soldiers.

History will also remember him as a wiser spender or otherwise but let him learn from past mistakes. He should study history to understand the consequences of his actions and decisions.

Tife Owolabi is a Development Studies Researcher and he writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital.