News
Boiling Rivers! Like Ngige’s July 10, Wike’s war, is Fubara’s moment to lose!
By Sunny Igboanugo
On July 10, 2003, I drove at breakneck speed from Enugu to Awka. The news had just broken about the drama involving Chris Ngige, then Governor of Anambra State and his ordeal with the band of political hounds and scavengers he had decided to dine with.
Nobody at that stage really knew the true story. It was said that there had been a change of guard in the state with Okey Udeh, his deputy taking over from him and that his whereabouts were unknown. It was on getting to the Anambra State capital that I was directed to the Choice Hotel, where he was said to have been holing up.
By then, I had lost substantial ground, transiting from the almighty flagship of Nigerian media – The Guardian to Daily Independent that was at its nadir at the time, having not broken into the media world like Daily Sun, which was an instant success. That counted against me in terms of prestige and reckoning. I had suddenly discovered that the accolades some people reserved for me was due to my status as a reporter with the paper and not my personal prowess.
So, for that reason, I had to work extra hard. Of course, that meant that the press crew in Awka Government House did not invite me or reckon with me for their briefings, meaning I had to work on my own for any information I needed on the matter. But information, I must get to help my paper, which also needed the news.
That was how I found my way at the Choice Hotel. But that was how luck struck. For a journalist, these things usually happen – breakthroughs at the last minute, when it is least expected. I was standing behind the sea of heads at the hotel, not knowing what to do next. At best, I was now prepared to contend with the circumstantial report on the incident – just the environment and spice it up with information filtering from elsewhere including the radio and televisions.
But at that moment, somebody nudged me. “Do you want to see oga?” It was the driver to Ngige himself the main dramatis personae. He had spotted me from afar from the crowd and knowing my relationship with his boss, dating back to when he was still toying with the idea of joining politics, he knew I was a friend and posed no problem to his boss. Of course, that was all I needed. Nothing could be juicier than hearing from the governor himself.
That was how the driver led me through the maze of human obstacles until we got to the door leading to room being occupied by his boss. We had succeeded all along in beating the security barriers that had cordoned off the entire arena until that point. The security operatives vehemently refused to let us through even when the young man tried to explain to them that it was the governor that sent me.
It was then that I joined in. “Go and tell him that it’s Sunny Igboanugo,” I offered. But no dice! They were not prepared for that. There instruction was nobody should cross beyond that point. But then, just then, the door opened and somebody approached the security men, with a directive. I should be let in. The governor, my good friend had overheard the conversation and my name being mentioned and sent the security aides with him inside the room to invite me.
That was how I ended up with Ngige on that fateful day right inside his room and extracted an interview, which would have been world class, but for the status of the paper I worked with then. I’m not aware that any other journalist met with the governor face to face on that fateful day, as all I heard were everyone else quoting Fred Chukwuelobe, his spokesman.
Having recalled this incident, and situating it with the current drama in Rivers State, the only thing I could see and the only conclusion I could make is – “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” – the more things change, the more they stay the same. This wise saying attributed to Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr a French writer, was made as far back as 1849. That means, it is 174 years today.
By the way, the Ngige saga, was actually not the beginning. His predecessor, Chinwoke Mbadinuju was the first to bite the silver bullet. It was the same traducers of Ngige that first went for his political jugulars. Hours after his inauguration, on May 29, 1999, the battle started at the Anambra State House of Assembly as to who would be what? It was then that 22 members were spirited to Enugu, where they were quartered and from where they launched their internecine battle against the government till the end.
It was the same forces that made sure that Mbadinuju did not return for a second term in office, apart from posting the most dismal outing and considered the dreg of Nigerian governors in terms of performance that later installed Ngige. Now, what was in issue? The purse of Anambra State!
Ngige told me that evening that the core of the problem was the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO), an euphemism for a drain hose, which his traducers planned to fix into the purse of the state to drain away all its resources. His refusal became led to a chain of events that culminated into the July 10 saga.
Like the current replay in Port Harcourt, which is practically on all fours with that of Awka, about 20 years ago, the source of the problem is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its poor management of the election. In 2003, INEC, under Maurice Iwu, practically handed over the entire election to one man in Anambra State and turned its back. Incidentally, the man was a stark illiterate, who had no place for any form of finesse or niceties, and who, because of the backing from the Presidential Villa in Abuja, practically broke the door with his bare feet, like the thief sent by his father.
That is what is playing out right now in Rivers State. It is a battle between Abuja and Port Harcourt. However, what is not known is how much Aso Rock Villa is willing to delve into the entire show of shame. If indeed, Nyesom Wike, derives the same powers as the anti-Ngige forces did, then the nation should not expect anything less. Until Peter Obi eventually took over in 2026, three whole years after the charade, Ngige never knew peace.
For that period, Anambra State was practically on fire literally and metaphorically with the police and all the security agencies of the state, supplying the fuel with which the fire was maintained. Even the entire government house, Awka was razed down by identified thugs, with the police providing cover.
Even the almighty judiciary, was not left out. Remember of the cases of Wilson Egbo Egbo and Stanley Nnaji, the two judges that were consumed by the saga, for giving outlandish judgements in the course of the battle.
But then, that was when the courts still maintained some veneers of courage and audacity. With the current state of the judiciary, which is all ready to acquiesce and interpret the letters of the law without the spirit, nobody knows the direction it would go if the cases start getting there.
Yet, that historic era, has remained the redeeming moment of Anambra State. For standing up rather than capitulating, Ngige made his case with the people, such that those who cursed his government earlier, swearing not to have anything to do with it, joined him in the war to the extent that by the time he was eventually ousted by the courts that handed power to Peter Obi, many households in the state, were in mourning rather than celebration.
One lesson Sim Fubara, currently at the receiving end in Port Harcourt must learn is that those fighting him take no prisoners. Like in the case of Ngige, they could go to any length to achieve their purpose. To them, there is neither law nor decency. Neither public opinion nor morality means anything to them.
Yet, this could become the redeeming moment to liberate Rivers from the vice grip of political hounds which had descended on the state in recent years, if like Ngige, he clings to the people. Unlike Mbadinuju, who adopted the strategy of spending scarce state resources to appease the elements in Abuja rather than taking his case to Anambra people, Ngige did the opposite and not only survived, but became a hero from a common villain in a matter of weeks.
Incidentally, there is a surfeit of cases to learn from apart from Anambra. Whether it is Orji Uzor Kalu versus Theodore Orji in Abia, George Akume and Gabriel Suswam in Benue, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Abdullahi Ganduje in Kano, examples are replete to suggest that this is a war he is not likely to lose.
In the end, this war could either make him the winner or loser, the villain or hero. But on a balance and from the hindsight of decided cases, this is his war to lose!
Igboanugo, a journalist, wrote from Lagos
Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s Senate President, on Friday, pushed back against reports quoting him as promising to retrieve tickets from winners of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in lieu of sitting senators, who failed at the party’s primaries recently.
He also spoke on the issue of the comprehensive probe called by Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Edo State, now Senator representing Edo North at the National Assembly, clarifying his position on the matte, which has since raised a lot of dust within the polity.
The twin issues, dominated the outcome of proceedings on Thursday, on the day the Senators returned after going on recess to participate in the party primaries that took place across board in Nigeria in line with the electoral outlay of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, former Minister of the Niger Delta and now Chairman of the National Assembly, who conveyed his position through Eseme Eyiboh, his spokesman, denied ever making such promise to his colleagues, as it went against the grain of democratic ethos, which he had vowed to uphold.
Regarding the probe of the military, Akpabio, in the statement, stressed the need not to distract the institution, but provide it with all the needed support, giving the parlous security situation in the country, its personnel had been battling relentless.
The statement read in full: “The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to misleading reports circulating in sections of the media suggesting that the President of the Senate has promised to secure senatorial tickets for senators who lost their party primaries.
“We must categorically assert that this report does not reflect the position of the President of the Senate. For the record, Senator Akpabio has neither made nor authorised to be made such promise.
“What the President of the Senate actually said, in the course of interacting with his colleagues, was to empathise with senators who were affected by the outcome of their primary elections.
“He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), is actively working to address all issues arising from the primaries and that the final list of candidates will be released in due course in line with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
“Senator Akpabio remains committed to party discipline, due process, and the internal mechanisms of the APC for resolving disputes. He will not interfere with the autonomous processes of the party or make commitments that are outside the purview of the National Assembly leadership.
“The office also notes another report quoting a distinguished Senator on the need for the Senate to probe the military over recent security incidents. While legislative oversight is a constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio’s position is that this is not the opportune moment for a public probe of the Armed Forces.
“At a time when our troops are engaged on multiple fronts against terrorism, banditry and other threats to National Security, subjecting the military to a public legislative inquisition could undermine morale and operational focus.
“The Senate President believes strongly that support, collaboration and closed-door engagements with security agencies are more productive at this critical time. Oversight will be exercised responsibly, without creating distractions that embolden adversaries or divert attention from the urgent task of securing Nigeria.
“Senator Akpabio urges the media and the public to disregard sensational and inaccurate misrepresentation of his remarks and to always seek clarification from his office before publication.”
No candidate was imposed neither was any member barred from participating in the process, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said on Thursday, which defending the integrity of the exercise, which ended on May 29.
In a statement by Ikenna Enekweizu, National Secretary, party said that all aspirants were given a fair opportunity to participate in the democratic process, adding that the selection process was driven by consultation, consensus-building, and stakeholder engagement through established leadership structures across the country.
Stressing that its National Secretariat was never involved in the business of picking, choosing, or imposing candidates on any constituency or state, contrary to allegations that have emerged following the conclusion of the primaries, the statement added: “At no time has the NDC National Secretariat been involved in the business of picking, choosing, or imposing candidates on any constituency or state.
“Aspirants seeking elective positions were directed to engage with caucus leaders, stakeholders, and grassroots members in their respective states, who were responsible for consultations and recommendations based on local political realities. In the South-East geopolitical zone, our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, joined the party with an existing network of respected political leaders and elder statesmen who currently serve as caucus heads across the region.
“These include former governors and senior political figures such as Sam Egwu, Okwesilieze Nwodo, and Achike Udenwa, among others. The party explained that these leaders were tasked with conducting stakeholder consultations and helping build consensus around aspirants in their respective states.
“These leaders were entrusted with conducting stakeholder consultations, building consensus, and making recommendations to the party based on their understanding of the peculiar political dynamics in their respective states.
“Aspirants who disagreed with stakeholder recommendations were not excluded from the process but were allowed to test their popularity through grassroots primaries. This process was conducted without prejudice to the rights of any aspirant. Where aspirants disagreed with recommendations made by stakeholders or caucus leaders, they were free to test their popularity through the democratic process at the grassroots level, and this was duly accommodated,” the party said.
Addressing concerns raised by some aspirants following the primaries, the NDC acknowledged reports of individuals prematurely declaring themselves candidates as well as complaints regarding aspects of the process.
However, it maintained that such issues had been referred to the party’s appeal panel and leadership for resolution.
The statement also highlighted the party’s commitment to affirmative action and greater female participation in politics, noting that efforts had been made to encourage women to seek elective offices while also considering the interests of serving lawmakers.
Looking ahead, the NDC announced plans to begin a broad reconciliation process aimed at healing divisions and strengthening party unity after the conclusion of the primaries.
“As resolved at yesterday’s NEC meeting, we now look forward to the commencement of a comprehensive reconciliation process. We count on our esteemed caucus leaders, state chairmen, stakeholders, and party leaders to engage all aspirants and members in the interest of unity, cohesion, and the continued growth of our party.”
The party reiterated that its role throughout the nomination process was primarily to welcome new members and aspirants, reassure them of its commitment to fairness and transparency, and direct them to the appropriate caucus structures for participation in party affairs.
According to the NDC, the approach reflects its commitment to internal democracy, consultation, inclusiveness, and respect for established leadership structures as it continues preparations for future elections.
Idi Abbas, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), on Friday, prayed for a legislation to establish a special court to try those caught in the business of stealing crude oil in Nigeria, saying the current general law was not too helpful in stemming the tide.
It was also a day he claimed that the powerful forces behind the syndicate had a way of projecting fronts while remaining behind the scene, which made it almost impossible to track them to face justice.
In fact, Abbas, a Vice Admiral, revealed that the operation was so perfect that those arrested at illegal refining sites were usually low-level operatives with little knowledge of the larger criminal network.
A guest on Sunrise Daily, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, the Naval Chief noted that many of those apprehended during operations are merely workers paid small sums, adding that such a complex structure of oil theft syndicates made it difficult to identify and prosecute the individuals who orchestrate the criminal enterprise.
“Most of the faces behind these thefts are not really known or are not the ones we always catch. The ones we get at most of the illegal refinery sites are just being given some paltry sum, while the big masquerades are the ones that make the real money. Prosecuting suspects is often complicated by the fact that many of those arrested have little or no information about the people directing the operations.
“In trying to prosecute some of these people that we get, some of them don’t even know who they are working for. So, the network is a very delicate one.
“But despite the challenges the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies are continually refining their strategies to counter the evolving tactics of oil thieves. As they are evolving strategies, we are also evolving new strategies. Like I keep saying, technology is the way forward. With that, we have been able to reduce the level of theft.”
Stating that the adoption of technology-driven surveillance, intelligence gathering and monitoring systems had significantly enhanced efforts to curb crude oil theft and protect critical national assets, he reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Navy to sustaining operations against oil theft, stressing that collaboration among security agencies, stakeholders and host communities remains essential to safeguarding the nation’s oil resources.
The naval boss while assuring that Nigeria’s coastal and riverine communities are relatively safe, said the Nigerian Navy had made significant progress in reducing threats along the coast, particularly illegal oil-related activities and sea robbery.
“As it stands today, I can say that our coastal areas and the riverine areas are relatively safe. While crude oil theft and isolated cases of sea robbery remain areas of concern, the Navy has been largely successful in containing such activities through intensified surveillance and enforcement operations.
Hear him: “What we are contending with mostly there is the issue of crude oil theft and some pockets of sea robbery, which we are able to curtail. There is need for the establishment of a special court dedicated to prosecuting maritime crimes.
“This court will focus exclusively on cases involving crude oil theft and other maritime-related offences, helping to address delays associated with the conventional judicial process. The establishment of such a court would significantly accelerate the dispensation of justice and reduce the burden currently placed on the Navy in maintaining seized vessels and other exhibits pending the conclusion of lengthy court processes.
“If we have that in place, I believe the dispensation of justice will be done much faster and then ease the burden of keeping and maintaining some of the arrested vessels, which will be taken off from us because we spend a lot to maintain those vessels under our custody.”
-
News3 weeks agoTinubu to African leaders: Copy Nigeria, produce your way out of poverty
-
News3 weeks agoBREAKING: US-Nigeria troops slaughter 175 ISWAP fighters
-
Columns2 weeks agoDear General Gowon: That apology you’re running from is your nemesis
-
News3 days agoBREAKING: Terrorists strike Ibadan again! Abduct ex-Minister’s sister, twin children
-
News3 weeks agoWhy we pegged presidential ticket forms at N60million – NDC
-
News4 weeks agoBREAKING! Coast brightens for Obi, as NDC zones presidency to South
-
News3 weeks agoGowon on civil war: My book is to put records straight, remove falsehood
-
News3 weeks agoBREAKING: Wait over! Arsenal are CHAMPIONS! Win EPL after 22 years hiatus