“Lord, protect me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies” – Robert Greene, author of 48 LAWS OF POWER. 

I pray that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aka, BAT, will live much longer. Irrespective of whether he secures a second term or not in 2027, there was one meeting and a decision arising from that encounter that he will regret for the rest of his life. Few people know who initiated the first meeting between then-presidential candidate of the APC (Tinubu) and then-governor of Rivers State, a member of the PDP, Nyesom Wike.

Without being there, it requires no space science intelligence to figure out what the subject of the appointment was all about – treachery for sale. Wike was there to betray his party and help Tinubu win the presidential election; in exchange for a plum appointment if the plot succeeded. BAT, aware that the election might be close, was desperate for assistance from anyone. What could be better than a powerful insider who could deliver the prize; just for a mere political appointment? A deal was struck.

Wike was very circumspect about his intentions. He persuaded four other serving PDP governors and Fayose – intelligent but not wise – to follow him on his trip to London; where the details of the betrayal of their party were worked out. None of the gullible governors campaigned for their own candidate. None was rewarded for helping to destroy their own party; and none can now confess that they have been duped. Wike is the only beneficiary of a conspiracy hatched by him and executed by him. Makinde, Ikpeazu, Ortom and Fayose were used as collaterals to seal the agreement. They perhaps now wish they never met Wike.

Wike a serial traitor

“The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies. It comes from friends and loved ones.”

Poser: Can anybody point to someone who has helped Wike, as he climbed up the political ladder, who has not directly or indirectly been betrayed? Invariably, the association starts with Wike, apparently totally loyal to the other party; until he secures a better and more powerful client. Thereafter, the turnaround is so swift and brazen that the wounds left never heal. Last week, one of his former benefactors, former President Jonathan, was forced to comment on the dangerous situation which declaration of emergency has created in Rivers State.

When Jonathan and Amaechi had a quarrel, Wike immediately became a staunch loyalist of the President. He was rewarded with the governorship of Rivers State. Today, if Tinubu asks Wike to blast GEJ, he would do it gladly and with all the venom at his disposal. What Jonathan left unsaid must have been his regret that he helped to build the force that is threatening the PDP now. Below is what Jonathan said about the problem Wike has created for Tinubu and Nigeria: “They are pretending to sleep; and waking such a person is extremely difficult because the person knows the right thing — a clear abuse of power and power cutting across all three arms of government.”

Brief, but impactful. Rotimi Amaechi, ex-this, ex-that, was governor of the state (Rivers) on PDP platform; when he nominated “loyal” Wike for ministerial post. Once a rift developed between Amaechi and Jonathan, Wike wasted no time. Amaechi was not only dumped, his former friend became the most vicious tag team partner of Jonathan. Every former Rivers State governor must now be regretting helping Wike. They thought he was a friend. Wike’s only friend is Wike.

Tinubu’s turn

“Show me your friends; and I will tell you who you are.” 

Granted not every person appointed to high office by a President can be regarded as his friend. Some are imposed by the political party or close acquaintances. But, one or two are his personal choices; based on his personal assessment of their utility value. Tinubu and Wike operated like two parallel lines most of their political lives that there was very little chance of their being political friends – until the opportunity for perfidy, by Wike, occurred. Everything being fair in war and politics, Tinubu cannot be blamed if a top official of another party was willing to act in bad faith.

It was mutually beneficial to both of them – Tinubu became President and Wike was once more a Minister. That should ordinarily have been the end of the matter. A President has every right to expect every Minister to focus on his duties totally; and the other ex-governors on the cabinet – Umahi for instance – have done just that. Only Wike, among the Ministers, apparently has a personal agenda; he wants to run the Ministry as well as Rivers State. And he is not hiding the fact. Every adult Nigerian, who follows political events, knows this and believes that power-greed by Wike is at the heart of the political crisis in Rivers State.

Tinubu obviously approved of Wike’s divided interest and the attempt to privatise Rivers State. So, he has not called the Minister to order. Meanwhile, Wike’s plans have met a stiff resistance. Governor Fubara has refused to be a figurehead Chief Executive Officer. The political stalemate which threatened to erupt into political and ethnic violence has forced Tinubu to take a controversial measure which constitutionality is in doubt. I will shortly offer my own opinion regarding the declaration of emergency in Rivers. However, two things are clear to me. First, it has not solved the problem; and, second, the Presidency, the National Assembly and the federal judiciary have been thrown into the midst of another political crisis by selfish and unpatriotic politicians who don’t wish the people of Rivers State and Nigeria well.

Was the declaration advisable?

“A journalist should be pursuing a fair rendition of truth without regard to popular moods; the journalist should not be swayed by public opinion; only by the pursuit of truth, as close as he can get to it” – Malvin Kalb, American journalist, 1997. I am not a professional journalist; only a media contributor. But, I have accepted the basic rules of journalism as my guide each time an article is published. As much as possible, sentiments are discarded; bias against or in favour of individuals or groups is suppressed.

Thus, even though a staunch Christian, I have no opposition to the introduction of the Sharia Law, anywhere in Nigeria – as long as it is applied only to Muslims. My approach to this matter is the same. This is one of those devilish cases which most thoughtful people pray they are never called upon to offer an opinion. That notwithstanding, when they occur, each of us must stand up and be counted. It is not easy; believe me. My approach to this sort of thing is to ask two simple questions: What would have happened if Tinubu did not declare the state of emergency?

And what would have been the general opinion of his competence as a leader for allowing it? In my view, the contending parties – pro-Wike and pro-Fubara – in and out of government have reached such a stage that dialogue and peaceful solution was impossible. Both sides were moving gradually and surely towards mutual violent destruction. Once it starts, such conflicts don’t end in days or weeks; and sometimes, not even months. Rivers State would have been locked down for a long time; and healing would have taken years to achieve. The Nigerian economy would have been damaged beyond redemption. Every Nigerian alive and millions unborn would suffer immeasurably.

Truth is Rivers State, right now, is the most important state in Nigeria from the standpoint of dollar revenue – given its dominant position on oil and gas. It is our egg basket; which a bunch of blockhead politicians were about to scatter. Fubara, Wike and the legislators were totally obstinate and uncommonly uncompromising as to have left the state without access to its own funds; and the stalemate would have continued indefinitely – if left unchecked. The only power left to bring a halt to the lunacy is the President of Nigeria. Granted, he might have, deliberately or inadvertently, contributed to the mess. But, the fact remains that, having observed the drift of events, he had no choice other than to call a halt. The only instrument at his disposal was the declaration of emergency – which he has done. Unfortunately, Tinubu missed the last step which would have brought nationwide approval; instead of condemnation.

What should have been done?

 “The buck stops here” – US President Harry Truman, 1884-1892. That was the statement of a former American President whose Secretary of State was fomenting trouble in his own state on account of ambition to dictate to his successor as state governor. The fellow was doing exactly the same thing Wike has been attempting to do in Rivers. Although, the incident occurred long before Harry Truman pronounced the obiter dictum for all Presidents everywhere, it still has relevance today. No President should encourage possible breakdown of law and order in any part of his country; neither should he retain a Minister who does. Tinubu should also have sacked Wike; who is the cause of the problem.