Let me start by taking a quote from Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson around 2006: “_when you win don’t gloat and when you lose don’t go_bananas_”. He gave the piece of advice to his fierce rival Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho.
I’m compelled to write this aftermath the Supreme Court judgment which ruled in Favour of the PDP and its Governorship candidate in the April 11, 2015 general elections in Rivers State. The apex court overruled the decision of the election tribunal and appeal court, contrary to expectations.
As someone who was fully involved in the campaigns and elections, I would say, the whole process in Rivers State was a mockery of democracy. Rivers state was hitherto a virtually one-party state, with the political elite having a consensus. But the last general produced tow powerful power blocs: one led by the then governor and the other by hisformer ally who fell out with him.
The feud between the duo was well documented which culminated into conflagration in Rivers State in 2013. The former was “tactically” edged out of the PDP by forces who felt uncomfortable with him in the party. For those who argued otherwise, how do you reconcile a situation where the party structure is taken away from a sitting governor in Nigeria? The process of taking the party structure through a court is still being questioned till today.
Even with that, the former governor insisted on doing it the right way by challenging the decision in court.
He later found succor in the newly formed APC and joined with five of his other colleagues, some serving senators and House of Representatives member from the state also joined.
The chain of events that followed was a macabre dance of the use of federal might to dislodge the former governor. Needless to begin the recount the daily horrors that residents of the state, who had absolutely nothing with politics, were made to suffer. The police were openly partisan allowing pro PDP rallies while teargassing the then opposition. A good example was the one that landed Senator Magnus Abe in a hospital abroad. The show of shame continued with the arrests and harassment of APC members until election days.
Notable among the atrocities was the unleashing of ex militants and other criminals, on Port Harcourt, openly brandishing dangerous weapons as they marched to government house in protest against Amaechi.
From that day till today, the state has suffered upsurge in crime and criminality. The Amaechi’s administration had kept the bad boys quiet when he was fully in charge of the state’s security.
Five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also planned a civilian _coup- de -tat_ and purportedly removed the then speaker, while one Evans Bipi, proclaimed himself “authentic speaker”. This happened on a day the speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, sensing impending trouble, called on the police commissioner, the controversial Matthew Mbu for reinforcement, but was ignored. Fierce-looking thugs were imported to the hallowed chambers to the assembly and beat up the majority of members. It was however the reprisal, symbolized by the Majority leader, Chidi Lloyd that made worldwide headlines and internet hit.
From then on, the house became polarized as efforts to resume sitting were rebuffed by the police that stationed an armoured tank in the entrance. Even the majority of the lawmakers agreed to sign undertaking for peace, the hawkish few refused.
The national assembly waded in and took over the responsibility of legislature until a court overruled it. Still the federal police refused to open the assembly. Amaechi had no choice than to open the old executive chamber of the government house for the lawmakers. The courts were not spared as they became targets of malicious arson and bombing from Ahoada to Etche. This prompted the judicial workers under the aegis of JUSUN to embark on an indefinite strike that led to the closure of the courts. This was also blamed on Amaechi as if he was the one bombing the courts.
While these were going on, Mbu made himself the chief security officer of the state and barred Amaechi from using some roads. Even the then first lady, Patience Jonathan, added her weight to the impunity by taking over Port Harcourt for a whole week, forcing the governor to cancel all official engagements.
Not done with that, Rivers State was economically emasculated by the federal government to spite Amaechi. The school of thought was that he had the audacity to challenge the “federal mighty” because he had money. So, oil wells belonging to Rivers State were ceded- by executive fiat- to neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Abia and Imo. Even the legitimate foreign loan secured to provide water for the state was frustrated at the federal level.
On the political scene, attacks commenced as APC began registration of its members. The attacks continued until the presidential campaign started when APC members were attacked in Ogoni, Kalabari and Ahoada axis of the state on their way to the campaign venue at Adokiye Amasiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. No lives were lost but several received gunshot wounds.
Several people were killed in ONELGA and other local governments in the state while several properties worth millions of naira belonging to APC members, including their secretariats in ONELGA, Andoni, Okrika were destroyed. It is trite to note that most of the targets of election violence were members of APC, who decided to exercise their democratic rights in a democracy.
It came to head in Okrika in February 13, 2015 when armed hoodlums, brandishing brand new AK 47 guns, stormed the venue of governorship campaign rally where a policeman was shot dead and several others, including journalists were injured and lost their valuables. Some women were raped by the rampaging hoodlums. This was captured live by a national television station. The federal government kept a criminal silence in all these.
The Election Days were marred throughout the state with such violence that local and international election observers denounced it. It was characterized by intimidation, ballot stuffing, snatching and all manner of infractions that the tribunal and appeal court rightly annulled the election for governorship and several state and national assembly seats.
However, the Supreme Court on Wednesday 27 January reversed the ruling on governorship election and affirmed Nyesom Wike of the PDP as the duly elected governor of Rivers State. That is the final but we all know the truth that the election and results never reflected the true wishes of the people of Rivers State.
So, rather than gloating, I expect the PDP and its supporters to be sober for the lives and property lost in that bloody election. Rather than show crass insensitivity, they should understand that the victims left families behind and dashed dreams and some broken limbs. So God help Rivers State, God help Nigeria
Written by Godwin Agwana, Public Affairs Commentator.
