Rivers: Peterside’s support base widens

BY NKIRU ODINKEMELU Honourable Dakuku Peterside, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Con­gress (APC), in Rivers State, is from the riverine area of the state. It is the axis that has not produced a governor since the inception of the cur­rent dispensation in 1999 inspite of the rotational mantra of various political parties. And with the political configu­ration of the state, the Ikwerre clan, which is, unarguably, in the majority has been having field day in the last 15 and a half years of the current democ­racy. This must have informed his endorse­ment by the outgoing Governor, Chibuike Rotim Amaechi, an Ikwerre son, for the sake of equality, fair play and sense of be­longing. But in a situation where people abide by the common syndrome of ‘our son,’ Peterside should not expect support from the Ikwerre axis of the state. The reason is not farfetched. The governor­ship candidate of the opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who is from Ikwerre. But a new trend has however been established with the reported endorsement of Peterside by the traditional rulers in Ikwerre, a factor that is already chang­ing the campaign and political discourse across River State. Quite padoxically, the Ikwerre Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in Isiokpo must have pitched their tents with Peterside, a riverine man against their Ikwerre son for the sake of equity and justice. The Rivers State 2015 governorship candidate of the APC, Dakuku Peter­side, it was reported to have visited the traditional rulers to seek their blessing in an election that is expected to be hotly contested between him and one of their son, Nyesom Wike. Wike, the candidate of the PDP, who is believed to be well connected in the presi­dency, is also said to have the support of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, whose wish to return the State to the PDP. Recall that Governor Rotimi Amaechi contested on the PDP platform before defecting to the APC. But Royal Fathers in Wike’s catchment areas, were said to have endorsed Peter­side instead, a son from the riverine area of the State. Not only that, the council of traditional rulers, which comprises first class and all government-recognised traditional rulers in the four Ikwerre local government areas of Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Emohua and Ikwerre, were also said to have declared Peterside the sole governorship candidate for the Ikw­erres in the coming February 28 election. The council members were said to have endorsed Peterside to allow the riverine area produce the next governor. By their action, they said no other governorship candidate would receive the council’s endorsement. To this end, they have urged all Ikwerre persons to support Peterside. Peterside, was reported to have ad­dressed the council thus: “Ikwere as an ethnic nationality has a very critical role to play at this point in time in the life of Rivers State. As custodians of Ikwere cul­ture, Ikwerre values, at a time of national morale crisis, we expect the custodians of our culture and value system as tradition­al rulers and fathers to lend their voices of reason so that the people can take the right path.” The riverine people in the state had sustained their agitation for the governor­ship to be shifted to their area. This was the path Peterside had also asked the kingmakers to take. It is on record that, Rivers State com­prises of the upland and riverine area. In the present democratic dispensation since 1999, the upland people have been ruling and they would have done so for 16 years by the time Governor Rotimi Amaechi completes his second term in May, this year. Thus, a Peterside victory, many observe, is expected to be a victory for fairness, equity and justice. According to a source who doesn’t want his name mentioned, Rivers was initially carved out for the people of the riverine area. According to him, “because we wanted the upland people not to feel marginalised, we decided that there was going to be a rotation of the governorship seat.” Just recently, Fafaa Dan-princewill, a PDP governorship aspirant, in an interview with a national daily, gave perspective to how the current agitation for power shift began. “In 1999, I was a founding member of the PDP. I could not contest for governor in 1999 because it was zoned outside the riverine area. Chief Odili became gov­ernor and it was expected that after eight years of his rule that it would revert to the riverine area. “But that again didn’t happen and we had Celestine Omehia for a short period and now Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Which means at the end of this tenure, it would have been 16 years for the upland group,” Dan-princewill said. He substantiated the claim that a ma­jority of the riverine area were keen on ensuring that power rotated to them and any party that failed to recognise this agi­tation would likely pay greatly at the poll. “Presently, the agitation to have a riverine governor is great.” On what the outcome would be for his party if it turned deaf to the people’s de­sire, Dan-princewill said: “I cannot speak for what the Ijaws or riverine people would do, but I would not be surprised if the backlash is heavy because it is a very controversial issue. The level of agitation today indicates that it could lead to seri­ous backlash for the party.” The supposed possible backlash was partly the reason Governor Amaechi settled for Peterside. Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya explained the choice of Peterside. “Rivers State APC was divinely set up to address three principal injustices visited on some sections of Rivers State. One of them is addressing the unjust situ­ation of the riverine areas of the state not occupying the seat of power since 1999, after the eight years of Dr. Peter Odili and the eight years of the incumbent governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi – all from the upland section of the state,” Ikanya said. On why Peterside was chosen from amongst Senator Magnus Abe, Mr. Tele Ikuru, and Mr. George Feyi, Ikanya argued that although all of the four aspirants were qualified being from the riverine area, the choice of Peterside was “a symbol of unity of both the Ogoni people and the riverine and upland sec­tions of the state.” There is a concerted effort by the APC to assuage what normally could snowball into a state crisis by fielding the gover­norship to the riverine people. On the PDP side, without regards to the people’s agitation, Wike is said to have assured his party that has capacity to deliver the State for PDP. But with support base of Peterside encroaching Wike’s territory, Wike might be losing the little grassroots support that he once had. While endorsing Peterside, one of those who was said to have spoken at the meet­ing was the Vice Chairman and traditional ruler of Akpor kingdom, Eze A.A Orlu Oriebe, who represented Eze Iriebe of Nye Weli Akpor kingdom. According to Oriebe, no candidate, aside Peterside, felt it wise to visit the kingmakers. “You are the only person (governorship candidate) who saw the need to visit the Traditional Council, and that you cannot go out there to tell our people anything without paying homage.” As it stands, there are several factors working in Peterside’s favour. Having been first endorsed by Governor Amae­chi, he indirectly enjoys the power of incumbency. Amaechi’s insistence on power rotation has proven to be an added advantage to Peterside’s aspiration. But of all the factors, is Peterside’s own personality. An analyst once dissected the character of the man the Supreme Council of Ikw­erre Traditional Rulers referred to as “His Excellency-in-waiting,” and noted that Peterside ordinarily doesn’t cut across as a regular politician and carries “no air of self-importance common with everyday politician.” According to the analyst, Adeola Akin­remi: “As one of the most presentable, high-profile members of the APC front row leaders in the House of Representa­tives with capacity to reach out beyond his party ranks, Peterside arrived on the political landscape prepared. “Just four years in the parliament, Peterside’s strengths are well-known. He is seen as focused, forthright, studious, urbane and a superb communicator. At a time politicians are reviled, people actu­ally like listening to him, making him a man who cuts across party lines.” Endorsed by his opponent’s kinsmen, Peterside, armed with the love of his people, whose deep agitation for equity and justice would greatly play a role in how the electorate would vote in the com­ing governorship election in the State, many reckon is the man to beat. He is the man favoured by the times and endorsed by all those who genuinely seek justice, equity and fairness.