Wike And Destructive Godfather Politics -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

Since the beginning of the electioneering campaign preparatory for the February, 2023 general election, Yesom Wike, the immediate past governor of River State and the Tunubu-appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has always been in the news and for the wrong reasons.

When he is not fighting his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he is fighting the chairman or the presidential flag bearer of the party or he is conspiring with his disgruntled group or he is holding clandestine meetings with the other parties while he is pretending to be working for the interest of the South and those ignorant of his scheming cheered ignorantly. His appointment by Tinubu confirmed that Wike was actually self-seeking political jobber. But his recent battle with Sim Fubara, the current governor of River State whom Wike installed exposed Wike as a corrupt, selfish and unscrupulous politician.

The bubble burst with the threat of impeachment on the governor ostensibly for violating the terms of the agreement he reached with Wike before he was sponsored to the office of the number officer of the state. The governor could no longer bear the constraint of sitting as a governor and then pay the 25% of the state government allocation to the strong man of Obio-Akpor in the name of “agreement”. He could not no longer bear the fact although he is the elected governor while someone else rues by proxy. This was the exact replica of the Dr. Chris Ngige story in Anambra State in 2003 until he rebelled against the godfathers to liberate himself and his people.

Wike tried to justify his altercation with the governor by claiming that he bought forms for all the political office holders in River State from the state House of Assembly to the National Assembly and that he wants to maintain the state’s political structure.

Wike’s claim to having bought the nomination forms of the political office holders in River State is shameless and ridiculous. It was a ploy to play the puppeteer, to transmogrify into a godfather. It was a design to control the state and make the politicians do his bidding but unfortunately, it is backfiring. There is no doubt that he bought forms for his cronies and helped rig them into power including the governor using the machinery for obvious reason: to exercise control over the state’s administrative machinery.

It is a shame of our nation that people like could still be allowed to continue in office after the tussle with his state governor. That is the stock in trade of our unconscionable politicians and governors who misappropriate public funds and when they want to leave office will install a puppet to cover up the mess they are leaving behind and then to give them returns from the state allocation in order to allow him sustain his grandiose lifestyle and continue to maintain their vice grip on power. After using the state funds to buy nomination forms for his cronies, they will claim to have developed them and empower them. This is Tinubu’s “godfatherism” model. From all indications, Wike’s feud with Sim Fubara is on personal matters and does not warrant impeachment threat on the governor.

The unfolding event clearly reveals the true character of the man called Yesom Wike as a self-centered greedy politician. Wike is the type of character that does not understand the essence of leadership and public service. People like Wike erroneously think that they are smart but they indulge in action without weighing the consequences. In their greed for accumulation, they are always careless and tend to leave that which will boomerang after. And that is the case here.

Wike does not understand essence of political leadership, democracy or public service. Unfortunately, the Nigerian political space is polluted by individuals and characters like Wike that personalize public office and most times use it for personal aggrandizement and to fight perceived political enemies. I have predicted during the electioneering campaign period that Wike is trading on a very dangerous path and that he is far from what he claims to be. We are beginning to see the rise and fall of Wike politically. The recent tirade with Fubara will seal Wike’s fate politically. He has lost Rivers for good. By the time the matter is settled and it will be done very soon, he will be cut off from his base; the supply of his strength.

The allegation that Wike is demanding the 25% of River State monthly allocation is a grievous one that will require thorough investigation and sanction. But I know the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not do that for obvious reason.

It is said that birds of a feather flock together. The elders, the youths and the River State stakeholders must act decisively to stop Wike’s apparent chokehold on the state. And even if we cannot prove his alleged demand for the 25% of the state’s allocation, the use of public funds to purchase nomination forms for the politicians in his state is tantamount to a misappropriation of public funds and an abuse of office and should treated as such.

Mr. Fubara must stand his ground and not be cajoled into false reconciliation. He is on the side of the people and on the side of justice. People like Wike are implacable.

The megalomaniac from Obio-Okpor is ruthless. No amount of reconciliation will mollify him. He cannot be trusted to keep his words. His betrayal of the PDP, the platform that made him what he is, proves that. He tried to install himself as the godfather of the PDP but failed. In an attempt to take control of the party, he toiled with party hierarchy from Sheriff, Uche Secondus to Iyorchia Ayu. And now he is a mole in the party working to dismember the party.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK