By Sotonye Ijuye Dagogo
Some people want me to talk about the Sole Administrator. Newsmen, friends and associates want me to talk about Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers State.
But what is left for me to talk about?
Many have spoken. Former Presidents, past and serving Governors, Elder Statesmen, Senior Advocates, Civil Society, Captains of Industry. They have all told President Tinubu that his action is unconstitutional. It amounted to state capture and a brazen abuse of his office. They said he had better opinions which he didn’t use. They said he vilified Governor Fubara and supported his Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
From 2013 to 2015, Nyesom Wike destabilised the administration of the then Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. He distracted the Governor from the primary duty of governance for that length of time.
But Rivers people did not sit back to talk about the cost of that orchestration on the coffers of the state and the psyche of the people. They did not calculate the waste that the activities of one man brought upon the state.
Since October 2023, Nyesom Wike has destabilised the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and distracted the Governor brazenly, using his supporters in the House of Assembly.
But Rivers people are not talking about the cost of the ongoing crisis on the treasury and development of the state. They are not calculating the waste that the action of one single individual is bringing upon the state.
From 1999 to 2007, Nyesom Wike was Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, the second richest LGA in the county. From 2015 to 2023, Nyesom Wike was Governor of Rivers State, the second richest state in Nigeria. He was just a fresh law graduate in 1998 but now swims in untold affluence.
Yet, Rivers people are not talking about how he became extremely rich and powerful, considering that he has always been in public office.
But they want me to talk about Tinubu’s Sole Administrator. They want to know my opinion about the declaration of a state of emergency.
What is there for me to say, other than to say that the declaration of a state of emergency and the appointment of a Sole Administrator to spend Rivers money for six months without the people’s mandate, is yet another waste that a single individual, Nyesom Wike has consistently brought upon Rivers State since 1998.
(C) Ijuye