A Governor and His Opponents

By

Constance Ikokwu 

Politics defines the basic conditions of social life, within which we define ourselves. This is why the contest for political positions are usually fierce. This also explains the bitter antagonisms between political actors and players. Stakeholders are wont to criticise and hold office holders responsible for real and imagined non-performance in the polity. Perhaps, it is in this light that the political battles and controversies going on in Rivers State can be understood.

During the week, a group by the name Rivers/Bayelsa Profesionals Forum (RPF) made known its resolve to ensure and enthrone good governance in both states. The Chairman of the organising committee of the forum, Mr. Idaere Gogo Ogan had explained the forum to be an organisation of young, strong and cultured Rivers/Bayelsa men and women drawn from various professionals for the purpose of propagating good governance.

The group's verdict of what has become of the political situation of the country is not different from that of other "professional" critics. "Our concern spans all through the disgusting low quality politics, a cascading social disorder of unimaginable proportions, and lack of economic agenda to guarantee some level of sustenance for the people in both states".

But specifically, they were more interested in the events taking place in Rivers State which has not been very palatable according to them. Ogan decried what he described as brutality and savagery experienced under Governor Peter Odili's administration, particularly the violence in Ogoniland, and the carnage in Ogbakari. He also challenged the governor to ensure governance based on equity, justice and the rule of law.

The position of the RPF is just an inkling of the many battles and oppositons that the governor has had to contend with in recent times. While his critics aggressively contend that he has not performed well, others not only score the governor high but have also anointed him for a second term.

A careful observation reveals that the combatants will stop at nothing to outwit each other in a battle which has reached unimaginable dimensions. A common weapon has been the use of paid advertorals in the papers to either express grievances or counter attacks against the governor.

One of such advertorials titled "Rivers State: Is it a question of Hired Assasins or State Terrorism" and signed by T. Fubara and Igombo Tom-Imanuel on behalf of "Concerned Rivers Citizens", rolled out a diary of attacks on individuals in the state while pointing accusing fingers on the governor.

"Within the last two months or so, reports emanating from lucky survivors from the hands of what on the surface appears to be hired assassins points to conclusions that are hard to believe or accept" it said.

It mentioned the death of Hon. Monday Ndor, an All Peoples Party (APP) member representing Khana constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly who was shot dead in his premises. Explaining the possible cause of Ndor's death, it said "At the time of Hon. Ndor's killing, APP members in the Rivers State House of Assembly were reported to be making frantic efforts to change their house officers and the late Hon. Monday Ndor was being considered as one of those to take over the minority leadership from those who are generally considered as key Odili's men and are known as SISSY, Butter and Bread leadership".

In a similar vein, a recent report in a Lagos based soft sell magazine sought to draw a link between the governor and the death of Ndor. Part of the report read: "Monday Ndor, APP member of the State Assembly representing Khana constituency was liquidated. He was shot by gunmen who were lying in wait in his compound. Of note is the fact that Ndor was an Odili critic and met his untimely death at a time when he was at the verge of taking the minority leadership position of the House from an Odili loyalist".

While it is widely believed, particularly by Odili's opponents that Ndor's death cannot be successfully divorced from the political wranglings going on in the state, a group percieved to be loyal to the governor has refuted that insinuation.

Responding to the report in the magazine, a group by the name "Concerned Academics of Ogoniland" dismissed it as mere insinuations and giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

"The above insinuations to our mind is fabricated and intended to unalign, embarrass and divert the attention of the State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili and the Rivers State government for Ogoni people in particular and Rivers State in general.

The group concluded that the report was "intended to incite the Ogoni people against themselves by linking the death of late Monday Ndor to an imaginery battle for the minority leadership position in the House of Assembly".

While the issue remains shrouded in controversy, in a related development, other individuals in the state are slugging it out with Odili in a bitter rivalry. Prominent on the list of those at the throat of the governor are Chief Bekinbo Soberekon and Dr. Marshall Harry.

Soberekon has consistently attacked Odili's administration on the Gas Turbine Project. "The Gas Turbine is not working. That is the one at Eleme which was given to Rivers State by the Federal Government through OMPADEC. It is a monumental deceit to the people of Rivers State and the Federal Government". he said. He also criticised Odili saying the governor cannot justify the N994 million spent to revamp the gas turbine and the additional N200 million given to the state by the president on the project.

The gas turbine was built by OMPADEC and has been lying idle for some years. But the turbine was re-commissioned last year by the President, Olusegun Obasanjo. As Soberekon noted, Eleme local government is yet to to hooked up to the gas turbine. The villages affected are Alode Eleme, Ogalem Agbo-Nchia, Aleto, Alesu, Ebubu Elere, Akpajor-Nchia, Elere and Nchia.

However, the Commissioner for Power, Reginald Wilcox was reported to have said that the turbine is working. He said the state government spent N940 million and not N994 million as Soberekon claimed. The Chief Press Secretary to Odili was also reported to have said that the exclusion of villages in Eleme local government does not mean that the turbine is not working.

My checks reveal that other areas such as Tai, Gokana and Khana enjoy electricity from the turbine.

Watchers of political events are however, quick to point out that Soberekon's hard critical stance may not be unconnected with his future political ambition. The Kalabari born politician is known to have aspired to be a governor on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). He is also known to be nursing a gubernatorial ambition on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come 2003.

The resort to stiff opposition and criticism is therefore understandable. His interest borders on the necessity to pave the way for his political ambition. However, he has a question to answer on the multi-million naira contract carried out by his company. This, observers contend may be a minus for him.

His company, Consort Engineering was said to have been awarded a multi-million naira contract to carry out developmental projects meant to ease the sufferings in his Kalabari/Ijaw homelands. His critics argue that there is no proof that the project has been completed even while it is reported that the upfront for the project has been paid for by the defunct Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC).

The feud between Dr. Marshall Harry, the National Co-ordinator of the Campaign for the Realisation of a South-South President (CRESOP), and the governor came to a head when he was arrested by the police and arraigned on a six-count charge which includes allegation that he conspired with others and published false information against governor Odili.

According to the charge, Harry published materials likely to cause public alarm "by falsely stating that Dr. Peter Odili has perfected plan to send assailants to harass and assault the aforesaid Dr. Marhsall Harry". He was also said to have issued a press release that members of Odili's campaign outfit called Restoration Women were given N20,000 each to insult and boo him.

Despite all these oppositions, Odili's profile seems to be on the rise. Indications are that the party has adopted him as their candidate for 2003. Recently, a paid advertorial in a national newspaper signed by Lebari Legbara Jnr. and Saroneewii Daakor for "Concerned Ogoni Youths" took a swipe at Harry and Soberekon.

"The Ogonis have observed, to their chagrin and utter bewilderment, that certain sons of Kalabari land in the Rivers State have made Hon. Monday Ndor, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Khana Constituency 11 but murdered in his house, on 19th August, 2001, the pivot of their campaign of calumny against Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, or the Rivers State Government".

Continuing, it read: "Prominent in this act are: Chief Marshall Harry, Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, who says he is nursing gubernatorial ambition and one Jone Braide, a spokesperson for Soberekon"

They concluded that "politicians should play politics and leave us alone".

As it were, the governor's opponents may have to do a lot of work if they hope to unseat him in the next elections. They may also need to change their tactics. Campaign of calumny devoid of ideas on how to change the fortunes of the people may not work.  

December 2001