By Innocent Okon
No matter how hard he may explain and expound, Sim Fubara, the Governor of Rivers state, has failed to impress many as a man who came prepared for the job.
He is yet to convince majority of us that even as a child of circumstance and providence, he can weather storms of governance with zeal, zest and zinc. Sad he can’t exchange his pristine naivety for his recent braggadocio! Some snippets may suffice here.
He spent a greater part of his adult life in public service. That means he is a product of a behemoth conservative super structure that thrives on anonymity and buck passing! Before he was railroaded into the murky waters of politicians , Fubara held the strategic office of the Accountant General of his state. And merit is always the least preferred credential if it is considered with loyalty in determining who gets such an office! Fubara may confuse, but can’t convince rational observers that he did not know the self-serving agenda his political godfather, Nyesom Wike handed to him for implementation before and after his inauguration on May 29, 2023.
Only the politically naive could believe that his predecessor, after exhuming Fubara, a political neophyte, from the rapacious obscure mill of civil service to be his successor, did that for altruistic ends. Like all godfathers in politics, self-preservation was and still the non-negotiable article of faith. Political relevance follows in that pecking order. And Governor Simi Fubara will only be economical with the truth if he feigns ignorance of this obvious but hidden agenda.
He cannot also claim ignorance of the capacity of his estranged mentor to advance and perpetuate these ignoble ground rules by any means possible!
It is convenient and laudable now to castigate Wike for insisting on his pound of flesh without considering the imperfect contract that lust for power and wealth conspired to foist on the people of Rivers state.
Like many exiting Governors in Nigeria, Wike followed convention to scout and work for a ‘trusted’ successor! Such project is always predicated on terms and conditions which often are diametrically opposed to known purposes of good governance that is beneficial to the common good of the people. Needless to posit that in any succession gambit like this, given our polity, public funds and manpower are often deployed recklessly and seamlessly! What is expected of the beneficiary of this calculated assault on the state resources, is the wisdom of the proverbial tortoise on assumption of office!
The Holy book even questions the wisdom of any man who embarks on construction of a tower without first thinking of counting the cost of such gigantic project!
Since Governor Fubara started asserting his ‘independence’ from his estranged godfather, has treated the public to shambolic episodes of comedy of errors anchored on crass naivety.
How can you start a battle for ‘independence’ when 27 (more than 95%) of the members of the state legislature are not loyal to you? How could you command respect and support from members of your Executive Council when almost all of them were taking instructions from your godfather? How strong was and still your grip of the state and local chapters of your Party? Battling to severe from the stranglehold of a godfather in politics in Nigeria is not a tea party! Fubara should have taken lessons from Ex-Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra state on how he delivered his state from the vampirous jaws of power buccaneers. He should have taken some time to compare notes with Obaseki of Edo state, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ganduje of Kano and Uba Sani of Kaduna states! One arm of government that must be captured first for you to cut off from the strings of the puppet master is the state legislature. And you need to be a graduate of Chief Adelabu’s school of ‘Amala’ politics to know and practice this principle. If Fubara had enrolled for a short session course in this AMALA political school (without borders), he would have long rested Wike in a shallow political grave in Rivers state.
Now, his naivety has inflicted and afflicted the people of Rivers state with avoidable carnage, insecurity and pervasive air of uncertainty!
This is why it is always advisable not to board a flight with the devil’s ticket and expect angels to welcome you at your destination! It’s time for our political practitioners to learn, unlearn and relearn lessons on politics, power and the nature of man.
Okon, a journalist and lawyer, lives in Uyo.
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