In times of serious political disagreements in a state, people usually look up to the elders, who are mostly statesmen to build bridges of mediation and sincere reconciliations. Such elders are always above board, unbiased and impartial. As statesmen, their utterances usually calm frayed nerves, soothe troubled souls and de-escalate tensions. They act as peacemakers and not as interested parties.
But the difference seems to be the case in Rivers State. Since October 2023 when all hell was let loose in the state, the role of elders as peacemakers and statesmen appears to be missing. They have been accused of taking sides in the crisis thereby making genuine reconciliation almost impossible.
It has become obvious that while some elders belong to the camp of the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, others are strong members of the other warring camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike. Therefore, the state has been thrown into a dichotomy of Fubara’s elders and Wike’s elders.
Unfortunately, members of the two camps of elders were once political allies, friends and associates. They were once members of the same political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Most of them were even founding members of the PDP, a platform they held their former political positions.
Since the beginning of the present democratic dispensation, Rivers has been governed by the PDP and most of the present elders were at different times appointees of the past Rivers PDP governors. Others also occupied elective positions under the same governors.
For instance, former Governor Peter Odili, is known to be the father of most political characters in the state. Most of the existing and active politicians in Rivers are referred to as Odili’s progenies. He started the current democratic dispensation as a governor in 1999 till 2007. Almost all the elders today passed through the political school of Odili.
Through some political maneuvering and internal political betrayal in PDP, Sir Celestine Omehia, was enthroned to replace Odili, but was dethroned by the landmark Supreme Court’s judgement that immediately empowered and authorized Chief Rotimi Amaechi as the genuine successor of Odili.
Amaechi’s reign was not devoid of turbulence especially towards the end of his second term when he joined forces to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was met with stiff opposition from Wike, who took over the structures of the PDP through the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) and became the governor foiling all attempts by Amaechi to produce an APC governor for Rivers. The Wike-Amaechi feud lingered but did not affect governance in the state apart from occasional tantrums thrown to each other by the two camps.
Therefore, today’s elders were friends and foes at different times depending on the political arrangements that favoured their interest in Rivers. But they found a way in the past to navigate series of crises that bedevilled past administration without incurring dangerous consequences. Despite their conflicting interest, at no time in the history of Rivers had the state witnessed devastating political crisis like the ongoing Fubara-Wike feud.
The Rivers Elders’ Dichotomy
The reason for the division among the elders is not far-fetched. They were never in the same political camp even before the crisis. While one camp supported the emergence of Fubara as the PDP candidate and worked for his victory under the leadership of Wike, the other, opposed Fubara then because of their perception of Wike as their collective enemy.
The recent pro-Fubara elders are seen by many as a child of circumstance. Most of them wallowed in political wilderness throughout the years of Wike’s governorship. They were hitherto believed to be Wike’s political foes and by extension Fubara’s inherited enemies. In the build-up to the 2023 general elections, some of them had governorship interests, others had their preferred candidates. They never wanted Fubara because they viewed him as Wike’s manipulative political strategy to remain in control of the state.
But Wike kept them in abeyance and almost retired them as political spent forces. Wike protected Fubara from them, nurtured him and bulldozed his way to ensure his victory at the poll. The victory of Fubara at the poll and his triumph at the courts was supposed to completely silence and end the political relevance of this group of elders.
But the crisis renewed their hope as they capitalized on it to rebound and relaunch themselves politically. They immediately filled the vacuum and became Fubara’s bulwark, his backbone.
These elders, now backing Fubara are Celestine Omehia, Tele Ikuru, Uche Secondus, Dr. Austin Opara, Senator Lee Maeba, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Alabo David Briggs among others. Others such as Senator John Mbata and former Governor Odili were in the same political family with Wike and supported his choice of Fubara as governor but chose ti identify with the governor in the ongoing political crisis.
However, the elders backing Wike have been in the corridors of power within the state and were seen as the political associates, friends and loyalists of Wike. They were the brains behind the choice of Fubara as Wike’s successor.
Though some might have objected to Wike’s presentation of Fubara as his successor, they were later convinced to back him. Some of them played active roles during the electioneering campaigns. They were happy that eventually their choice had become the governor, hence, they thought it was time for them to relax and enjoy the fruit of their labour.
But boom, everything changed in a jiffy. Their table of feast turned in a twinkle. Like they said their pot of soup was stolen. They are unhappy that after tilling the ground, planting the seeds and nurturing them to grow, their opposing counterparts, who were nowhere to be found then, are the ones harvesting the fruits. They believe that Fubara betrayed them and they would never forgive the elders reaping where they never bothered to sow.
It is believed that Wike nurses a similar feeling. No Rivers governor in the past was instrumental to bringing or producing his successor. Dynamics of power, and personal idiosyncrasies played active roles in selecting successors. But for the first time in the history of Rivers, Wike swam against the tide, dared all forces in Rivers and produced not just his successor but someone from the neglected and ostracized riverine area of the state.
Therefore, he would not forgive any act of disloyalty. But his opposers are always quick to tell Wike that Fubara is Rivers governor and would not be allowed to be a stooge or a puppet to any godfather. The payback time effect dominating the camp of pro-Fubara elders and the feeling of paradise lost in pro-Wike elders are the reasons while the crisis continues to grow from bad to worse.
The pro-Wike elders were the first to intervene in the crisis. They earlier perceived it as a family misunderstanding and thought their intervention would facilitate fence-mending between Wike and his estranged godson. But they were wrong because they were later seen as taking sides in the conflict.
In November 2023, about a month into the crisis, the elders, who were then in the same political family with Fubara, carried out what they called fact-finding into the crisis. But they blamed it all on Fubara. “Wike is innocent”, they thundered. “Fubara’s indiscretion caused it all”, they concluded. “Fubara must go and beg his godfather”, they said.
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Why? The leaders under the aegis of Rivers Elders Forum (REF) in their statement after their investigations first countered the allegation that Wike was behind the impeachment move against Fubara.
They concluded that the governor misinterpreted a mere internal crisis in the House of Assembly between a former Majority Leader, Edinson Ehie, and his other lawmakers.
The elders, in a statement by their Chairman, Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra, said that the governor, having misread the internal brawl as an existential threat, gave the situation an ethnic coloration.
Elders who endorsed the statement then were Sam Sam Jaja, former Deputy National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Ruler, Sergeant Awuse; Chief Emmanuel Anyanwu, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Okey Chind, Senator Olaka Nwogu among others.
On what led to the crisis, the elders said: “We are aware that there was a pre-existing problem between Ehie, the then majority leader, and his colleagues that culminated in his removal.
“That to forestall his impeding removal, the hallowed chamber of the Assembly was burnt and that Fubara believed that Ehie’s removal was a precursor to his impeachment, which is not true.
“The misrepresentation of the internal wrangling among the members prompted the governor’s immediate intervention, making a characterised legislative brawl as an existential threat. This caused governor and his newly assembled supporters to give the action of the Assembly members an ethnic coloration and prompted youths of Ijaw extraction to rally behind the governor in the name of Ijaw nationalism.
“The hasty reaction of the governor has now pitched His Excellency, Sim Fubara, and state Assembly members in an all out battle that had led to the activation for the process of impeachment of the governor.
“The governor neither sought the help, clarification, intervention of Wike and the elders on the development, nor did he discourage damaging lies to be peddled against Wike”.
They insisted that Fubara must take urgent steps to correct the false narratives against Wike to provide a window for true reconciliation.
They warned persons advising Fubara to engage Wike in a needless battle to desist and allow the governor concentrate on consolidating the achievements of Wike.
The colouration and composition of the elders, who issued the November 2023 statement has since changed as some of them like Sam Sam Jaja had switched camp from Wike to Fubara. Besides, Sergeant Awuse was later consumed by the crisis following his removal by Fubara as the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.
The earlier intervention of the in-house elders failed to address the crisis. It rather escalated the tension and further pushed Fubara away from his original political family. In his bid to survive any impending surprising ambush, the governor welcomed other anti-Wike elders, who were willing to defend him and fill the void.
The pro-Fubara elders issued multiple statements absolving the governor of any blame and referring to Wike as the aggressor. Tempers flayed and the crisis further deepened. Some pro-Fubara elders like High Chief Sarah Igbeh joined other litigants in court to push for Fubara’s independence.
The Odili Factor
Former Governor Peter Odili has become a major factor in the ongoing political crisis in the state. Despite his advancing age, Odili still command’s political reverence among politicians in the state. The former governor had since declared his stance in the crisis. He boldly identified with Fubara and had always made statements interpreted by many as provocative in support of the governor.
Indeed, Odili was caught between Fubara and Wike in the melee. It is a known fact that Wike during his tenure as a governor honoured Odili and his family. The former governor was fond of showering praises on Odili in most of his public outings. He pursued and realized Odili’s interest.
Wike believed that as a grateful child he owed Odili and his family a lot for their roles in his towering political journey. He even named some of the public infrastructures he built in the state after Odili and his wife. In fact, Wike was constantly in touch with Odili, whom he was said to have conferred with before taking any major political decision.
Odili in turn acknowledged Wike’s benevolence and showered him with praises. He admitted many times that Wike outperformed all his predecessors and said it it were possible he would have called for a third term for Wike. Therefore, many people believed that there was nothing that could separate Wike and Odili.
But they were wrong. Fubara separated them. Anti-Wike elders believe that Odili had warned Wike and his group of elders against any move to remove Fubara. He did not buy into it and insisted that he would not be part of any opposition against the governor. He preferred allowing the governor to complete his tenure devoid of crisis in the interest of Rivers.
While some described Odili’s stand as legendary, others said the former governor would have been a complete statesman and peacemaker, if he had tamed his tongue in most of his public outings. According to them he should have continued his support for Fubara silently providing guidance for him without descending into the arena with some provocative public statements.
But others opened that Odili was simply displaying the political spirit in him. According to them there must be total support, no sitting on the fence to give directions to the governor’s followers.
No wonder, Fubara has been savouring his backing by Odili, a man he constantly refer to as a true statesman and a real man of integrity. Fubara has always said his opposing camp is jittery because Odili is with him. Recently, Fubara while throwing shades at Wike’s camp of elders, said with the likes of Odili, Senator John Mbata, Secondus and others with him, there was no one left at the other side.
The governor said: “With strong confidence and faith in God and the people, we are not bothered about what they (opposition) will come with. God will always have a way to save us from them. They are going to come, but we are not worried. We are equal to the task.
“I honestly thank our leaders, from Dr. Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Omehia, Sen John Azuta Mbata, Sir Austin Opara, Prince Uche Secondus, Dr. Abiye Sekibo; to others, for the organic support you are giving to our government.
“A lot of persons would not understand what is really happening. This is not to say we did not have people that were with us and following us and fighting. But one of the troubles they (detractors) have where they are today is that they do not have any strong face in Rivers politics with them.
“The beginning and the end of politics in this State is Sir Peter Odili. And if he is sitting with us here, and with these other persons, who do they have with them?
“This Dr. Odili is the right face and right image of our state. These are the frontiers of Rivers State politics. Men and women that have distinguished themselves are sitting with us here. People who have contributed in several ways to make Rivers State what it is, not rented people they bring for dinner”.
But Wike said it was unbelievable to hear the governor say there was no real person with him and wondered if the governor was referring to the same people that had sleepless night to give him his present office.
The minister mocked Fubara for referring to Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Meeba, Austine Opara, Abiye Sekibo and Celestine Omehia as the real Rivers people. He informed the governor that persons he had suddenly recognized where those who vowed that he would never be the governor of Rivers.
The Odili’s towering figure in the crisis recently assumed a worrying proportion. It was a Christmas ballad that he organised for the governor at his residence in Port Harcourt. Odili said Fubara stopped one man (referring to Wike) from making Rivers his personal estate.
The two opposing camps of elders have been clashing over spiral effects of the statement. The elders in the camp of Odili and Fubara were more concerned about the response the former governor got from Minister Wike.
Wike, in his response to Odili said: “Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? His wife is a Chairman of Governing Council, his daughter is a commissioner, his other daughter is a judge and he is the general overseer.
“Who has now turned Rivers State to his private estate? I am sure if care is not taken if there is a chance, he can even arrange a marriage for the governor. It was his nephew, his late senior brother’s son, that was recommended for commissioner. He took the slot and gave it to his own daughter. Someone who didn’t remember to stand for the son of his late elder brother, is that an elder statesman?”
The pro-Fubara elders took exception to Wike’s response to Odili, a man they described as their leader. 16 of the elders under the auspices of Concerned Elders of Rivers State faulted Wike’s claims and took their time to reply them.
The elders said: “We the Concerned Elders of Rivers State issue this statement with a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to uphold the values of respect, unity and decorum that have long been the foundation of our society.
“It has come to our attention, again sadly, that the former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike through his words, at an event in a Church at Oroigwe, has directed insults against a former Governor of the State, Dr Peter Odili, and a highly respected national elder statesman of our dear country Nigeria and his family.
“Such behaviour is not only unbecoming but also stands in contrast to the time-honoured traditions of mutual respect, especially respect for elders and deference to wisdom and experience that we all hold dear in Rivers State”
The elder said they believed in the power of dialogue and the importance of addressing grievances through constructive and respectful means, but frowned on the act of disrespecting elders.
They said: “Elders are custodians of our heritage, wisdom and values, and any affront to their dignity is an injury to the entire community. “This is why we stand tall against the unfortunate remarks of Nyesom Wike and his penchant to throw caution and decency to the wind by insulting dignified persons and institutions including respected traditional rulers and clergymen whenever he pleases.
“Otherwise, how would anyone justify the current disrespect to the Odili’s..Or would we forget so soon how he denigrated Sir Celestine Omehia, a former Governor of Rivers State or the other leaders including Prince Uche Secondus or the King of Eberi Omuma, Onyekachi Amaonwu?”
The elders said Wike’s insults were triggered by Odili’s opposition to his alleged impeachment plot against Fubara.
They said: “The only reason why Nyesom Wike went berserk against Dr Peter Odili is that Dr Odili, in a statesmanly manner, advised him against the impeachment plot of the incumbent Governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara in a little over three months in office.
“When Nyesom Wike refused and continued to plot the destabilisation of the government, Dr Odili took sides with the Governor in the interest of the people of Rivers State.
“That is why Nyesom Wike found himself in the burning furnace like the proverbial child who found himself in the burning fire against his father’s advice to stay away from the furnace.
The elders defended Odili’s achievements, including founding the Pamo University of Medical Sciences, which Wike has taken a swipe at, saying, “Pamo University of Medical Sciences is founded and solely funded by Dr Peter Odili and family.
They said: “The potential success story of PUMS attracted the Rivers State Government to seek collaboration for the training of quality health care personnel to serve the health needs of the people of Rivers State.
“The support that Rivers State Government gave to PUMS is for the benefit of Rivers State and her people. His Excellency, Dr Peter Odili must be commended for his vision and not vilified”.
They further reacted to Wike’s allegations against Odili, including his presidential ambition, the appointment of his wife, Justice Mary Odili, as Pro Chancellor of Rivers State University, as well as the appointment of his daughter, Dr Adaeze Oreh as the Rivers State Commissioner for Health.
They said: “Dr Peter Odili did not chicken out. In retrospect, we commend the loyalty of Dr Peter Odili who obeyed the call by the PDP to step down for Late President Musa Yar’ Adua as the PDP Presidential candidate in the 2007 presidential election to ensure North-South balancing.
“As a partyman and team player, Dr Peter Odili courageously obeyed without pulling down the house or insulting other Nigerians even though it was certain he would have won the primaries.
“Nyesom Wike is quarreling with the appointment of Hon Justice Mary Odili (Justice of the Supreme Court rtd.) as the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt.
“In fact, this is one of the best appointments that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has made as Governor. If a Supreme Court Justice who rose from the ranks to the top does not qualify as Pro Chancellor of Rivers State University, then who else?”
On his daughter’s appointment as Health Commissioner in the state, the elders noted: “There is no law which says that the children of former Governors or their wives should not hold public offices if they are qualified.
“If that is the case, then should we query why Nyesom Wike is a Minister and his wife is a Justice of the Court of Appeal? No, we shall not do so. It is good in his house, but he sees it as bad in Dr Odili’s case.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, we demand that Nyesom Wike tenders an unreserved apology to Dr Peter Odili, his wife and children for the magnitude of disrespect and abuses he rained on them.
Those, who signed the statement are Celestine Omehia, Tele Ikuru, Prince Uche Secondus, Rt Hon Austin Opara PhD, Senator Lee Maeba, Senator Ngoji Denton West
Alabo Sir Dr Abiye Sekibo Achin lll, Dr Dam Sam Jaja, Alabo David Briggs, High Chief Dr Shedrack Akolokwu, Dr Reginald Okeya, Amb. Oji Ngofa, Hon Emma Okah PhD, Alabao Senator Adawari Pepple, Chief Ambrose Nwuzi and Chief Emeh Glory Emeh PhD.
No sooner had the 16 pro-Fubara elders landed than the pro-Wike elders took off in defence of the minister.
At least 45 pro-Wike elders lambasted their opposing group of elders. The elders under the auspices of Rivers Elders Council (REC) said the defenders of Odili lacked the courage to tell members of the public what prompted the remarks by Wike.
They said: “We consider it unfortunate that the comments came from elders who lacked the courage to let the public know what prompted the remarks by Nyesom Wike.
“The concerned elders talked about ‘mutual respect’ but did not have the decency to exemplify in their comments that ‘respect is indeed mutual’. Did Dr Odili deserve respect in return for being deliberately disrespectful to the Minister of the FCT? The answer is NO.
“The signatories to those puerile comments are persons who had worked closely with Wike and loomed large under the cover of Nyesom Wike. Several of them vied for the office of Governor in 2023 and when Siminalayi Fubara emerged as the preferred candidate, they became frustrated and left to campaign against him. Those are the same persons now parading themselves as Sim’s Elders”.
The elders said Wike, from his tenure as Minister of Education, to Governor of Rivers State and even as Minister of the FCT, had accorded Dr Peter Odili and his wife boundless honours and very high respect.
They also recalled that Dr Peter Odili and his wife could and had attested to that on several occasions as borne out by several media reports.
They said: “It is also noteworthy that despite Dr Peter Odili’s active role in the current Rivers State crisis, his fatherly guidance of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s activities, laced with derogatory statements against Nyesom Wike at every outing, the Minister of the FCT has never made any adverse remarks against Dr Peter Odili, all because of the deep respect the Minister had for him.
“But for Dr Peter Odili to descend so low as to make such a disparaging statement about Chief Nyesom Wike, at a Christmas carol service in the presence of God and in an atmosphere of love and goodwill to all persons, was clearly an indiscretion that should be deprecated and condemned as totally unacceptable.
“Dr Odili, an elder and former governor of Rivers State, should not have thrown decorum to the wind in making statements in his quest to please the governor, who was his Special Guest of Honour at the event, no matter what the incentive may have been.
“We do not consider it necessary to respond verbatim to all the points enumerated by the concerned elders because the specific matters touched on by the Minister of the FCT in his remarks were true and factual, and duly acknowledged by the Concerned Elders in their comments”.
The elders said Odili must be blamed for throwing decorum to the wind by making such provocative statement.
They said: “We are aware that the Concerned Elders are playing their master’s script in order to remain relevant in the political situation they find themselves. They should summon courage to advise Dr Peter Odili to be more circumspect in his utterances in future.
“The performing Minister of the FCT has his hands full in Abuja and wishes Dr Peter Odili and his Concerned Elders well as they have now found solace and rehabilitation in the camp of their erstwhile foe, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whom they did not support during the 2023 elections.
“We advise Dr Peter Odili and his cohorts to kindly leave Chief Nyesom Wike alone, while they continue with their exploitative manipulations of the governor of Rivers State, their new benefactor”.
The pro-Wike elders, who endorsed the statement are Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Chief Emmanuel Anyanwu, Chief O.C.J Okocha, SAN, Sen. Barinada Mpigi, Sen. Allwell Onyesoh, Chief Kingsley Chinda, Chief Victor Giadom, Chief Sen. Magnus Ngei Abe, Chief Sen. George Thompson Sekibo, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, Chief Sen. Olaka Nwogu, PhD, Chief Ken Chikere, Chief Frank Owhor, Chief Kenneth Kobani, Amb. Desmond Akawor, Chief Hon. Boma Iyaye, Prof. Zaccheus Adango, SAN, Chief Barr. Wogu Boms and Chief Felix Obuah.
Others are Ikunyi Owaji-Ibani, Chief Hon. Ejor N Ejor, Chief Hon. Wisdom Wakama, Dumnamene Dekor, Felix Nwaeke, Kelechi Nwogu, Professor Itotenaan Henry Ogiri, PhD, Chief Tony Okocha, Chief Chukwuemeka Aaron, Chief Emmanuel Deeyah, Chief Dr. Sampson Parker, Chief Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi, Chief Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Chief Fred Kpakol, PhD, Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly, PhD, Chief Marcus Nle-Ejii, Isobo Jack, Chief Hon. Igo Aguma, Chief Hon. Chinyere Igwe, Barr. Rufus N. Godwins, Chief Pleasant Braide, Chief Hon. Ephraim Nwuzi, Chief Nyema Weli, Dr. Benibo George, PhD, Chief Chidi Amadi, and Chief Allwell Ihunda.
The Future
There is no end in sight to the crisis rocking Rivers State. Most people believe that the time for genuine reconciliation has passed and that the elders from both sides of the divide should be blamed for taking sides in a dispute between a father and a son instead of insisting on moves to reconcile them. Observers are of the opinion that the Rivers political crisis has become an intriguing battle laced with the mentality of survival of the fittest and that the winner will surely take all. It is either the winner emerges from the court or at the poll in 2027.