Those whose palm kernels are cracked for them by benevolent spirits should learn to be humble — Igbo proverb, courtesy Chinua Achebe
From Rivers, it’s blues for conflict proxies! War-weary Governor Siminalayi Fubara groans the armistice is “bitter and heavy”. But it’s either Fubara ate crow or nothing!
Still, that hardly makes Fubara a foolish man; or even craven, as many in his emotive ensemble are already blurting. He just re-found wisdom at a stiff price.
In political brawling, awesome gubernatorial biceps are seldom enough. As Sim just found out, high delusion of power only goads the governor to be a bully, hungry for a fight, whenever he sights a fella he can maul. That pretty much summarizes Sim-1.
But Sim-2(?) just faced off — and bowed to — a structure that made him; and was ready to maul him. It was the underdog facing the netherworld.
That is eminently ugly. But it is what it is — and Fubara seems resigned to living that harsh reality.
Or is he? Maybe not! That explains the puff, huff and gruff from his conflict proxies.
The shock and awe of vanished combat, as Fubara himself hugs peace — more of pacification, they scoff — has clearly thrown his proxies into fresh tantrums.
None would appear more dramatic than the antics on the media front of Arise TV.
The duo of Reuben Abati and Rufai Oseni wailed and cried, hissed and shrilled, screamed and screeched, over what Abati called the Fubara “surrender”! Is crying more than the bereaved part of their mandate as TV anchors?
By the way, which media canon turns TV anchors — equivalent of senior reporters, or at most, desk editors in the newspaper newsroom — to double as opinion writers — or worse: live editorial thunder for their TV — ranting to soothe their bruised egos?
That was exactly what Abati and Oseni assumed in the aftermath of “peace” from Rivers. Both had backed the wrong horse, based on nothing, but frothy sentiments — and inserted themselves into the fray as they are wont to.
Seeing their poor horse writhing in pain and defeat would appear too much to bear! That seems why they interpret the Rivers denouement as craven collapse.
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Oseni went making gaseous claims on air. It’s all about Rivers resources! It has nothing to do with the Rivers people — maybe! But again, it’s the market folks’ credo: blab what “everybody knows” but get suddenly tongue-tied, when summoned to provide concrete proof!
There has got to be a limit to populist rascality on air!
Abati too flipped, went ape with “unconditional surrender! unconditional surrender!”, in clear disorientation: with the dazed gait of an agama lizard that just fell off the high Iroko tree, and needed frenetic nodding to reassure itself it’s still alive and well!
If the pair hoped such on-air tantrums would make a dent on Fubara’s “unconditional surrender”, they are entitled to their democratic delusions!
On media professionalism, isn’t it high time the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) imposed standards in this era of “broadcasting of anything goes” — as in Sani Abacha’s Nigerian Army of anything goes?
But back to Rivers and its aftermath.
No less upset are Fubara’s other sympathizers, on the Ijaw and allied political fronts. A report claimed the likes of Timi Frank, Uche Secondus, Peter Odili, Asari Dokubo, and Ann-Kio Briggs were upset with Fubara — understandably so.
Even Dele Momodu wondered if Fubara would have died, had he not fallen on his sword, just to regain his governorship.
Now, each of these confederates came to the Sim combat with own intimate motives. Frank has been incensed since he parted ways with APC. Wike is to Secondus a mentor-turned-tormentor.
For Ann-Kio Briggs and Asari Dokubo, it’s Ijaw power and glory, garnished with strutting Ijaw exceptionalism, championed by the dead Edwin Clark. Dr. Odili, a mentor backed a wrong mentee, in the Rivers power civil war. Momodu is newfound PDP activist and caregiver, when PDP itself is on self-caused death bed!
Long story cut short: they didn’t love Sim for Sim; but as putative strong breed to cut arrogant Wike to size!
No crime, to be sure — Wike himself had it coming. But the harsh reality is Fubara hasn’t quite pulled off that rogue regicide. By embracing peace — or pacification — he just decided to cut his loss, and serve out the rest of his troubled tenure.
Half-bread is better than none? Hardly illogical, even if moral purists would pout, growl and bark!
Still, Momodu’s rhetorical question, bristling with moral scorn, stings no less. The question, though: had each of these folks acquired power the way Fubara did, what would they have done, faced with such a stark choice: eat crow or be eaten? Talk is cheap!
Still, it resonates with romantics, fixated with what might have been, had the underdog somewhat trumped the over-dog! Well, that hasn’t happened — and Fubara just chose to live, warts and all!
If he chooses craven life over heroic death — as Momodu’s harsh stricture hinted — it’s his democratic choice!
But that links us right back to the opening quote of this piece: those whose palm kernels have been cracked for them by benevolent spirits should learn to be humble — lest those spirits turn malevolent!
That aptly captures the Rivers crisis. Really, knowing how he got power — being picked over everyone — Sim should have been more circumspect. Power always has own catches! If really it was all about “Rivers’ money” as Oseni claimed, Sim couldn’t have been the only saint in the dirty coven of wizards and witches, no matter how anyone spins it.
Then, a question of “war-time” strategy! While Wike warred, he did his job as FCT minister and ensured, every second, he pointed — and still points — attention to his deliverables. Like him or hate him, Wike delivers, anywhere, anytime.
On the contrary Fubara — maybe pressured into it? — allowed the crisis to define his term until the emergency pause. However this peace — or pacification — pans out, Rivers people ere entitled to some relief. They should draw democratic dividends, not perpetually dive — for cover — before political warlords.
With the balance of forces, Wike appears to have won the war, bringing to heel a rebellious protégée. But will he win the peace?
That’s doubtful. His work rate is top-notch. But with his penchant to rub in stuff, his grace is inverse to his industry. So, don’t be surprised if brash Wike bawls around town, impressing it on everyone the lord and master is here! But at least Sim-2 (poor guy!) knows what he’s signing again into!
Still, things would get progressively clearer as we near 2027. That Sim-2 signed a one-term pact to regain his governorship is no news. The Wike structure will never trust him with power again.
But who says Sim can’t re-contest, with or without the Wike structure, with his own Simplified lobby waiting in the wings? Election 2027? Rivers, for good or for ill, is a state to watch!
