In this report, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, identifies some of the top PDP men and women of power in Abuja, who may return to their home states to contest with the local lords for power control, influence and political patronage
During President Goodluck Jonathan’s six years in office, some men and women, who either reigned with him or enjoyed unrivalled patronage from his Peoples Democratic Party- led government became rich and powerful thin gods both in the seat of power in Abuja and in other parts of the country . They not only accumulated stupendous wealth for themselves and generations of their successors but also determined who got what at the federal level and in their PDP-controlled states.
But as Jonathan hands over power to All Progressives Congress’ General Muhammadu Buhari, come May 29, 2015, members of this privileged class in PDP, whose states are now under APC will either retire or defect to the new ruling party in order to remain relevant while their colleagues, whose states are still under PDP control are likely to return to their home states to contest with the local lords for power, influence and patronage.
This is most likely in states like Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Ebonyi, Gombe, Ekiti, Ondo, Taraba, Enugu and Delta, that are still under control of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the super PDP power brokers whose states are now under control of APC or other opposition political parties like All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may not be given due recognition in their states. Amongst the PDP power brokers likely to seek relevance in their states are:
Patience Jonathan
Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, is more than just another First Lady. She was not only very influential but is widely believed to be the real power behind her husband. Her critics say her hand is behind every power intrigue that involved Aso Rock in the last six years or so.
When Timipre Sylva, the former state governor of her husband’s state, Bayelsa, had issues with the powers that be and had to be made to lose his plum seat, Mrs Jonathan was fingered as the prime force behind Sylva’s ordeal.
Sylva’s replacement, Governor Seriake Dickson, has not fared much better. At first, he tried hard to please the President’s wife. The political romance was so deep that Dame Patience Jonathan was named a Permanent Secretary in the state by Dickson. That was as far as it went for reports confirmed that the warm relationship as since frozen, as the First Lady has since resigned her once cherished position as Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State.
The First Lady, who loves to be called ‘Mama Peace,’ is also acknowledged to be the political force behind the stiff opposition that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of her home state, Rivers, had with PDP, which led to Amaechi’s defection to All Progressives Congress (APC). It is still believed in many quarters that Amaechi’s problems with PDP, which culminated in his exit, started with the disagreement he had with Mrs. Jonathan over the demolition of some houses in Okrika, Mama Peace’ ancestral home.
Beyond her home state, Rivers, and her husband’s state, Bayelsa, her close associates and PDP insiders said her words were laws that must be obeyed in all the states of the federation as states where some political forces tried to ignore her wishes and directives suffered strong political crisis.
A grassroots political mobiliser, who passionately mobilised women for her husband’s political advancement, some reports allege that she orders or tried to order some state First Ladies around and will not stop until she gets what she wants. In the precess, she emerged a strong political godfather in the country, haven planted powerful and very influential loyalists across the country.
One of the structures she used for her political mobilisation is a non-governmental organisation, Women for Change, which she founded and gave the mandate of empowering women nationwide.
Besides attracting more power to the office of the First Lady in Abuja all through her husband’s tenure, Mrs Jonathan, who loves to be called Mama Peace, expanded her influence beyond the country with her election as the President of the African First Ladies Mission, a body of wives of Presidents across the African continent.
Commentators agree that she runs the office of the First Lady in Nigeria with so much glamour and visible affluence, a fact that not only confirmed the power she wields but is also responsible for the loud opposition and criticism she suffered from observers who insist she should have remained more at her husband’s background.
Now that her husband and the PDP had lost federal power, there are indications that Mama Peace will be returning home to Bayelsa and Rivers, not as a political retiree but perfect her ‘godfather’ role. Having ensured the controversial victory of her party in Rivers, and with Amaechi’s APC victory at the centre ensuring his likely services in Abuja, insiders said Mrs Jonathan will try to call the shots in the affairs of PDP and in the governance of the two states. With her massive investment in Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the influence her family still wields in Bayelsa, it seems no local lord will be able to challenge her authority.
Anyim Pius Anyim
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has been at the very centre of power throughout Jonathan’s tenure. Coordinating the activities of ministers and other government’s activities made him the engine room of Jonathan’s government.
Insiders said the former Senate President wields enormous influence in the government because of his closeness to the President.
A concrete indication that Anyim is not prepared to return to his home state of Ebonyi as a political retiree is his overt involvement in the politics of the state even as the SGF in Abuja.
Alleged to be governor-elect, Dave Umahi’s grand patron, some accuse him of being behind the crisis that rocked the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP before the election. It would be recalled that at the height of the crisis, the state governor, Martin Elechi, reportedly claimed that Anyim was the brain behind the impeachment process initiated against him by some members of the state House of Assembly.
With PDP’s victory in the state, his candidate, Umahi, as the governor and with the former Senate President allegedly equipped with a godfather’s wallet, it seems certain that Anyim will return home as a political grand patron.
Diezani Alison-Madueke
Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, is evidently one of the most powerful and influential ministers in Jonathan’s cabinet. Sources in Aso Rock confirmed report that “she is one of the few ministers who are driven straight into the forecourt of the President’s office through the Service Chiefs’ Gate.” As a matter of official protocol, other ministers left their vehicles some 300 metres away from Mr President’s office. They always walk the distance.
“Alison-Madueke don’t, said a source, “she is driven straight to Oga’s office through SC’s gate.” This preferential treatment, added to the importance of her ministry as the major source of income for Nigeria are pointers to the power and influence she commands.
She recently expanded the sphere of her influence when she was elected the first female President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Shortly after, she was also appointed the first female President of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
With these and her wide international exposure, many contend that though her patron, Jonathan, and his party, the PDP, lost federal power to APC, she may not return home to play local politics. Insiders however said her huge investment in both her Rivers State ancestral home and her husband’s home demand that she remain a very powerful power broker in the states. She has the war chest to be a successful ‘godfather.’
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Finance, is considered the most influential minister in Jonathan’s cabinet. As the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, she was considered by most of her colleagues as the first among equals.
Godswill Akpabio
Godswill Akpabio, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, is said to be the closest governor to Jonathan. As the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, he became one of the most influential personalities during the Jonathan tenure.
But with PDP’s defeat, Akpabio will have to concentrate in his state. Already, he is in control of the state’s political structure. Added to this is his deep pocket, which will help to sustain his status as the political godfather for a long time. This is however for as long as the new governor- elect remains loyal to him.
Chief Edwin Clark
Chief Edwin Clark, a First Republic Minister of Information, is another influential PDP power broker whose political influence will now shrink to his home state. Considered Jonathan’s grand patron, though Clark was not a government official under Jonathan, he wielded more influence than most top government officials of the era. He was more or less like the President’s father.
A visit to his residence, which some described as the Mecca for power seekers, confirms his influence. For Nigerians in search of government jobs or contracts, the baba was the man to visit.
With Jonathan’s defeat, Clark, who while defending Jonathan passionately, garnered so many political enemies, has no choice but to retire in his Delta home state.
Though the state is a PDP state, it still needs to be seen, if Clark, whose words used to be law, would be respected enough to remain the ultimate political godfather.
Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu
Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, a former governor of Bauchi State, is another power broker that must retreat home if he wishes to remain relevant. As the National Chairman of the PDP, it s doubtful if the many disappointed members would forgive him for allowing PDP to loose federal power under his leadership.
Already, many are demanding for his resignation as National Chairman of the party.
His return home is further threatened by the fact that PDP has been weakened in his home state Bauchi. How he will cope with the realities remains an important issue.
Tompolo
Government Ekpemupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, is neither a government official under Jonathan nor a top PDP member. He is only a former Niger Delta militant, who struck gold under the Jonathan administration.
With the lucrative pipeline security contracts he secured from Jonathan, Tompolo, who was in 2009, declared the most wanted man in Nigeria by the Joint Task Force for allegedly killing 11 soldiers became one of the most influential and powerful men under Jonathan’s government. It is obvious that for him, power will not remain the same after May 29 when General Muhammadu Buhari takes over the federal government.
To be relevant, Tompolo, who reportedly influenced his brothers election at the grassroots may have to deploy his huge resources to build a political structure in the home state.
Tony Anenih
Chief Tony Anenih, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, is another of Jonathan’s patrons that benefitted so much from his government. He took over as BOT chairman from former President Olusegun Obasanjo who resigned from office in a rather curious circumstances.
It is important to recall that it was the former Minister of Works who first said it publicly that Jonathan should be given allowed to re-contest as president. His support for Jonathan was passionate and no one was surprised at the kind of influence and power he wielded during Jonathan’s tenure.
Now that federal power has slipped out of the hands of PDP, it remains a puzzle how the famous Mr. Fix it will cope if and when the area of his influence shrinks to state.