By Kali Gwegwe
I’ve not been a fan of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu right from when he was governor of Lagos State. That does not mean there is nothing good about him. Like a coin, every human being has two sides. The good side of Tinubu is that he values friendship. On the other side of the coin, he loves political power more than anything else.
Tinubu can do anything to compensate the loyalty of his friends. This is the deep secret of his successful political career. He values and rewards loyalty. When people got to know that loyalty was a quick way to his heart, they gave it to him in abundance.
One problem with Tinubu’s kind of politics is his fixation on loyalty. To him, loyalty is everything. Ordinarily, loyalty should be fundamental but not everything.
Owing to his crave for loyalty; Tinubu does not pay much attention to religion, tribe or political divide. Though a Muslim, his wife is a pastor. He can align and work with anyone who supports his vision. As governor, he had the highest non-Lagosians in his administration than any other Nigerian governor has had.
On the Rivers State crisis, I sympathize with President Tinubu. Though he believes in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), he had a loyal Nyesom Wike to appreciate for his unholy role in the 2023 presidential election not just in Rivers State, but five other PDP controlled states.
While the Rule of Law demands that Nigeria be governed based on existing laws, Tinubu saw a need to ballance an equation in favour of Wike. As politically savvy as he is, the president sought a middle course through which he can protect both Wike and Gov. Fubara so as not to be on the red spot. To him, declaring a State of Emergency and suspension of the governor, deputy governor and the state House of Assembly was the right option. He was bold to do that knowing how weak and unpatriotic the leadership of the national assembly is. For a morsel, they can do anything. If not so, where is it provided for in our laws that elected officials be suspended during a State of Emergency?
President Tinubu is tempted to think that without the influence of Wike, he cannot win Rivers State. The president does not need any individual to win votes. He only needs good governance to win genuinely. There are abundant examples of candidates who won in opposition strong holds.
Yes, I sympathize with President Tinubu on the Rivers issue. He should however remember that loyalty is not everything. Character is a major pillar in a democracy. While counting on his loyal friends, he should also consider their inborn character. Let him not allow his loyal friends to attract more enemies to himself.
In case the president is unaware, more than half of those who voted for him in Rivers State in 2023 will not do same in 2027 because of the partisan nature he handled the Rivers issue.
He has time on his side. It should not be seen as weakness. He should quickly end the State of Emergency and lift the suspension of the governor and the assembly. Not only that, he should remind Wike that he is a native of Rivers State. Let him also ask Wike the name of his godfather while he was governor for eight years. He had no godfather. Let him be a father to Fubara and not a godfather.
Kali Gwegwe a public affairs analyst wries from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
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