Governor Wike and the unity of Nigeria
*Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State
(Nigeria) By Zayyad Jimeta
The ideal way to identify true nationalists and
good politicians is through their utterances and actions both in public and in
private. A true lover of Nigeria will always stand for the unity and oneness of
Nigeria whenever he talks or acts. Good
politicians will ‘spit’ fire and intimidate their opponents but will never
compromise the unity of a nation.
Some people were surprised when the Rivers state governor
Nyesom Wike said the interest of Nigerians and Africans will be better served
with the country “remaining as one strong and united nation”.
Governor was quoted when he visited the Sultan of Sokoto,
Muhammad Sa’ad while on a visit to Sokoto state on 31st December 2016 to
felicitate with Governor Aminu Tambuwal on the occasion of his daughter’s
wedding. Wike said “We cannot run away
from this country. The unity of this country is very, very paramount. The unity
of this country is non-negotiable. I am from the Niger Delta, from Rivers state
to be specific so I cannot see us in a divided country. No way. We stand for
the unity of this country”
Wike further said his administration has put a lot of time,
resources and energy to protect national assets especially the ones in Rivers
state. He said: “In Rivers you hardly find pipeline vandalisation. We are
working at all times to protect national assets in our state. In my state, I am
governor for all the people living in the state. I am not a governor of a
particular political party, but a governor for all the people of Rivers state.”
Some individuals, who don’t really understand how politics
works, assume that since Gov Wike is having a running battle with some APC’s
bigwigs from Rivers, he will behave in irrational ways. People who have this
kind of mindset fail to realise that not all politicians in the opposition PDP
take the opposition out of context.
Wike’s assertions are classical examples for many politicians
to follow, especially elective office holders who take opposition to illogical
levels with utterances and actions capable of putting the unity of Nigeria in
jeopardy.
With that single utterance in Sokoto, Wike has won the heart
of many Nigerians, while also sending a powerful message to groups and
individuals who trade the unity of Nigeria for political and personal gains.
Being a sitting governor in the restive Niger Delta and the
politically very important Rivers state, Gov Wike’s stance on some national
issues is very critical for bringing the much needed peace and development to
the Niger Delta and preserving the unity of Nigeria.
Governor Wike has indeed put to shame, some politicians
holding positions of authority, who have turned themselves into agents of
disunity by running their mouths without caution just to score political and
personal points.
Governor Wike has found himself in some controversial
political and non-political situations. The controversial October 8, 2016
mid-night show played out at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port
Harcourt when he rushed to the official residence of a Federal High Court (FHC)
Judge, following information that the residence was under siege by Department
of State Security (DSS), and the Governor allegedly got locked up in the
process.
Wike later clarified while speaking to the leadership of
Non-Indigenes without Borders, on October 18, 2016, at Rivers state Government
House, that his action was not aimed at stopping the DSS from arresting the
judge, but to ensure that the right process was followed.
Secondly, on Thursday December 29, 2016, an online news
medium leaked an audio of a telephone conversation between Governor Wike and
his counterpart in Ekiti State, Governor Ayodele Fayose, in which both men were
alleged to have discussed the electoral violence alleged to have been sponsored
by Wike during the December 10, 2016 rerun of legislative elections in Rivers
State.
Politics and politicians cannot be free from controversies;
however Governor Wike has proven to be above sentiments and lust for personal
gains when it comes to the very important issue of unity and oneness of
Nigeria.
*Zayyad Jimeta, is based in Adamawa State
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