Before Wednesday: Longest Tuesday …Reliving Mood Of Rivers People… On That Day

None could say for sure from whence it came or from whose lips it first emanated but in the days leading to Wednesday, April 21, 2010, particularly Tuesday, a thick dark cloud enveloped Port Harcourt and environs and indeed most parts of Rivers State.

This was not the type meteorologists often warn against, nor the recent acid rain alarm that shook parts of the state.  It was even more frightening because it came along, with  not merely thunder and lightening.  This came with uncertainty, fear of the future, agony over a development drive about to be cut-short and above all else, a total displacement of the status quo.

Strangely, rather than let the apprehensive Rivers people see sunlight, this rare climatic condition  thickened, darker and darker to a point when revealed its true identity – Viscious Rumour.

So eloquent, certain, arrogant, ambitious and brazen in manufacture of lies, Rumour went round town that Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi would by Wednesday cease to superintend the affairs of the state, as governor (the first to shed-executive), and vacate the seat for Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, the Accord Party candidate in the April 14, 2007 Governorship elections in the state.

Why Accord Party?  When the well known and truly grounded parties in Rivers State, those with officers even at the unit levels, not to talk of wards and local government areas, are only two?  The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others which should hardly include the party in question?

Ever so certain, Rumour still said emphatically that the Appeal Court billed to sit in Port Harcourt past Wednesday, had reached a verdict already.  A verdict that Bekinbo Soberekon would have been duly elected if his photograph had been on the ballot papers.  And for that “costly slip” the Appeal Tribunal had resolved that the rightful winner – being Soberekon be sworn-in as EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, the type, his type treasures.

Seriously, so strong was the exactitude of Rumour’s eloquence that even those trusted to reassure their followers were also doubtful of what to say and so could say very little to counter the faithful agents of Rumour.  Indeed, some were even rumoured to have started packing personal valuables, off offices in event of Amaechi’s tenure coming to an end, while, a good majority of Rivers people mourned, for their beloved leader still alive.

Pa Berthwell Nyeduko, a retired Shell contract staff from Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area told The Tide it would  sheer madness for any court to unseat Amaechi, if for nothing else, the good job he is doing now.  “If a man becomes governor pre-occupation has been to share money to friends and families, siphon their and prepare over seas escape, decides to make such a huge difference as Amaechi the Youngman is making why should anyone stop him? “the Papa queried.

But the rumours got even more dangerous, more convincing and with the likelihood of igniting some reactions among aggrieved Rivers youths and which apparently became even more compelling for government to douse the tension created by Rumour.  Chief Nyesom Wike, the Chief of Staff, Government House did his best to calm the fears when he assured the citizenry that the issue was not about the removal of the Governor, but ruling on motions.

Yet, Rivers people continued their brooding, uncertain of whether Wike spoke to them through the media as a lawyer or a diplomat.  Strangely, no where in both Port Harcourt and environs did The Tide news crew find any group celebrating what had been rumoured to be the imminent ouster of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

However, Rivers people witnessed the longest Tuesday in history with many wondering when and if the day had probably been increased to 36 hours. But when it finally did end and ushered Wednesday, it was a joyous sigh of relief that Amaechi stays as governor and indirectly told Chief Bekinbo Soberekon, a man who many had thought, would let go long ago, that his case that made all the hype lacked the merit he attached to it, a verdict Rivers people interpreted to mean the New Rivers State has moved far beyond his kind of leadership style and promise.

What Rives people are celebrating today are the beautiful model schools, many health centres, good roads, overseas scholarship for brilliant children, futuristic development of the city and above all transparency and accountability, and not what Late Reginald Furo often associated with bad politicians, the 3-W’s of political failure – ill-gotten wealth, women and wine.  Not today.

Alas, the ballot paper in question has been vindicated, that now is not the time.

Soye Wilson Jamabo