Politics
The Politics Of Obasanjo’s Visit To Rivers
Last week Monday,
former President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived Port Harcourt to commission various projects executed by the Rivers State government under the watch of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The visit which lasted for two days, was on the invitation of the State Governor, Amaechi.
To keen political watchers in the last six and half years, the former President’s visit was more than a surprise, especially in view of the k-leg saga that earlier denied Amaechi the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he won in the state in 2007. The k-leg saga was orchestrated by Obasanjo who was then the President and national leader of the PDP at that time. It, however, took the intervention of the Supreme Court before the party’s ticket and mandate were returned to Amaechi.
Since then, Obasanjo’s path and Amaechi’s had never crossed each other. The new romance between the two former political adversaries has therefore thrown many analysts off balance. The latest move by the two leaders has further confirmed the popular axiom that in politics, there are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies.
While many people have argued that Obasanjo’s visit was more political than commissioning of some state projects, some others see it as an opportunity for Amaechi to showcase his achievements.
Both positions could be said to be right. For instance, the former President’s visit to the State has straightened the k- leg that caused political mistrust between the two leaders.
Obasanjo, during the visit, admitted that he was responsible for the k-leg and that he acted based on the security report in 2007 against the governor.
He commended Governor Amaechi for acting wisely by going to court.
According to him, Amaechi did what was required in a democratic dispensation, by going to court to straighten the K-leg issue.
“I am one of those who when he (Amaechi) got the judgement, found it awkward. I did not voice it out publicly but I found it awkward. Awkward in the sense that how can a man who has not contested an election, a man who has not been voted for be declared the governor?
“But I mused over it because he got it from the Supreme Court. As far as I am concerned that was the end of that K-leg saga,” he said.
He challenged those who are not satisfied with the Supreme Court’s verdict to take their case to God.
He also appealed to Amaechi not to blame his predecessor, Dr Peter Odili for the K-leg, saying he (Obasanjo) should be held responsible.
“I phoned Amaechi not to take anything against his predecessor. Hold me responsible for whatever decision taken against you, not your predecessor”, he said.
Obasanjo’s pronouncement particularly drew reactions from the opposition who challenged the former president to tell the public why he initiated the K-leg in the first instance.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through the Special Assistant on Media to the State Chairman, Mr. Jerry Needam said Obasanjo should make public the security report he got against Amaechi in 2007. But to Obasanjo, the k-leg issue is history.
Meanwhile, besides straightening the k-leg issue, the commissioning of some landmark projects by the former President known for his bluntness on issues, has also kept the opposition in check.
Obasanjo who commended Amaechi for his developmental strides in the area of education, health and agriculture, also gave a tacit endorsement of the monorail project which the opposition in the State, has variously criticised as a white elephant project.
According to the ex-President, many people would not appreciate the worth of the monorail now until it was completed.
Describing the monorail project as landmark and a reference point, Obasanjo stated “the only state that can do that now with the visible power that they have is Rivers State because they generate well over 700 megawatts of electricity with what I commissioned yesterday.”
Obasanjo’s assessment of the commissioned projects was far above average, going by his words.
“I am here to see development and acknowledge development, and so far, I have seen indeed.
“I am really proud over the infrastructure and particularly road network.
Amaechi had during his second tenure campaign said he was embarking on the ‘Change You Can See.’
“Our concern is to bring the projects and the policies of the government to the people and allow the people to take the decisions on the present and the past,” Amaechi said.
On why Amaechi invited the ex-President to the state, the governor told the audience at the Ambassador Nne Krubo Model School, Ebubu Community, Eleme Local Government Area of the state, that he invited Obasanjo for two reasons.
“I told my cabinet that we will achieve two things: the first is to showcase to Baba and see whether he is convinced that we have done anything at all. The second is to also showcase to the public that these young politicians who are moving around, that you can refer to them that they are my boys, even though I do not like having boys”, Amaechi said.
He continued “I tried to bring you (Obasanjo) last year, but it was impossible, but this year, I fought extremely hard. Let me tell you what my cabinet said, they said it will repair the k-leg.
“I told them that I know Baba, if he is not satisfied, he will damage the k-leg further. Don’t ever remind baba about the k-leg, but I said the only reason I am pushing Baba to come here is that we share few friends most people do not know about. They said anytime they try to convince Baba that we ar working, Baba will say ‘ I don’t know becasue I have never been there’.
“So I said the best thing for me to do is to bring Baba here, to see for himself, and if you know Baba very well, I am a smaller version of Baba, so if we are doing well, baba will say it and he will tell me in the car that Amaechi, I am not impressed. If you give him microphone, he will say it in the open”.
The implication of Obasanjo’s visit to Rivers State, is however, not far-fetched. While his visit has laid to rest the k-leg issue, it has also debunked the speculations that the ex-President was in the state to do the yeo-man’s job for Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During his two-day visit, Chief Obasanjo restrained himself from making political statements capable of labelling him as Amaechi’s supporter against President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP which is the main opposition party in the state. Even when Governor Amaechi pleaded with the former President to intervene on behalf of the state over the alleged attempt by the Federal Government to stifle development in the state, Obasanjo turned down the request.
He said, “If people oppose you, leave them in the court of God, provided you are doing the right thing. Let us have politics with principles, love and not politics with bitterness. All those requests you want to send me, take it and deliver them yourself”.
The implication of this is that Chief Obasanjo only came to the state “to see development and acknowledge development”, and he has indeed seen development, to paraphrase Obasanjo’s words.
And for a man of Obasanjo’s standing to describe Amaechi as a visionary leader who understands the needs of his people, it goes to say that the former President’s assessment of Amaechi’s administration is far above average. So, even if you do not like Amaechi as a person, you cannot take the credit away from him.
Boye Salau
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (2nd left), cutting the tape to commission Prof Kelsey Harrison Hospital in Diobu, Port Harcourt recently. With him are Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi (left), his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi and Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Hon Sampson Parker (right).
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.