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).