Opinion
Bandits As Purgers, Not Murderers
Brutus, a leading figure among the conspirators that assassinated Julius Caesar, said: “Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers. Let us kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; we shall be called purgers, not murderers”. Similarly, Casca, another conspirator, said: “So often shall the knot of us be called the men that gave their country liberty”. Purging and cleansing of society by means of bloodshed had been an old practice, even when such projects are motivated by envy, ambition and other hidden agenda.
The purging and cleansing mechanism which we call Nemesis operates in such inscrutable ways that defy human interpretations. It happens that when human beings become too obtuse and proud that they forget that ill-disposed people are many in every society, that surprises visit, to jolt the people up. We hear about the Incas, a highly civilised South American race which settled in Peru long before European immigration. They were happy, easy-going people who did not reckon with the fact that there can be ill-disposed people on Earth.
The ancient Incas were attacked by another vicious race and destroyed along with their highly civilised culture. The race of vicious invaders took advantage of the lapses observed among the Incas, which included accommodating hospitality that believed other people were also as simple, easy-going and generous like the Incas. The result was the destruction of the race of the Incas, wherein began the idiom that eternal vigilance is the price for liberty. The weak goes to the wall.
A vital lesson which we can learn from literature and history is the need to remain alert, cautious and vigilant, even with close associates. Despite his valour, Othello, the Moor of Venice, had a personal weakness which accounted for his fall. Hear how his servant, Iago, described him: “The Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are”. Truly, like an ass, Othello was led into killing his wife, Desdemona, through the instrumentality of calumny, gossip and set-up.
Listening to and acting upon the basis of gossips and calumny can be described as a personal weakness which can ruin leaders and men of valour, like Othello. We can hardly doubt the fact that many Nigerian political leaders can, like Othello, “as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are”. No one should doubt the fact that a peculiar weakness in Nigerian leadership posture is inability to take independent decisions based on personal conviction, without external prodding or influence. Such proddings and influences can come from quarters that it would be hard to displease or disappoint.
In Nigeria, for example, the current use of the terms bandits, insurgents, etc, had arisen probably because of inability to “call a spade, a spade”, as an idiom goes. The fact that herdsmen became associated with carrying firearms which also led to terrorizing farming communities and persons, cannot be described as false. Similarly, it is true that the increasing state of insecurity is associated with Boko Haram insurgents. Such insurgents have been known to terrorise and kill people. What purpose?
Among places and people terrorised by the Boko Haram insurgents included places of worship and clergy men. Such terrorist activities have currently included the abduction and kidnapping of students from their campuses. The current trend is a shift of the locations of banditry to the southern parts of Nigeria, which had been relatively peaceful. From Ebonyi State to Rivers, increasing acts of banditry and terrorism are taking place, purportedly committed by unknown gunmen. The commonest crisis in Nigeria is the alarming state of insecurity, with hardly any prospect of an immediate abatement. Helpless!
If, in the words of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “there’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow”, then it can be said that the current turn of events in Nigeria, like other places, is not without a similar special providence. To say that “there is a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will”, is similar to saying that events do not happen by accidents. This line of philosophy may be too hard for some people to accept as valid, but it is true to say that for every effect there is a cause whose origin may not be immediately known.
Let us admit that human beings have been deceived for too long, by individuals and authorities that arrogated to themselves the right to lead and guide the masses. There are ignorant and false shepherds that have led the masses into desolate wilderness and perdition, with false claims, promises and doctrines. Like the Incas of old, the gullible masses have been too care-free and complacent to be vigilant, alert and watchful.
Matters arising from the recent Southern Governors’ meeting and decisions taken by them, have exposed the hypocrisies in Nigeria. For example, reactions attending to the decisions for a national dialogue and a ban on open grazing, are distasteful to some sections of the country. We cannot deny the fact that the current security crisis can be linked with Boko Haram insurgency and cattle-herders/farmers’ clashes. There was a security report long ago that cattle would be co-opted as instrument in the pursuit of some hidden agenda, including the brewing of population figures.
The time has come for Nigerians to recognize the fact that what we call Nemesis is an instrument of “a special providence” that acts as a balancing system to sanitise human lapses. Human lapses range from aggressive brutality and blood-letting, to excessive docility and gullibility. Both ends of human weaknesses must be checked and then balanced through bitter experiences, requiring introspective leadership. But in a situation where leaders are ignorant of the regulatory mechanism of Nemesis, then the masses suffer double jeopardy.
Regulatory mechanism of special providence ensures that darkness destroys itself and its works through the instrumentality of its activities. Hence, conspirators, assassins, bandits, insurgents and all categories of violent and smooth criminals, serve as purgers, not murderers, when Nemesis is at work. Actors in the services of Nemesis rarely know the guiding mechanism behind their roles. Nigeria will be cleansed through this mechanism and hypocrites would cease to call murderers bandits.
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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