As the date of the governorship election draws closer, the gale of defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State further cast a blight over the hanging fate of the APC in the state.
One of such ominous tales for the APC is the recent defection of its foremost leader and stalwart in Khana Local Government Area, Elder Austin Nwakoh, who pulled out of the party with over 200 supporters to join the PDP, during its rally in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area.
Since his defection, Elder Nwakoh has featured regularly in the campaign train of Governor Wike across the State, galvanising support for the Governor’s re-election.
The Ogoni born politician and technocrat who spoke with The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt recently, said he decided to dump the APC because of the perversities and lack of internal democracy that are the hallmark of the party in the State.
He pointed out that the politics of imposition advanced by the Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi in Rivers State APC, has pitted the party against itself, leading to infractions and legal contentions.
“Amaechi’s compulsive political theory has desecrated the APC in Rivers State, many of the key stakeholders of the party in the state are not pleased with the manner the Minister of Transportation handles the affairs of the party. Majority of the party leaders supported Senator Magnus Abe to be the governorship candidate, but Amaechi imposed his preferred candidate Tonye Cole on the party. Such overbearing disposition has torn the party, apart plunging it on the Path of ignominy.”
Nwakoh said as a democrat, he opted out of the APC so as to distance himself from the “abrasive and detestable” style of politics in which the view of only one individual is sacrosant against the collective views of the stakeholders of the party. He noted that the purpose of governance was not to dominate but allow room for creative inventions to promote enterprise and popular participation in the polity. He further declared that; “ any leader that stifles popular opinion and impose his personal whims on the polity is bound to destroy the very system of leadership.
Consequently, he said the APC in Rivers State was already inured a self serving political culture which is unacceptable in Rivers State.
According to Elder Nwakoh, one of the most damnable consequence of the incaution posture of the APC in Rivers State, is the party’s dalliance with illegality. He said the APC in Rivers is noted for its apparent disregards for court orders, a notorious reputation he said had made most honourable politicians to opt out of the system.
He however cautioned the APC over its gimmicks and antics of derailing the democratic process in Rivers State, noting that such plots will be vehemently resisted by Rivers people.
Apart from the crisis rocking the APC in Rivers State, Elder Nwakoh said the party has no agenda for the development of Ogoni and so does not deserve the support of the Ogoni people. “The APC is not only insensitive to power relationship and mutual bargaining, the party has completely failed the Ogoni people, we have been slighted by the Amaechi led APC in Rivers State who masterminded the desolution of the NDDC Board just to remove an Ogoni son. Derek Mene as Executive Director Finance and projects, even when his tenure was still subsisting. This is quite unacceptable to the Ogonis. We cannot condone this level of injustice. APC has deprived us of our joy and we cannot support such a callous party in any way”. Ask why he decided to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and not any other party, Elder Nwako, said the (PDP) under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike had made tremendous impact in the development of Rivers State.
Elder Nwako’s most impressive attribute of Governor Wike is however his politics of unity.
He said Rivers State was in the past disintegrated through party lines, but today Governor Wike has erased that phenomenon and united Rivers people together.
“The unique contributions of Governor Wike towards stabilising democratic polity in Rivers State is a consequence of his politics of accommodation and intense grassroots involvement. The Governor has been able to win the confidence of Rivers people through his striking personal magnetism and strength of character, Wike has attracted all the critical political stakeholders in the state to himself through his visionary leadership style.”
Elder Nwako, an adherent of politics of decentralisation commended Governor Wike over his effort in opening up of the rural areas in Rivers State through the provision of critical infrastructures.
He added that the Governor’s plan to build three mega cities in Bori, Degema and Ahoada will expand the frontiers of economic development of Rivers State and create sustainable wealth in the State.
Nwako was also excited about the political campaign strategies of the PDP in Rivers State which he described as “thorough and engaging”. “The PDP is not only a political party but a grassroots organisation, I am quite impressed about the grassroots based of the party in the state. The engagement of the youths, women and other stakeholders at the unit level enhances direct participation of the people in the system of governance. Such approach to governance is quite practical as it critically engage the people in the process of leadership. It will also help in checking social vices as the youths are mostly involved in grassroots leadership, Governor Wike is indeed a great political leader”.
On the tendency of violence and disruption of the electoral process in Rivers State. Elder Nwakoh said Rivers State was secured for the elections, while the people were ready to exercise their franchise.
He called on the security operatives to be apolitical in the discharge of their statutory obligations during the elections by ensuring that the electorates exercise their civic mandate. “Rivers people are prepared for the elections; the people have been fully sentitized and mobilised to defend their votes to secure their future.
Governor Wike has carried out intense campaign across the State and his quality projects are enough stewardship for him to earn the mandate of the people for a second term in office”.
The politician also called on the electoral umpire, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to safe its integrity by resisting the trappings and influence of power to conduct a credible poll in Rivers State and across the country. He noted that Nigeria as a country was passing through a trying moment, especially in relations to the sanctity of public institutions such as the Independent Electoral Commission, the Judiciary and others which are at the verge of total violations and desecrations.
Commenting on the projects of an Ogoni Governor in Rivers State, he said Ogoni governorship is a justifiable project, as Ogoni is yet to produce, a Governor, Chief Judge, speaker of the state House of Assembly since the creation of Rivers State.
However, he called on all Ogonis to work in unity towards attaining the Ogoni governorship project, noting that power is never conferred but worked for. To attain the objective he said Ogonis has to work with other ethnic groups to ensure that the elusive political gap is filled. For justice to prevail in Rivers State he said all the component groups that make up the state should be given a sense of belonging in the governance of the state.
On the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Project, UNEP report in Ogoni, Elder Nwako called on the Federal Government to expedite actions on the cleaning and ensure that the project is carried out in accordance with civilized standards. He pointed out that the Ogoni cleanup was a litmus test, which if successfully implemented, will determine the smooth cleanup of other polluted Niger Delta environment.

Taneh Beemene