By Eze Chukwuemeka Eze
Having written several articles on the
current macabre dance and political crisis
rocking Rivers State and x-raying its effects
on the future political developments of
Nigeria if not checked, I do not see further
need to come up with another piece on this
subject despite new challenges that need to
be addressed. Even the poser by Nobel
laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka ‘that the man
dies in all who keep silent in the face of
tyranny’ could not sway me otherwise.
However, while I was in this state, I opened
a daily guide from the Redeemed Christian
Church of God (RCCG) titled ‘Open Heavens’
and was confronted with the bold title for
the day titled, ‘Danger of Silence’.
The Spirit of God jolted me in a manner
that seems to mean that no tangible result
has come out of my past write ups on this
issue, as peace still eludes the State, and the
need to soldier on; especially given the
nature of the new piece you are about
reading and the fear of being
misunderstood.
Undaunted by fears knowing full that peace
in Rivers State and Nigeria is very close.
Again, I took solace in one of Prof Soyinka’s
quotes, “I think that feeling that if one
believed absolutely in any cause, then one
must have the confidence, the self-certainty,
to go through with that particular course of
action”.
If the above quote could not do the magic to
sway me off my fears then the question of
Edward Abbey that, “How could anything
non-controversial be of intellectual interest
to grown-ups?” and the encouragement
from Marvin Harris came handy when he
stated thus; “I don’t see how you can write
anything of value if you don’t offend
someone”
PRESIDENT JONATHAN AND THE
MACABRE DANCE OF RIVERS STATE
POLITICS
This road is one I don’t like driving on,
considering the stand of the President and
his aides that he does not want to be
mentioned with the current impunity and
untoward political developments going on in
Rivers State. George Orwell, one of the
finest authors of all time, in one of his
works woke me up when he said, “Within
any important issue, there are always
aspects no one wishes to discuss.” As if I am
not been cautious enough, Criss Jami
reminded me in his two quotes that, “If you
have to say or do something controversial,
aim so that people will hate that they love
it and not love that they hate it.” And “To
be truly positive in the eyes of some, you
have to risk appearing negative in the eyes
of others.”
Though, I am not a victim of Ezea Pound
stand that, “If a man isn’t willing to take
some risk for his opinions, either his
opinions are no good or he’s no good” but
for some strategic reasons, let me stay
action on this topic to later stage of this
article and instead use this opportunity to,
in a way, assess present President Jonathan.
Jonathan: the journey so far.
The faulty start of this administration based
on the disrespect of the zoning policy of
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and
insecurity challenges occasioned by the
wicked activities of the Islamic sect, Boko
Harams sect coupled with the
‘unpreparedness of Dr Goodluck Jonathan
for the office he currently occupies, due to
the nature of his selection to run for the
office of Vice President with late President
Musa Yar’Adua and how he became the
nation’s number one citizen as a result of
President Yar’Adua death the Doctrine of
Necessity that ushered him formally as the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
were some of the initial challenges that
slowed down the smooth take off the
administration. His initial plan before
General Olusgen Obasanjo selected him to
run was to re-contest gubernatorial election
in Bayelsa State, while late Yar’Adua desire
was to retire to classroom as a lecturer.
This seemingly setbacks did not in any way
constitute as an obstacle to President
Jonathan unflinching desire to contribute
his quota towards building a Nigeria of his
dream. President Jonathan holds the
transformational pledge of promising less,
but delivering more. His vision is anchored
on his transformation agenda anchored on
driving the country on the premise of
C ontinuity, C onsistency and C ommitment
(3Cs). Accordingly, it was the disregard for
the 3Cs that had resulted in rising
unemployment, inequality and poverty. But
the regime has come forth with a holistic
agenda aimed at the transformation of the
Nigerian state with a strategy that gives
cognizance to these 3Cs in the life of the
administration.
The transformation plan draws its
inspiration from President Jonathan’s
electoral promises, the Vision 20:2020 and
the first National Implementation Plan
(NIP). The agenda is based on a set of
priority policies and programmes which,
when implemented, would transform the
Nigerian economy to greater heights.
Job Creation, Macroeconomic Framework
and Economic Direction, Infrastructure
Development, Public Expenditure
Management, Governance, Justice and
Judiciary, Foreign Policy and Economic
Diplomacy, Power Labour and Productivity,
Health Sector, Education are some of the
sectors the government has made some
remarkable impact under this
adminstration.
Though space would not allow one to
highlight all the achievements of the
incumbent, but suffice it to say that in more
ways than one both impact and vision have
been remarkable. Our transportation
system, particularly his commitment for
reviving the rail system in Nigeria leaves no
one in doubt that things are changing for
the better. The establishment of new Federal
Universities within two years located at
Dutse, Dutsin-Ma, Kashere, Lafia
(Nassarawa) Ndufu-Alike-Ikwo , Otuoke
(Bayelsa), Oye-Ekiti (Ekiti State), Wukari,
Gashua, Yobe State; Birnin Kebbi (Kebbi
State) and Gusau in Zamfara State is
unprecedented in the annals of governance
in the country. In the past two years,
according to the Minister of Finance and
Coordinating Minster of the economy, Prof
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the government have
built 68,100 housing scheme across the six
geopolitical zones of the country and now
produces 28 million metric tons of cement,
but needs only 20 million. So Nigeria is now
a net exporter of cement. On power, 34
independent power producers have gotten
licenses, three have actually commenced
works and power supply has improved in
many Nigerian cities. According to her
(Prof. Mrs) Sure-P, Federal government
earned N180 billion in improving child
delivery, trained 9,000 midwives. The Port
Harcourt to Maiduguri rail line will be
completed in 2013, with more to follow by
the end of the year. Her Inland cargo depots
now handle over four million metric tons
rising from 2.9 metric tons. Our banks and
stock market are now stronger. Perhaps
what needs to be done now is to see how the
banks can lend to individual real estate
developers at lower interest rates. Power,
aviation and agriculture can now import at
zero import duty, exchange rate is stable
(N155-160), reserves are rising, inflation
has reduced, our economy is growing-
Nigeria’s economy growing at 6.5%, one of
the fastest in Africa.
According to the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, SGF,
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Ballot box
snatching and thuggery have become almost
extinct and that it is the President’s
deliberate policy to listen and respects the
views of Nigerians. The negative
deployments of freedom of expression,
which has left Nigerians bolder and more
asserting, and the President the most
criticized in the world, is the cost of the
President’s deliberate policy of openness, “In
the last two years, the civic space have been
expanded, “achievements of the government
promoting the rule of law, integrity of state
institutions and rights of citizens are
legendary and that within eight out of 14
strategic targets set by President Goodluck
Jonathan in 2011 have been achieved.
A Conducive atmosphere for improving
and encouraging private partnership with
government have made more to industries
springing up and producing made in Nigeria
goods, including Proforce–armored vehicles,
Obajana – Cement, and Innoson – motors,
creating jobs and transforming Nigeria.
Reveling in some of these feats recorded by
the present federal administration, Nigeria’s
Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo at
a recent public function said, “Our public
institution are being rebuilt, our National
Assembly is vibrant, our judiciary is truly
independent and our press is feared all over
the world and that government has in the
last two years placed a special premium on
the rule of law and expanding the
democratic space but most importantly that
President Goodluck Jonathan has exhibited
good leadership qualities.”
The Bond between President Jonathan and
Governor Amaechi :
Reminiscing on the political crisis in Rivers
State, I took time out to study the gladiators
not minding their denials. The word bond
means something that binds, fastens,
confines, or holds together a cord, rope,
band, or ligament, something, as an
agreement or friendship that unites
individuals or peoples into a group.
According to Cathrine Beecher, “The
principle of subordination is the great bond
of union and harmony through the universe
and according to Rainer Maria Rike, “I hold
this to be the highest task for a bond
between two people: that each protects the
solitude of the other.
A statement by America’s first lady, Mrs.
Michella Obama readily comes to mind in
capturing the bond between President
Jonathan and Governor Amaechi. “Barack
and I were raised with so many of the
same values, like you work hard for what
you want in life. That your word is your
bond; that you do what you say you’re
going to do. That you treat people with
dignity and respect, even if you don’t
know them and even if you don’t agree
with them.”
According to the facts available to me, these
two great exponents of democracy from
Niger Delta shares similar family
background – raised in humble families and
experienced the pains of being educated by
poor parents. President Jonathan won the
hearts of Nigerians with his expose that he
was that student who trekked to school
without a shoe, while Governor Amaechi
had a sandal and one pair of trouser which
he washes by every weekend to be uses the
following week for the major part of his
undergraduate days, even as the two
political leader are products of the unique
University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT and
are among the big Port Harcourt boys.
Although President Jonathan is the older of
the two, Amaechi have been in politics right
from his days in the university, culminating
to becoming the only Nigerian that was a
Speaker of House of State House of
Assemblies for eight years and have the
singular credit of becoming the Chairman,
Conference of Speakers in Nigeria while he
was Speaker of the Rivers State House of
Assembly and later Chairman of the
Nigerian Governor’s Forum, NGF as
governor of Rivers State. President Jonathan
on the other hand is the first PHD holder,
(not honorary) to preside over the affairs of
the country and the only Nigerian that left
the academic environment where he was a
Lecturer after having a stint with the
defunct OMPEDEC and rose to become a
Deputy Governor (Bayelsa State that was).
Few years after he became the Governor of
that state and few years after became
Nigeria’s Vice President and President
afterwards all of these without contesting a
single election. While Chibuike means God
is my Power and Amaechi Nobody knows
tomorrow while on the other EbeleChukwu
which is the name of the President means
“God’s Mercy”.
While President Jonathan as the Vice
President of Nigeria was suffering every
humiliation in the hands of the cabals
during the Umaru Yar’Adua led
administration. Amaechi was the only
Governor in Nigeria very visible in the
office of the then Vice President and when
President Yar’Adua passed on, Jonathan was
been pushed around, Amaechi was among
those at the forefront of ensuring that Vice
President Jonathan assumed office as the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
when the National Assembly out of their
wisdom came up with the Doctrine of
Necessity.
When the election of 2011 came up,
Governor Amaechi not minding some other
options available to him opted to rally
round the supports of other Governors to
ensure that President Jonathan won the PDP
ticket and during the election proper,
Amaechi delivered two million votes from
the state to ensure that President Jonathan
got elected as the 14th President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Not done with all these affection to his own
brother whom he shares some invisible
bond not known to many Nigerians, he went
ahead even while President Jonathan was
the Vice President to ask him to nominate
candidates to his Cabinet in Rivers State,
this resulted to the nomination of Professor
Israel Owate, who was the President’s
classmate as the Commissioner for
Education. Unfortunately, he could not
drive the vision of the governor on
education as fast as the governor wanted, so
he was dropped. The governor requested
from Mr. Vice President then a replacement.
Again he nominated Mr. Moses Ahubele
who manned the Ministry of Empowerment
and Employment Generation till he died as
a result of some health condition in the
later part of 2010. After the 2011 general
election, Amaechi requested from Mr.
President and he graciously nominated Mr.
Charles Okaye, who still serves as the
Commissioner for Chieftaincy and
Community-related Affairs.

the article is longer than nairalands limit. so I cut it short. here is the link to the story

www.spyghana.com/jonathans-real-friends-foes-and-the-way-forward/

www.inspirenaija.com/2013/08/jonathans-real-friends-foes-in-amaechi.html

Nigeria politicians are the same irrespective of the political parties.