Rivers: Peterside’s support base widens

Honourable Dakuku Peterside, the governorship candidate of
the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers State, is from
the riverine area of the state. It is the axis that has not
produced a governor since the inception of the current
dispensation in 1999 inspite of the rotational mantra of
various political parties. And with the political configuration of
the state, the Ikwerre clan, which is, unarguably, in the
majority has been having field day in the last 15 and a half
years of the current democracy.
This must have informed his endorsement by the outgoing
Governor, Chibuike Rotim Amaechi, an Ikwerre son, for the
sake of equality, fair play and sense of belonging. But in a
situation where people abide by the common syndrome of ‘our
son,’ Peterside should not expect support from the Ikwerre
axis of the state. The reason is not farfetched. The governor­
ship candidate of the opposition party in the state, the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the former Minister of
State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who is from Ikwerre.
But a new trend has however been established with the
reported endorsement of Peterside by the traditional rulers in
Ikwerre, a factor that is already changing the campaign and
political discourse across River State. Quite padoxically, the
Ikwerre Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in Isiokpo must
have pitched their tents with Peterside, a riverine man against
their Ikwerre son for the sake of equity and justice.
The Rivers State 2015 governorship candidate of the APC,
Dakuku Peterside, it was reported to have visited the
traditional rulers to seek their blessing in an election that is
expected to be hotly contested between him and one of their
son, Nyesom Wike.
Wike, the candidate of the PDP, who is believed to be well
connected in the presidency, is also said to have the support
of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, whose wish to return the
State to the PDP. Recall that Governor Rotimi Amaechi
contested on the PDP platform before defecting to the APC.
But Royal Fathers in Wike’s catchment areas, were said to
have endorsed Peterside instead, a son from the riverine area
of the State. Not only that, the council of traditional rulers,
which comprises first class and all government-recognised
traditional rulers in the four Ikwerre local government areas of
Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Emohua and Ikwerre, were also
said to have declared Peterside the sole governorship
candidate for the Ikwerres in the coming February 28 election.
The council members were said to have endorsed Peterside to
allow the riverine area produce the next governor. By their
action, they said no other governorship candidate would
receive the council’s endorsement. To this end, they have
urged all Ikwerre persons to support Peterside.
Peterside, was reported to have addressed the council thus:
“Ikwere as an ethnic nationality has a very critical role to play
at this point in time in the life of Rivers State. As custodians
of Ikwere culture, Ikwerre values, at a time of national morale
crisis, we expect the custodians of our culture and value
system as traditional rulers and fathers to lend their voices of
reason so that the people can take the right path.”
The riverine people in the state had sustained their agitation
for the governorship to be shifted to their area. This was the
path Peterside had also asked the kingmakers to take.
It is on record that, Rivers State comprises of the upland and
riverine area. In the present democratic dispensation since
1999, the upland people have been ruling and they would have
done so for 16 years by the time Governor Rotimi Amaechi
completes his second term in May, this year. Thus, a Peterside
victory, many observe, is expected to be a victory for fairness,
equity and justice.
According to a source who doesn’t want his name mentioned,
Rivers was initially carved out for the people of the riverine
area. According to him, “because we wanted the upland
people not to feel marginalised, we decided that there was
going to be a rotation of the governorship seat.”
Just recently, Fafaa Dan-princewill, a PDP governorship
aspirant, in an interview with a national daily, gave perspective
to how the current agitation for power shift began.
“In 1999, I was a founding member of the PDP. I could not
contest for governor in 1999 because it was zoned outside the
riverine area. Chief Odili became governor and it was expected
that after eight years of his rule that it would revert to the
riverine area.
“But that again didn’t happen and we had Celestine Omehia
for a short period and now Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Which
means at the end of this tenure, it would have been 16 years
for the upland group,” Dan-princewill said.
He substantiated the claim that a majority of the riverine area
were keen on ensuring that power rotated to them and any
party that failed to recognise this agitation would likely pay
greatly at the poll. “Presently, the agitation to have a riverine
governor is great.”
On what the outcome would be for his party if it turned deaf
to the people’s desire, Dan-princewill said: “I cannot speak for
what the Ijaws or riverine people would do, but I would not be
surprised if the backlash is heavy because it is a very
controversial issue. The level of agitation today indicates that
it could lead to serious backlash for the party.”
The supposed possible backlash was partly the reason
Governor Amaechi settled for Peterside. Chairman of the
Rivers State chapter of the APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya explained
the choice of Peterside.
“Rivers State APC was divinely set up to address three
principal injustices visited on some sections of Rivers State.
One of them is addressing the unjust situation of the riverine
areas of the state not occupying the seat of power since 1999,
after the eight years of Dr. Peter Odili and the eight years of
the incumbent governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi – all from the
upland section of the state,” Ikanya said.
On why Peterside was chosen from amongst Senator Magnus
Abe, Mr. Tele Ikuru, and Mr. George Feyi, Ikanya argued that
although all of the four aspirants were qualified being from the
riverine area, the choice of Peterside was “a symbol of unity of
both the Ogoni people and the riverine and upland sections of
the state.”
There is a concerted effort by the APC to assuage what
normally could snowball into a state crisis by fielding the
governorship to the riverine people. On the PDP side, without
regards to the people’s agitation, Wike is said to have
assured his party that has capacity to deliver the State for
PDP. But with support base of Peterside encroaching Wike’s
territory, Wike might be losing the little grassroots support
that he once had.
While endorsing Peterside, one of those who was said to have
spoken at the meeting was the Vice Chairman and traditional
ruler of Akpor kingdom, Eze A.A Orlu Oriebe, who represented
Eze Iriebe of Nye Weli Akpor kingdom.
According to Oriebe, no candidate, aside Peterside, felt it wise
to visit the kingmakers. “You are the only person
(governorship candidate) who saw the need to visit the
Traditional Council, and that you cannot go out there to tell
our people anything without paying homage.”
As it stands, there are several factors working in Peterside’s
favour. Having been first endorsed by Governor Amaechi, he
indirectly enjoys the power of incumbency. Amaechi’s
insistence on power rotation has proven to be an added
advantage to Peterside’s aspiration. But of all the factors, is
Peterside’s own personality.
An analyst once dissected the character of the man the
Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers referred to as
“His Excellency-in-waiting,” and noted that Peterside
ordinarily doesn’t cut across as a regular politician and carries
“no air of self-importance common with everyday politician.”
According to the analyst, Adeola Akinremi: “As one of the
most presentable, high-profile members of the APC front row
leaders in the House of Representatives with capacity to reach
out beyond his party ranks, Peterside arrived on the political
landscape prepared.
“Just four years in the parliament, Peterside’s strengths are
well-known. He is seen as focused, forthright, studious,
urbane and a superb communicator. At a time politicians are
reviled, people actually like listening to him, making him a
man who cuts across party lines.”
Endorsed by his opponent’s kinsmen, Peterside, armed with
the love of his people, whose deep agitation for equity and
justice would greatly play a role in how the electorate would
vote in the coming governorship election in the State, many
reckon is the man to beat. He is the man favoured by the
times and endorsed by all those who genuinely seek justice,
equity and fairness.