Politics
POLITICS OF BETRAYAL IN RIVERS *THOSE WHO DON’T SEE-EYE-TO-EYE
In Rivers State there are politicians who have sworn not to recognise their erstwhile political leaders in the state. The way and manner in which these politicians are working against the interest of their political godfathers remain open to ordinary eyes. Towncrier.ng here reveals the list of Rivers State the list of Rivers State politicians who engage into politics of betrayal. Read on.
Rufus Ada-George Vs Dr. Peter Odili
The political landscape in 1992 that brought in Chief Rufus Ada-George as duly elected Governor of Rivers State also had Dr. Peter Odili as his deputy. But in 1999 as soon as Governor Peter Odili became an elected executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-George had his Okrika country home raised down and he had no option but to flee away from the entire Rivers State until after 2007 when Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi became Governor of Rivers State.
Dr. Peter Odili Vs Marshall Harry
Everyone in Rivers State in 1998 will tell you exactly how late Dr. Marshall Harry picked Dr. Peter Odili and made him winner of Peoples Democratic Party – PDP governorship candidate as against Chief Sergeant Chidi Awuse who was more popular and from Ikwerre speaking ethnic nationality.
But as soon as Dr. Peter Odili was sworn in, on May 29th 1999, Dr. Marshall Harry the then State Chairman of PDP began having misunderstanding with Governor Peter Odili until he was sent away to occupy the position of National Vice Chairman South-South for PDP.
Thus, he became uncomfortable and remote from political shenanigans until he decamped in 2003 to All Nigerian Peoples Party – ANPP.
Chibuike Amaechi Vs Peter Odili
The story of how Right Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was built politically by Dr. Peter Odili is a common recurring story in Rivers State until he emerged winner of Ikwerre LGA state constituency House of Assembly election. And his emergence as Speaker RVHA is said to have the blessing of Dr. Peter Odili. But in 2007, January, it was reported how Governor Peter Odili ejected Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi from his official residence as Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly.
Their quarrel may not be unconnected with Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s ambition of becoming an elected Governor of Rivers State. Thus, the lingering court case that ended on October 25, 2007. Amaechi was declared winner of the April 2007 Governorship election which the then PDP candidate Barrister Celestine Omehia was substituted for Amaechi. Till today, Dr. Peter Odili and Amaechi do not see-eye-to-eye politically.
In 2012, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP elective state congress was conducted as late Chief Godspower Umejuru Ake had re-contested as state chairman of the party. But unknown to Governor Amaechi his then chief of staff Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike was nursing Governorship ambition irrespective of being nominated as Minister of State for Education. Thus, he sponsored Chief Felix Obuah who hails from the same Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area as the authentic elected state chairman of Rivers State PDP. Thus, the Appeal Court and Supreme Court declared Honourable Felix Obuah as the duly elected Chairman of PDP. Hence Governor Amaechi and Felix Obuah today don’t see-eye-to-eye politically.
The emergence of Honourable Brother Felix Obuah as state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party-PDP brought in enmity between the duo of Chief Godspower Umejuru Ake and Felix Obuah. Their quarrel ended at the death of Chief Godspower Ake.
Chibuike Amaechi Vs Nyesom Wike
In 2007 the former Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike fought hard through all the legal battles of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who was removed as Governorship candidate of PDP in the 2007 General elections. So, on October 26, 2007 when Chibuike Amaechi got sworn in duly elected Governor of Rivers State, he appointed Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike as his Chief of Staff. But in 2011, he Wike was the Director of Amaechi 2011 Re-election campaign organization. In 2012, Governor Amaechi sent Wike’s name for appointment as Minister under President Goodluck Jonathan. It was the screening by senate at Abuja that revealed the cracks in the relationship between Gov. Amaechi and Wike with the change of mind of Gov. Amaechi to have his friend Dr. Tonye Cole the CEO of Sahara Energy Oil and Gas Company to replace Wike as Minister.
Thus, the quarrel between Wike and Amaechi continued until Amaechi was pushed out of PDP as he joined All Progressive Congress-APC. And Wike emerged Governorship candidate of PDP in Rivers State on December 8, 2014 and duly elected Governor of Rivers State on April 11, 2015.
Osinakachukwu Ideozor Vs Amaechi
The duo of Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozor and Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi were elected at the same time as members of Rivers State House of Assembly in 1999 till 2003. When Osinaka Ideozor went to House of Representatives representing Abua/Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency. On October 26, 2007 Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi having been sworn in immediately appointed Osinakachukwu Ideozo as his Commissioner for Finance until prior to the first executive cabinet reshuffling Osinaka Ideozor was sacked by Amaechi without making it open his sins. Till today, the twosome are no longer political friends.
The Publisher of Hard Truth Newspaper a community tabloid and a lawyer Opunabo Inko-Tariah was appointed Chief Press Secretary/Special Assistant on Electronic Press/Media. But not long in the appointment. Opunabo Inko-Tariah had problems of loyalty against his boss the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike.
The former Governor of Rivers State and his deputy Engr. Tele Ikuru as they were all in the same PDP and later decamped to All Progressive Congress-APC. But 2-weeks to the 2015 Presidential election on March 28th, 2015 Engr. Tele Ikuru decamped to PDP leaving his boss Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi shocked. Today, they don’t talk anymore as Engr. Tele Ikuru mis-calculated as President Goodluck Jonathan did not win a second term in office.
This is one of the latest happenings in Rivers State political development as Senator Magnus Ngei Abe and his friend Minister of Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi are no longer in talking terms. This is coming as a result of Senator Magnus Ngei Abe having governorship ambition in 2019. Before now, Magnus Ngei Abe was elected in 1999 into Rivers State House of Assembly under All Peoples Party-APP while he decamped in 2003 to Peoples Democratic Party-PDP and was appointed Commissioner for Information in Governor Odili’s second term in office later he became SSG under ex Governor chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Today Senator Abe and Amaechi are no longer in talking terms until Abe will dump his 2019 Governorship ambition as he Senator Abe was very close to Amaechi so much so that in 2007 he as a lawyer fought for the reclamation of the PDP governorship ticket which Amaechi won in the December 2006 PDP Governorship primary election held at Sharks F.C Stadium Port Harcourt. But few months back in 2016 Amaechi was said to have personally driven to Abe’s Abuja home and warned him in the presence of his wife Justice Hannah Magnus Abe that he should drop his 2019 Governorship ambition as he cannot get the ticket in All Progressive Congress-APC. This frontal challenge has set the two friends apart politically and senator Abe is leaving no stone unturned as he had continued telling his many supporters to always play according to rules until he formally declares his ambition to contest the 2019 APC primary gubernatorial election which will subsequently culminate to that of picking the sole Governorship ticket for APC in Rivers state.
It is common knowledge that Chief Allwell Onyesoh a strong Etche born Rivers state politician who was among the founders of PDP in Rivers state and who he Allwell Onyesoh delivered Dr. Peter Odili in the Rivers state Governorship election in 1999 and 2003. Till he was appointed to Lead APC in Etche Local Government Area which Amaechi has been Rivers state and South-South leader. By June 2017 Allwell Onyesoh was unceremously relieved of that position irrespective of the fact that he Chief Allwell Onyesoh was Deputy Director of DAP 2015 Governorship campaign organization. Amaechi and chief Allwell Onyesoh today don’t see eye-to-eye because of their disagreement on how best to run All Progressive Congress APC in Rivers state and the Choice of the 2019 Governorship candidate as Allwell Onyesoh is a die-hard supporter of senator Magnus Abe as probable APC Governorship candidate in Rivers state 2019 Governorship election.
Tony Okocha Vs Chibuike Amaechi
The immediate past Chief of Staff to former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha has his former boss set in the opposite direction in their political interests pursuits. While Tony Okocha wants Senator Magnus Ngei Abe as All Progressive Congress-APC 2019 Governorship candidate, Amaechi has riverine community natives in mind as to who becomes APC governorship candidate in 2019. And they have separated politically although Tony Okocha as at the time of filing this report has remained a member of APC.
Austin Tam George Vs Nyesom Wike
The resignation of Dr. Austin Tam George from the cabinet of Governor Nyesom Wike few days before the dissolution of the executive cabinet really tells much of quarrel between Wike and his former Information and Communications Commissioner. The duo had rough encounter at the last cabinet meeting of the executive cabinet leading to the dissolution of that cabinet abruptly.
Read Also: Senator Abe, Amaechi political crisis deepens
