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By Wisdom Ikuli

As we embark on the historic voyage to unraveling and unmasking the real character of the man Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike who is fondly called ‘NEW’ and ‘Nyerisi’ by his close associates, we shall replay the intellectual works of Prof. Chinua Achebe and Prof. Ola Rotimi to give life to the above.

It is pertinent to say that Wike is a perfect description and match of the character ‘Okonkwo’ in the award winning novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Prof. Chinua Achebe.

Unoka the father of Okonkwo was a poor, lazy, unproductive, chronic debtor who lived like then Epicurean Philosophers that believed and depended totally on providence.

The Epicurean Philosophers placed so much premium on food and drink. They sermonized and sloganized about eating, drinking and making merry for tomorrow they shall die.

But despite the above, Unoka the father of Okonkwo was a source of happiness to many because of his mastery of his local flute that he used to entertain many. Unoka and his dance group usually travelled from one village to the other to entertain villagers while other productive farmers were farming. At the end, Unoka died at the evil forest where he was banished because of the belief that his then perceived incurable ailment was a curse by the gods for his indebtedness and other atrocities. Because of the above, his corpse was not seen, same way he was not given a befitting burial.

Okonkwo who detested the infamous and inglorious lifestyle of his father Unoka, decided to work very assiduously. He never rested or had time for leisure where and when his mates rested. He was determined to change the ugly narrative about his family.

In Okonkwo’s Umuofia clan, they believed so much in the place and role of personal ‘Chi’ (god) in the affairs of men. They believe that if a person has a bad Chi, they experience misfortune.

Okonkwo who was afraid of failing like his father decided to live a brave, fearless and very hard working lifestyle that made him prosperous. Remember, his father Unoka lived a very fearful life. He was afraid of blood.

After throwing Amalinze the Cat the unbeaten wrestler and warrior that reigned over Umuofia to Mbaino for seven years at the age of eighteen, he led Umuofia to neighbouring Mbaino where fifteen year old Ikemefuna and a young virgin were handed over to Umuofia warriors under his command as recompense for the Umuofia woman that was killed by a man from Mbaino.

Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna who was kept under his care for three years despite warning from Ogbuefi Ezeudu a village elder who warned Okonkwo that he should not have a hand in the killing of Ikemefuna who called him father.

Okonkwo who was overwhelmed by his over-bloated ego, pride and anger committed other avoidable sacrileges like his accidental killing of Ezeudu’s sixteen year old son that led to his banishment for seven years. And the killing of the whiteman’s messenger that forced him to commit suicide in order to avoid going to prison.

Okonkwo failed to accept changing realities and dynamics in his Umuofia society. The issue of the new religion (Christianity) that the whiteman introduced. The subsequent conversion of Umuofia people including Chiefs he felt would protect the customs and tradition of their ancestors particularly that of his first son Nwoye whom he saw as lazy and unproductive like his father Unoka was unbearable for him.

WIKE ON THE MARCH

The first part of this piece which centres and revolves around Prof. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart’ basically described the humble background of Wike who later started drinking Forty years old Whiskey due to his supposed successes.

The second part which predicts the end of Wike’s rascality shall centre around Prof. Ola Rotimi’s famous play and novel ‘The Gods Are Not To Blame’.

Remember that on the face value, the novel tells the sad story of a child who unknowingly killed his father who was a king and then married his mother, the queen.

There was great jubilation, dancing and so much celebration when Queen Ojuola gave birth to their first child in the village of Kutuje. Thereafter, King Adetusa invited Baba Fakunle for divination about the destiny of the new born child according to their customs and tradition.

Sadly, it was revealed that the child will kill his father and marry his mother. The king ordered that the child should be taken to the forest and killed to avert the impending calamity.

But at the forest, the messenger Gbonka saw an old hunter from a far away land who begged him to spare the life of the child that he will take him home so that he and his old childless wife will bring him up as their child.

The child Odewale who was brought up by his two foster parents Ogundele and Mobike at Ede killed a man that he never knew was his biological father due to quarrel over a parcel of land where the three path met.

In his bid to run away from his crime, he arrived Kutuje where he led the people to war against their oppressive Ikolu neighbours and defeated them.

Odewale was thereafter crowned the king of Kutuje and in line with their customs and tradition, he was made to inherit the Queen of the late king with whom they had four children: Adewale, Adebisi, Oyeyemi and Adeyinka.

The quest to unravel the mystery behind calamity that befell Kutuje town led to the consultation of different seers who revealed the true identity of Odewale who himself did not know that the Queen his wife and mother of his four children was actually his biological mother.

While Queen Ojuola committed suicide out of shame and pain, King Odewale was banished from Kutuje to avert further calamity and he took the four children that he had with his mother who turn out as his siblings along.

THE REAL STORY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO WIKE AND RIVERS STATE

Prof. Ola Rotimi wrote that novel in 1968, a year after the creation of Rivers and eleven other states to mock and also caution the Federal Government of Nigeria during the three years (30 months) avoidable civil war.

The federal government under the leadership and command of General Yakubu Jack Gowon blamed France, Israel and other countries for supporting Biafra to attempt to secede from Nigeria.

While Biafra under the command of Colonel Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu blamed United Kingdom, the defunct Soviet Union and others for supporting the federal government of Nigeria to carry out massacre, genocide and pogrom against the people of old Eastern region.

In that war, over three million people from both sides who are all Nigerians died and properties which value cannot be quantified in monetary values and terms were destroyed.

Prof. Ola Rotimi hold and also argued that if the federal government and Biafra did not go into the avoidable war, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, Israel and the other external forces that he described as the ‘gods’ wouldn’t have intervened and in the process sold Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) to both sides to kill and destroy each other, while the gods smiled to the bank due to the enormous resources that they looted under the guise of separating the war.

THE NAKEDNESS AND EMPTINESS OF NYESOM EZEBUNWO WIKE

Before the Russia and Ukraine war, many scholars of political science and international relations and diplomacy would have argued that Russia as a Nuclear power under the command of the villain, Vladimir Putin will wipe out all Ukrainians within weeks. But it is over one year that the avoidable Russia and Ukraine war broke out, yet there is no sign of victory on the side of Russia, rather it has lost tens if not hundreds of her Generals, thousands of her troop and countless bombers, tanks, war ships etc.

Wike was respected, feared and dreaded by millions of Nigerians because of his hitherto, seeming control and strong grip of Rivers State that is christened the Treasure Base of the Nation which is the second highest producer of crude oil and gas and one of the richest states in the country coupled with her large voting population.

Wike enjoyed a lot of goodwill due to his performance in terms of infrastructure even though he scored zero in terms of workers welfare and empowerment of Rivers people that he deliberately impoverished and pauperized. Many do not know that Wike deliberately sited over ninety five percent of the said projects in the Ikwerre areas of Port Harcourt City.

Sadly, all the above goodwill are going down the drain due to his avoidable fight with his political godson Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara KSC the Executive Governor of Rivers State who has earlier served as Accountant General (AG) of Rivers State under Gov. Wike.

Today, like the case of Russia, many Nigerians are beginning to see the weakness and nakedness of Wike.

Objective, unbiased and dispassionate observers, watchers and pundits can attest to the fact that Wike is loosing unimaginable goodwill and the above is evident in the number of groups that are now speaking out and also protesting against him in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja where he is currently serving as Minister.

HOW WIKE BETRAYED AND RENDERED ALL HIS BENEFACTORS POLITICALLY IMPOTENT

Wike was actually identified by his kinsman John Azuta Mbata who was elected the pioneer Senator that represented Rivers East Senatorial District from 1999 to 2007.

Before then, Wike was a tax (revenue) collector like the biblical Zaccheus at Motor Park where he was a dreaded Lord.

Senator Mbata who hail from Eneka town in Obio/Akpor LGA later sponsored Wike for the position of Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA where he served for two Terms during the Sir Dr. Peter Otunaya Odili administration.

He was later appointed as Chief of Staff (CoS) Government House by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi and while there, he deliberately set confusion between his principal and Ikwerre brother Rt. Hon. Amaechi and the then First Lady Dame Mrs Patience Jonathan due to his desperation and quest to be Governor of Rivers State.

President Goodluck Jonathan then appointed him as Minister of State for Education and while there he set up and betrayed Prof. Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa’i who was later sacked and Wike was made the Acting Minister of Education.

Thereafter, President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife gave the PDP Governorship Ticket to Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike for two Terms from 2015 to 2023.

Today, Wike does not have respect for any of those his benefactors. Whatever public show that he makes about Senator John Azuta Mbata and Sir Peter Otunaya Odili is lip and eye service and probably because they may play along with him even though they also know him as a desperate character. His true colour will show where and whenever his interest clashes with theirs.

One may not say same about Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi that he vilifies and portrays as his arch enemy and President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife who are not ready to bow to him or dance to the tune of his countless dictates.

WIKE VERSUS TINUBU IN 2027

Wike made Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to believe that he was one of the most trusted ally of the former President. Atiku never knew that Wike was feeding and also training like a python that was waiting to devour it’s owner. Other leaders like Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, Chief Uche Secondus, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Chief Abiye Sekibo, Sir Celestine Omehia and countless others tasted the bitter pills of Wike when they disagreed with him.

He was shown on television few days ago when he was shamelessly singing about ‘On your mandate we shall stand”. He also asked the 27 dissident Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to hurriedly defect to APC to create a seeming impression of fight between APC and PDP in Rivers State, but the truth remains that he is loosing the fight with his godson Gov. Sim Fubara because majority of Rivers people are with the Governor.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should do due diligence and he will confirm that Wike is gathering money to contest the 2027 Presidency with PBAT because he argues that South South still has one unfinished term.

Wike mobilized so much resources and groups to sponsor countless campaigns of calumny against President Goodluck Jonathan in 2022 when he got information that President Muhammadu Buhari and the North were contemplating to bring Jonathan during the 2023 Election.

If he could do all that against President Goodluck Jonathan who moved him from local politics to national politics and even made him two term Governor of Rivers State, he will do worst thing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whom he brags to be instrumental to his victory.

One of the glaring evidence is Wike’s total disrespect and disregard for the President who invited him and Gov. Sim Fubara to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to reconcile them. While Gov. Sim Fubara appreciated the timely fatherly intervention of Mr. President and quickly Apologized to Wike and all Rivers people which was widely publicized on all national dailies and platforms, Wike has rather intensified his futile efforts to remove Gov. Sim Fubara who has the mandate of majority of Rivers people from office.

Wike’s total disrespect and disregard of the directive and intervention of Mr. President is a very bad example and a wrong signal to Nigerians and the international community.

NIGERIANS SHOULD BE THE JUDGE BETWEEN WIKE AND GOV. SIM FUBARA

Since the inception of the political impasse in Rivers State, Wike and his dissident Assembly Members have not been able to tell Nigerians one constitutional breach or infraction that Gov. Fubara committed to warrant the failed Impeachment move.

This is the first time in the history of our contemporary democracy 1999 till date that members of the Legislature in a State House of Assembly to attempt to impeach a Governor who is the head of the Executive Arm without any crime, offense or allegations.

For the records, Wike singlehandedly appointed 15 out of the 16 Commissioners and members of the Rivers State Executive Council.

2. Wike appointed the Chief of Staff (CoS) Government House for Gov. Fubara.

3. Wike appointed the ADC and Chief Security Officer (CSO) for Gov. Fubara.

4. Wike appointed his younger brother Rt Hon. Martins Amaewhule whom he used over ten years ago to cause mayhem in the Rivers State House of Assembly under Gov. Amaechi as the Speaker. He also appointed the Deputy Speaker and all the Principal officers of the Assembly.

5. Wike asked Gov. Fubara not to approve any fund above Fifty Million Naira without his express Approval.

6. Wike is the one that use the two state owned private jets that are fueled and maintained with Rivers State tax payers money. The Governor cannot make use of any of the jets that are always parked at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja without the express Permission of Wike.

7. Wike ordered the Governor not to allow his wife to function as First Lady of the state and that is the reason you do not see the wife of Gov Fubara in any public function.

8. Wike asked the Governor not to attend National Council of State meetings or Nigerian Governors or PDP Governors Forum meetings, rather he should delegate his Deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu who is Wike’s maternal sister.

9. The Director of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Board reports directly to Wike and not to Gov. Sim Fubara.

Now, I want the supporters and loyalists of Wike to fault any of the issues that I have raised here, while Nigerians should be the judge.

Wike was made Minister and Governor by Ijaw people who never shouted to the high heavens that they made him Minister and Governor.

The upland where Wike came from ruled Rivers State for 24years (1999-2023) and the Riverine people (Ijaws) gave them maximum support. Is Wike and his cohorts saying that the Riverine people who are even majority in terms of population are not qualified to occupy the office of the Governor?

It is an undisputed fact that over 75% of the abundant crude oil and gas in Rivers State are domiciled in the Riverine Ijaw Territory, yet those are the least developed areas due to total neglect and abandonment.

Mr. President and all people of goodwill should call Wike to order before he plunges the Niger Delta and by extension the entire country into avoidable crisis.

* Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, the National President of Niger Delta Nonviolence Agitators Forum (NDNAF) and Executive Director Centre for Peace Advocacy and Social Rehabilitation (CPASR) writes from the Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja, Nigeria.

ikuliwisdom@gmail.com, 08130337969