Omehia Doles Out N350m to Cultists

...Promises to Make Rivers State Ungovernable

What is currently playing out in Rivers State might just be what informs the Late Mallam Aminu Kano’s undying exhortation that politicians should learn to play according to the rules of the game as well as avoid politics of bitterness. The late teacher who was an active participant in Nigerian politics since the very first Republic must have in his quiet moment evaluated the likely consequences of politics of bitterness, before sounding his advice. Because of its relevance, many politicians have also seen reasons to re-echo Aminu Kano’s advice, considering the consequential effect of politics of bitterness, which eventually pushed the young independent Nigeria into a Civil War barely six years after gaining political independence from Britain, her erstwhile colonial master. Yet Aminu Kano might just have hinged his advice on bitterness. He may not have considered that beyond bitterness is the politics of desperation, violence and shame, as it is currently being played out in Rivers State. Otherwise, what is the rationale behind the present politics of desperation and shame which the ousted illegitimate governor of Rivers State, Barr. Celestine Omehia and his godfathers have resorted to, with a promise to make the state ungovernable for the Supreme Court authorized PDP duly elected governor of the state, Chief Chibuike Amaechi.  Information reaching The Beam, reveals that the erstwhile governor who is still finding it difficult to come to terms with the seeming Supreme Court Tsunami that flushed him and his illegal cohorts out of the Brick House, have sworn to avenge their opprobrium on the sitting governor. 

Omehia may not be alone in this deadly and shameful scheme. The Beam further gathers authoritatively that Sir (Dr.) Peter Odili, the man who presided over the state in the last eight years may equally have his hands in the pie.  Odili, it will be recalled was the sitting governor when Chief Chibuike Amaechi who was the duly elected flagbearer of the PDP for the April 14 polls was unconstitutionally sort to be substituted. Rather than speak against that obvious injustice and flagrant disrespect to the rule of law, Odili opted for the back door. And the consequence of that alternative was the emergence of Celestine Omehia, who, in his wildest dream never saw Rivers State as a place for him to preside over as at February 2, 2007. It will equally be recalled that with the illegal attempt by then president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and, leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to have him substituted, well before Celestine Omehia was drafted in, Amaechi had gone to court to protect his mandate. And in spite of the insurmountable hurdles, Amaechi had remained undaunted in his quest to reclaim his mandate. However, knowing how crystal Amaechi’s plea before the court was, the then Omehia’s illegal government simply resorted to every available means to discredit Amaechi. It did not matter how unconventional and savage the ploy could be. For instance, while Amaechi was in far away Abuja brainstorming with his legal team on how to reclaim his mandate, Rivers State witnessed a purported kidnap of Celestine Omehia’s mother and Amaechi was the prime suspect, not until the bubble burst on the plotters and their agents.  Again, Rivers State was made to witness a violent eruption of cult gansterism and gun-battle. All in an attempt to paint Amaechi as the devil incarnate. Yet, at the expiration of these ploys Amaechi emerged  with his mandate not only restored, but was pronounced the duly elected governor of  Rivers State, while Celestine Omehia was asked to leave Government House. But the man so shamefully ousted from office and his mentors have sworn to make the state ungovernable for the man who is the people’s choice. And as it stands, since blackmail and spurious accusations doesn’t seem to help matter, arrangements to have opposition leaders intensify their matters at the Election Petition Tribunal failed, this Old Harry’s averment is now being pursued with  the sum of N350 million allegedly paid to cultists and hooligans of the Niger Delta to once again invade the state.