Controversy has all the time been inseparable from politics and politicking, however treachery and betrayals are proving to be alter egos within the politics of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, writes Common Editor, Taiwo Adisa.
ET tu Brute? (even you, Brutus) This can be a well-known line from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, an eponymous play by English playwright, poet, and actor, Williams Shakespeare (1564-1616). It’s a classical show of energy play within the higher limits of political authority as dotted by treachery, deceit, and betrayals. It affords a fast reminder to wielders of energy that as issues have been within the early centuries, so they continue to be, even now, so far as human characterisation within the social house is anxious.
Ranging from Might 1999, when Nigeria’s Fourth Republic was launched, politicians have by no means didn’t stay as much as the archetypes of beings which might be effortlessly treacherous, thus justifying the competition that treachery and betrayals are key basis stones of the politics on show.
Whereas the unfolding drama in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, which has pitted former governor Nyesom Wike, now minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) towards his successor, Siminalayi Fubara is as soon as once more offering the important thing to unlocking the character evaluation of the Nigerian politician, the circumstances for betrayals, treachery and controversy have remained fixed within the polity.
Wike Versus Fubara
Even because the final has not been heard on the unfolding state of affairs within the oil-rich Rivers State, the jury is already on the market as to the doable causes of the tense moments being witnessed within the state in latest months. In October 2023, the Rivers State Home of Meeting launched an impeachment drive towards Governor Fubara, which shocked many Nigerians. The truth that the duo of Wike and Fubara loved a chubby relationship hitherto offered the shock. Wike was all around the moon in his bid to put in Fubara as governor in Might 2023. He efficiently hid his anointed successor, then gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) away from the prowling sights of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC), which had positioned him on its needed record. Despite the fact that there was no trace of undercurrents, particularly within the public glare when the state lawmakers flashed the yellow card on the governor, it’s now obvious that the division that set into the midst of the governor and his predecessor was elementary. A day earlier than the meeting members launched the impeachment transfer, the Home of Meeting constructing was gutted by thriller fireplace, a sign that the battle at hand guarantees to hit the heights of brutality.
Ever since, there was an undulating forwards and backwards within the affairs of the oil-rich state, with a pointy division creeping in. There have been claims by leaders of the Ijaw ethnic nationality that former governor Wike, was attempting to disclaim the riverine areas the governorship slot, a place that has remained within the upland components of the state for the reason that restart of democratic rule in 1999. Some 27 members of the Home of Meeting loyal to Wike had defected to the All Progressives Congress(APC), leaving solely 4 within the governor’s camp. That seemed like a sharp-edged arrow aimed on the brow because the quantity already amounted to greater than the two-thirds majority wanted to question the governor.
The governor’s loyalists have additionally put in a Speaker for the meeting, who has declared the seats of the defectors vacant, whereas Governor Fubara had submitted the 2024 funds to the four-member meeting, which promptly ratified the invoice. Within the warmth of the confusion over the impeachment plot, Fubara had publicly introduced his readiness to soldier on, whereas asking his traducers to publicly announce his offence. The governor has since assented to the cash invoice, affirming the identical because the State’s appropriation act for 2024, despite the fact that the Abuja accord requested him to signify the invoice earlier than the unified state meeting.
The Abuja accord was a product of the assembly known as by President Bola Tinubu to search out some quietness to the raging commotion. When it was made public, the accord requested each events to withdraw circumstances from the courtroom, whereas the loyalists of the previous governor would additionally withdraw the impeachment discover. The governor was additionally requested to recall the commissioners who had resigned their appointments in solidarity with Wike, whereas the governor was mandated to permit the meeting a free run within the state. Elders, largely from the riverine part of the state and leaders of Ijaw ethnic nationality have, nonetheless, rejected the accord, calling it a dying sentence for Fubara, who by the way introduced that the accord was not as unhealthy because it appears.
Wike, in a significant offensive towards the elders who’ve criticised the Abuja accord, warned the folks of the state to not get entangled in political feud they know nothing about. He stated: “Don’t get entangled in any struggle between two politicians with out understanding the foundation trigger. In any aspect of life, there are guidelines and so they should be obeyed. As a pastor, there are guidelines you should comply with.
“In order politicians, we should comply with guidelines. Whereas I used to be governor I adopted these guidelines, and that’s why I used to be in a position to succeed.”
Whereas neither Wike nor Fubara has come out to state what the “guidelines” have been, the competition out there may be that the division that crept into their fold has a lot to do with the administration of tasks inherited by Fubara. There have been claims that the incumbent governor was resisting the bid to adjust to the cost phrases for sure ongoing tasks within the state. This growth was stated to have angered his predecessor, resulting in the now-terminated impeachment transfer.
Even because the nation awaits the clock to run over the present Rivers State political drama, it’s already clear, particularly from Wike’s tone, that suspected treachery and betrayal stay on the root of the unfolding hoopla.
Adedibu versus Ladoja
On January 12, 2006, 18 of the 32 lawmakers of the Oyo State Home of Meeting pronounced the impeachment of Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who had been helped to energy by the then strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu. Adedibu’s grouse was that Ladoja as governor failed to hold him alongside within the operating of the affairs of the state.
“Governor Ladoja has as we speak been impeached, having been discovered responsible of allegations leveled towards him,” stated Honourable Olu Oyeleye, chief of a bunch of 18 lawmakers, who voted for the impeachment on the precincts of D’Rovas Resort, Ring Highway, Ibadan, the adopted chamber for the breakaway lawmakers, who had discovered the state meeting chambers impenetrable.
That disaster which noticed Ladoja dropping his seat for 11 months in 2006 was one other classical case of godfatherism in Nigerian politics. The governor, although finally reinstated by the Supreme Courtroom was accused of betrayal by the godfather, who instigated the impeachment plot.
Despite the fact that Ladoja returned to his seat in November of that yr, the scar of his impeachment left a everlasting spot in his political profession. By the point he returned, the first course of for the 2007 election had been achieved and dusted. His deputy, Adebayo Alao-Akala had taken the ticket of the PDP and was finally elected in his stead. Ladoja’s subsequent makes an attempt to return to Agodi Authorities Home had didn’t materialise.
Nnamani versus Nwobodo
Dr Chimaroke Nnamani was a medical practitioner in america of America, who returned dwelling to contest the Enugu State governorship election in 1999. He received the election, using on the again of Chief Jim Nwobodo, a former governor of outdated Anambra State and notable godfather in Enugu politics.
Because it was tough to discern the internal minds of a person from the conjecture on the face, so it was for Nwobodo to establish the true intentions of Nnamani, his political godson. As quickly as Nnamani took over the reins in Enugu, he devised a method by which he would empower Younger Turks whom he supposed to make use of to displace the established political custom within the state. He launched the Ebeano slogan to signpost his new management of the state and held a agency grip on affairs within the state. Nwobodo and different political heavyweights together with the previous Nationwide Secretary of the PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo grew to become fast victims as their tendencies have been pushed out of the state even earlier than the reelection in 2003. Nwodo needed to affirm in an interview that his hospital was shut down for worry of assaults by Ebeano loyalists The State Home of Meeting obtained divided into two, whereas members loyal to Nwobodo and his Abuja politicians’ colleagues have been largely banished to Abuja. There was no doubting the truth that Nnamani, one of many class of ‘99 governors considered Obasanjo boys had the backing of the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He received the battle at the moment, holding the reins of energy firmly between 1999 and 2007.
Nnamani versus Sullivan Chime
Following the governorship election in 2007, Nnamani adopted Sullivan Chime as his successor and backed the identical to victory. Chime was his Legal professional Common and Commissioner for Justice, each had attended the identical secondary college. The Ebeano chief was stated to have held the assumption that he knew Chime properly and that the gentle-looking lawyer would play the Ebeano card in response to his (Nnamani’s) dictates.
The tide, nonetheless, modified instantly Chime took the reins of energy. It was clear that Nnamani’s former schoolmate had different concepts that have been solely masked within the bid to take energy. He virtually banned the Ebeano slogan proper from the inauguration podium and turned Nnamani and his core loyalists into sworn enemies. The previous governor and his loyalists thereafter went via a torrid time within the palms of Chime, whom that they had helped to energy.
It was a case of Karma as Nnamani obtained the precise remedy he meted out to Nwobodo and different members of the outdated guard when he took energy in 1999.
The previous governor had lamented that Chime turned his coverage of elevating the youngsters of nobodies into key positions in authorities the wrong way up and that he was empowering the identical established politicians he (Nnamani) fought towards. Certainly, each politicians went separate methods throughout the 2011 polls, with Nnamani adopting Individuals for Democratic Change (PDC) as his political platform, whereas Chime retained the PDP platform. Chime received his reelection and finally succeeded in virtually making Nnamani and his core loyalists persona non grata in Enugu State. The feud was solely settled when Chime had left energy.
Kalu versus Abaribe in Abia
One of many earliest political battles of the Fourth Republic was the feud between the then-governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, and his deputy, Enyinnaya Abaribe. Lower than six months into workplace, Kalu had flagged off an impeachment transfer towards his deputy, alleging “gross misconduct.” Abaribe was accused of colluding with some transport sector operators to print tickets, an allegation he vehemently described as frivolous and a setup. The matter ended up dividing the PDP within the state alongside the Ukwa/Ngwa and Outdated Bende traces. Although the primary impeachment transfer towards Abaribe failed, that didn’t cease Kalu’s camp from launching two different bids between 2000 and 2003. The event, in response to sources was hinged on allegations of disloyalty towards the deputy governor, despite the fact that the articles of the alleged disloyalty weren’t made public. There was additionally the rising energy tussle between Abuja politicians and the home-based workforce led by the governor on the time. The Abuja group largely supported Abaribe, who finally defected to the All Nigeria Peoples Social gathering (ANPP) after the failure of the third impeachment bid towards him early in 2003.
Kalu versus Theodore Orji
According to the desires of Governor Orji Kalu, his Chief of Employees, Theodore Orji was sworn in as his successor in 2007. But it surely wasn’t lengthy earlier than a battle of wits took over the scene of Abia politics once more. Kalu had in 2007 floated the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) and received the governorship seat of Abia and Imo States. It was understood that Theodore Orji obtained wind of Kalu’s plans to merge with the PDP and had gone forward of him to personally align with the PDP and safe the get together’s ticket for the 2011 election. That and another undercurrents have been stated to have angered Kalu who moved massively towards his successor. The battle lasted via the years of Orji as governor.
Mbadinuju versus Uba
The battle for the management of Anambra politics was additionally intense between 1999 and 2003. Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju was elected beneath the platform of the PDP in 1999 however he needed to take care of energy brokers who had the backing of President Obasanjo in Abuja. One of the crucial influential presidential aides of the period, Dr Andy Uba is an indigene of the state, whereas his brother, Chief Chris Uba was pulling strings across the states of the South-East, not simply because the political godfather however as an enforcer. Controversy, violence, and instability have been the plenty of Anambra as the facility brokers aimed to grab the management off Mbadinuju, who was additionally having it tough with the civil servants and civil society. Little marvel he was denied the PDP ticket in 2003 and when he sought reelection on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), he misplaced to PDP’s candidate, Dr Chris Ngige, who finally was eliminated through a courtroom order and changed with Mr Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Amaechi versus President Jonathan
Not many have been conscious that President Goodluck Jonathan was an excellent good friend of the previous governor of Rivers State, who later served as Minister of Transportation within the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Rotimi Amaechi. Amaechi and Dr Jonathan’s paths had crossed in Port Harcourt and sources stated that they developed an excellent relationship. It was stated that when Amaechi was to represent his cupboard as governor, he requested President Jonathan to appoint two commissioners and that when one of many commissioners died, he nonetheless obtained again to Jonathan to fill the slot. To reciprocate, Jonathan was stated to have nominated Amaechi’s Chief of Employees, Nyesom Wike as minister. However issues have been stated to have snapped when Amaechi was stated to have began cultivating friendship throughout the Niger in readiness for a shot on the nation’s presidency in 2015. It was stated that Amaechi had linked up with the previous Speaker of the Home of Representatives who later served as governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for a doable pair-up in a presidential race. Earlier than then sources had stated that Jonathan had alerted Amaechi to a flag on the accounts of his state by the monetary intelligence arm of the federal government and requested him for restitution.
Because the politics of 2015 intensified, each events went separate methods with Amaechi becoming a member of the PDP crew which finally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to wreck Jonathan’s second-term bid.
Amaechi versus Wike
The cracks that crept into the Jonathan/Amaechi relationship mechanically affected the connection between Wike and the then-governor of Rivers State, Amaechi. With Amaechi discovering himself aligned with the opposition forces, Wike grew to become an in depth ally of President Jonathan and was finally adopted because the governorship candidate of the PDP for the 2015 election. The enmity that engulfed the midst of the trio of President Jonathan, Amaechi, and Wike continued to gas disagreements, anger, and unhealthy blood between Wike and Amaechi as the previous took workplace as governor. That enmity continued because the duo grew to become pillars of opposing forces. Wike was main the PDP entrance, whereas Amaechi led the APC battle. Wike, nonetheless, succeeded in operating Amaechi and his loyalists largely out of city, whereas he vowed to not contact a stand-out mission of the Amaechi administration-Port Harcourt Metroline, which has remained deserted to this point.
Akpabio versus Udom Emmanuel
Within the twilight of his administration as governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, now president of the Senate of the 1oth Nationwide Meeting virtually plucked Udom Emmanuel from the banking sector.
That was due to the rift between him and the then Secretary to the State Authorities, (SSG) Obong Umana Okon Umana. Earlier than that rift, many in Akpabio’s cupboard have been stated to have concluded that Umana would take over the reins in 2015. But it surely was stated that Akpabio’s bid to have Umana nominated because the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Growth Fee (NDDC) by President Jonathan sparked a row between him and Umana. It was stated that Umana noticed the transfer as a approach of eradicating him from the centre of energy in Uyo, a growth that angered Akpabio, who instantly searched out Udom Emmanuel, and made him SSG and later governorship candidate.
Because the Udom’s political godfather, Akpabio anticipated his protégé would continue to learn at his toes for lengthy. However inside a short while, Udom selected to turn out to be his personal man, sacked the cupboard Akpabio had arrange for him, and confronted his lane. The battle grew to become so intense that Akpabio was unable to win his return bid to the Senate in 2019 as a consequence of what sources known as the machinations of Udom’s political construction. The tense moments between the 2 camps didn’t begin loosening up till halfway into Udom’s second time period.
Kwakwanso versus Ganduje
The story of the previous governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Social gathering (NNPP) within the 2023 election, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, and his successor Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje can be replete with betrayals and controversies. Kwakwanso would spare no phrase to state that Ganduje owes his political ascendancy to him, having allowed the latter to function his deputy for 2 phrases and in addition supported him to turn out to be governor of Kano State.
Having been Ganduje’s benefactor on completely different events, Kwakwanso anticipated the incumbent Nationwide Chairman of APC to reciprocate such gestures and stay his political ally for all times. That was to not be, nonetheless, as Ganduje charted his course instantly after changing into governor. Issues went unhealthy to the extent the duo virtually grew to become sworn enemies. Certainly, Kwakwanso needed to go away the APC and type the NNPP when the atmosphere grew to become unconducive. The duo of Kwakwanso and Ganduje anointed completely different gubernatorial candidates within the build-up to the governorship election in Kano in 2023, their camps squaring up in a titanic battle. Although Kwakwanso’s NNPP was declared a winner on the first occasion by the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), the matter is awaiting a closing seal by Nigeria’s apex courtroom on the time of this report.
Oshiomhole versus Obaseki
The state of affairs in Edo State is one other affirmation that betrayal, treachery, and confusion rule the world of politics. On the finish of his second time period in workplace, former governor of the Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole endorsed his ally and member of his cupboard, Godwin Obaseki as his successor. The PDP fought tooth and nail to win the election with Pastor Osagie Eze-Iyamu as candidate. Not lengthy after he assumed workplace, nonetheless, Obaseki bared his fangs and determined to be his personal man.
The unhealthy blood and scorching exchanges made Oshiomhole swear to unseat his former ally, who was finally denied the governorship ticket for a second time period in workplace. Nevertheless, Obaseki succeeded in taking part in the cat with 9 lives as he converted to the PDP and received the election on that platform. Proper now, Obaseki is rounding off his tenure and he’s stated to be toeing the identical Oshimohole path, by searching for out an affiliate as his most popular governorship candidate. Whether or not it will work for him stays to be seen.
Although it can’t be stated that relationships between and amongst politicians have been all doom for the reason that restart of democracy in 1999, an excellent variety of bonds suspected to have agency roots have damaged up like egg shells. It’s all in regards to the human character in clear settlement with Shakespeare: “There is no such thing as a artwork to search out the thoughts’s development within the face.”