Issues
Citizenship And Democratisation In Nigeria: The Amaechi’s Example
This is the concluding part of this article last published Friday.
The statement issued by the Press Secretary, Mr Ogochukwu Omezue that a committee will be set up to review some exceptional cases also indicated that he is unrepentant to embrace the concept full citizenship. Earlier, Jean Augustine, the Canadian Secretary of state in June 5, 2003, had hinted that the greatest challenges to the world community in this century is how to promote harmonious relations between people of disparate histories, languages, and eligions, who find themselves intertwined in a single state. It is annoying in Orji’s case that the most affected people were the Igbo people who shared almost everything.
Again, this singular act is beaming a wrong signal to Jonathan’s administration which places more premiums on the implementation of full citizenship and citizen Diplomacy. Citizen Diplomacy which is the main thrust of Nigeria foreign policy coincided with the appointment of Chief Ojo Madueke as the Foreign Affairs Minister in 2007 and supported by the new Minister, Odein Ajumogobia. It is a concept which aims at a high level of Nationalism and Patriotism leading to the development of the culture of national pride in the citizen that will make him the conveyor of national messages across the nation’s” borders. It has also been seen as the frame work for the defence of the rights of the citizens where-ever they may be. On the other hand, Jonathan’s concept of full citizenship emphasises democratic governance, the provision of social opportunities or entitlements likely to empower people and enhance their capacity to take part in their own development.
Additionally, Orji’s action is diametrically opposed to the world’s march to Global Citizenship. Global citizenship implies that all should have the full rights of citizenship in country of the world where they live and work, the general right to control its own movement without been tossed around. This informed the 1996 demonstrations in France by the undocumented aliens.
They among other things demanded for” papier pour tours” which literary means Residency papers for everyone. The Residency papers will confer full citizenship rights on them. In the same spirit of Global citizenship about five Nigerians who share the same ethnic enclave or nativity with Orji were granted express rights in the United kingdom to contest the parliamentary elections. Three of them emerged victorious as they won seats in the most coveted House of Commons.
It is against the backdrop of Orji’s action that the example of citizenship as demonstrated by Rt Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State and chairman Governors Forum is very illustrative and compelling. This is the statesman who had learnt from the teachings of history. Actually, he has imbibed the virtues of mutual respect, empathy, tolerance, political dialogue, justice, fairness, equality, inclusiveness and so many others for maintaining unity in diversity in Rivers State. For this reason, Rivers State has become a cynosure of all the states east of the Niger and a major attraction for both internal and external migrations. It should be recalled that upon assumption of office in 2007, Amaechi de-legitimised “Marching ground”. His administration swung into action and quickly enacted a legislation to check this practice and its excesses. By this gesture, both ‘indigenes’ and ‘non-indigenes’ are entitled to the same rights and privileges in Rivers State so as to acquire land in any part of the state. The patriotic Governor went further to promote about three ‘non-indigenes’ of the state civil service to the exalted rank of Permanent Secretary. As if the above is not enough, he appointed Barr. Chuma Chienye who hails from Delta state as a Civil Commissioner in Rivers State. This appointment was to fulfill his promise made during his second term bid. During his campaign, the amiable Governor reiterated that any Nigerian, irrespective of where he comes from, having lived in Rives State” and having contributed to the development of the area can partake in the rights and privileges enjoyed by indigenes of the state. Also, it will not be too much to add that at the exit of Mr. Blessing Nwikina, an indigene who was the acting Chief Press Secretary, the de-tribalised Governor appointed another ‘non- indigene’ in his place in pursuit of his full citizenship ideology. Do we need to take the roll call of non-indigenes in the Rivers State Civil Service as well as the new parastalals like TIMA RIV? The list will indeed detain us.
Suffice with the above, we wish to impress on those in authorities to emulate the shining example of Amaechi by enlarging the coasts of citizenship from ‘indigeneity’, ‘sons of the soil’, first class citizen’, ‘native’ and so forth to encompass ‘non- indigenes’ ‘stranger’ ‘second class citizens’ if we are to achieve sustainable development, nation building, national integration as well as democracy which need collective effort. On the other hand, the concept of citizenship should be redefined to incorporate inclusive and representative, with workable emphasis on equality, fairness, and justice. It should be viewed as a national phenomenon that should be able to accommodate and protect its carriers at any part of the country. Full citizenship if applied will check poverty, endemic corruption, discrimination and above all reduce the senseless ethno-religious and ethno-ethnic clashes prevalent in the societv.
There is need at this juncture to borrow the words of the report of the political Bureau which urged that laws should be promulgated which tie citizenship rights to either place of birth or residences. The Bureau was assertive in recommending the adoption of full residency right for Nigerians wherever they may reside, provided such Nigerians are made to fulfill minimum residency requirement of ten years. Such residency right according to the report should incorporate all rights, which are enjoyed by those previously regarded as indigenes of the state.
We also make haste to encourage our policy makers, planners and executors as well as those in authorities to learn from the teachings of history both as an experience and as a discipline. Just as we have pointed out else where (N-ue, 2011: 9- 16), History makes room for national identity, inculcates national consciousness, settles differences and promotes harmonious co- existence. Emeritus professor Alagoa, E.J. in one of his numerous contributions to humanity has informed that history provides an anchorage for the individual/community (1979: 7).
The upshot here is that history provides wisdom necessary to tackle the every day challenges of life. No wonder, he likened a man without historical knowledge as a stranger in town who walks over hallowed graves. The consequence of such ignorance is the desecration of taboos, ethos, customs and tradition of the land that held the society together. Still stressing the utility of History in governance, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 Bc), the famous Roman orator announced that “not to know what took place before you were born is to remain forever a child. If there is to be any possibility of changing the way things have been done, there must be reasoned appraisal of how and why they come to be done this way …”
By and large, the Amaechi’s example is captivating and presents itself in developing functional frame work for ethnic conflict prevention and ensure cordial inter-group relations in a multi-ethnic and pluralistic society like Nigeria. Amaechi’s example should be seen as the panacea to Nigeria’s citizenship question.
N-ue, Uebari Samuel
This is an open letter to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Your Excellency,
Sir, ordinarily, I would not be writing an open letter to you, but like a wise man once said, “Silence would be Treason.” So I prefer to stay alive than face the consequences of silence in the face of crime. With each passing day, and as the socio-political tides continue to turn, it has become more pertinent that more people speak up in a concerted MANNER to prevent the death of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as we appear to be, in the words of W. B. Yeats, “turning and turning in the widening gyre” heading for an end where the falcon will no longer hear the falconer
It is unfortunate that since losing control of the Federal Government, with the loss of President Goodluck Jonathan at the poll in 2015, our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has continued on a downward spiral. It is much more painful, that where it is expected that leaders within the party should rise to the challenge and put an end to this decline of our great party, some have instead taken up roles as its undertaker.
It will be hypocritical to claim aloofness to what I believe is your grouse with the PDP and I am not a hypocrite. It will be uncharitable on my part to discountenance the role you have played in strengthening the PDP from 2015 up until the last Presidential primaries of the party. It is my belief that your grouse against certain members of the party who you perceived worked against the party and abandoned it in 2015 and then came around much later to take control of the party, is justified. Also know that your decision to remain in the Party and stifle its progress on the other hand, as a sort of payback, stands condemned. For a man of your pedigree and stature, it is a dishonorable act, highly dishonorable and stands as testimony against all you claim to stand for.
At least, it can be argued that those who you hold this grudge against, abandoned the party completely and did not sit back while actively working to destroy it from within. But what then can be the argument on your own part, seeing that those you are currently working with against your party are the same people who set in motion, and executed surgically, the plans that not only ended our Party’s leadership at the centre, but ended up dislodging the first Niger Deltan to occupy Aso Rock as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Is this not akin to “cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face?” That will be worse than folly. Let us not throw away the baby with the bath water because we do not like the soap used in bathing the baby. It will be a grave mistake.
Honourable Minister, sir, it is rather unfortunate that of all people, you have also decided to play the role of an undertaker not only for our party, but for our dear Rivers State.
I will like to take you down memory lane a little. Let me remind you of your emergence as Guber candidate of the PDP in Rivers State, against all fairness and justice in 2014. You will remember that despite the reality being that you as an Ikwerre man was poised to replace a fellow Ikwerre man in Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in our multiethnic state, Rivers people overwhelmingly stood by you and pushed for your emergence as Executive Governor of Rivers State in 2015. I dare say that your popularity in the entire Niger Delta region was at an all-time high at this point.
I want you to understand why you were loved across board leading to your eventual emergence as Governor of Rivers State in 2015; it was because when it looked like all were against the second term ambitions of the first Niger Delta man to emerge as President of Nigeria, you became not just a pillar but a beacon of resistance by standing for Goodluck Jonathan. Rivers people, as grateful and rewarding as they can be, paid you back by ensuring your electoral victory against the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) led by your predecessor. On your emergence, where there were second term Governors in the region, you, a first term Governor, was seen by the people as not just the leader of the PDP, but the leader of the entire Niger Delta region. You earned it, and no one could dispute it.
In 2019, when your re-election bid was being challenged ferociously, Rivers people once again stood solidly behind you. Many were killed in the process of defending your votes. Do you remember Dr. Ferry Gberegbe that was shot and killed while trying to protect your votes in Khana Local Government Area? There are many more unnamed and unrecognised sons and daughters of Rivers State who sacrificed their lives so that you could emerge as a second term Governor of Rivers State.
In 2022/23, Honourable Minister, you oversaw a party primary across board that saw some candidates imprisoned and internal party democracy jettisoned for your wishes, leading to the emergence of flag bearers of our party all singlehandedly picked by you. You have on more than one occasion publicly stated that you paid for all their forms. Even those shortchanged in this process licked their wounds and continued to play their roles as party members to ensure the success of the party at all levels. In what will go down as one of the most keenly contested elections in recent Rivers history, with formidable candidates like Senator Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the vibrant youth driven Labour Party (LP), PDP emerged victorious across board except for Phalga Constituency 1 that was lost to the Labour Party. (Not that you did not loose in some other LGA’s but let’s stick to the official figures declared by INEC).
It begs the question, why then do you want to burn down Rivers State, when everyone who now holds political office emerged through a process designed and endorsed by you? Is it that you do not care about Rivers people and you are all about yourself? If so, I am forced to believe that those around you are not telling you the truth. The truth being that in a state where your words were law; where houses and businesses could be demolished or closed down without any recourse to legalities, where Executive Orders could be deployed to stifle the opposition, that your popularity is now at an all-time low. Probably because they are afraid of you, or of losing the benefits they gain from you, they fail to tell you that what you might perceive as a battle against your successor, has slowly but gradually degenerating into a battle against Rivers State and Rivers people. You know, there is a popular saying that, a man can cook for the community and the community will finish the food, but when a community decides to cook for one man, the reverse is the case.
LEAVE FUBARA ALONE
You have gone on and on about being betrayed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. You point fingers forgetting that some of those same fingers quick to spot betrayals point straight back at you. It is not Governor Fubara that has betrayed the PDP by working against it in the just concluded General Election, and working with the opposition at the State and Federal level to destabilise the party. It is you, Honourable Minister. It is not Governor Fubara that betrayed Rivers people by instigating a political crisis with propensity to escalate ethnic tensions in Rivers State. It is you Honourable Minister. It is not Governor Fubara that has declared himself God over all in Rivers State and has no qualms with burning the state to the ground to prove a point. It is you Honourable Minister. It is you Honourable Minister who told the world that the APC was a cancer and you can never support a cancerous party. It is you Honourable Minister who ended up facilitating the emergence of the same “cancerous” APC that has accelerated the economic decline of this country and further impoverished our people with no remorse. All so you can be a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory? The lack of self awareness is gobsmacking.
Some days back I came across a video where you talked about death and how you do not cry when you hear about the death of some people because you have no idea what might have caused it considering many a politician swear “over dead bodies” and still go back on their words. Those words made me think, and I could see the reason behind them. You see, in chosing to be God in the affairs of Rivers people, you have closed your eyes and ears to reason; you see nothing and hear nothing that can cause you to rethink on the path you have chosen. In your quest to “show Fubara” you have unwittingly united a vast majority of Rivers people behind him, so much that even those who despised him because of you, now like or love him, because of you too. In your scheming, I will advise you not to forget that “the voice of the people is the voice of God”.
Note that the war which you have or are waging against Governor Fubara, has gone beyond being merely political as you might see in your minds eye. It is now one that, fortunately for some and unfortunately for others, has evolved into a war against Rivers people. It is good to point out that no one has taken a stand against Rivers people and won. No one has gone against God and won. In your defiant characteristic manner, it will be unfortunate if you believe your own hubris and that of those around you on the possibility of you being the first to successfully go against Rivers people. It will be a needless gamble; one where if you win you create more enemies for yourself than you can withstand on your political journey, and if you lose, your legacy becomes an inglorious and irredeemable one in Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria at large. For your sake as regards posterity, it is my greatest wish that you have a moment of sobriety and a deep reflection and introspection on this path you have chosen.
Honourable Minister, sir, what is left of your legacy is on the brink of being completely desecrated and relegated to the dustbin of our political history, and it will be a sad end to what I will say has been a wonderful political career that many can only dream of. The ball is in your court, and may God Almighty have mercy on us all and forgive us for our shortcomings.
Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson
Dr Pidomson is former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and former member, Rivers State House of Assembly.
In 2015, I made a conscious decision to invest my financial resources, my time, and energy into supporting Nyesom Wike’s gubernatorial campaign. I poured my heart and soul into ensuring Nyesom Wike emerged victorious even at the risk of my personal safety.
Again in 2019, I doubled down on my commitment. I invested a significant amount of money to procure campaign outfits for all twenty-three Local Governments Areas of Rivers State. I spared no expense in supplementing Wike’s election efforts in my own local government, and once again putting myself at great risk to safeguard the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
However, despite my unwavering loyalty and sacrifices, I found myself abandoned and forgotten by Wike. Throughout his eight-year tenure, he failed to acknowledge my contributions or fulfill his promises and agreements. Even as a former Deputy Governor, Wike denied me my severance benefit.
My investment in Wike’s governorship was not just financial – it was a commitment of passion, dedication, and belief in a better future for Rivers State. Yet, his leadership style of dishonesty, greed, drunkenness and rash abuse of senior citizens brought me nothing but disappointment, misery and losses.
By the grace of God, today I speak not as a victim, but as a hero. I have accepted my losses, and I have moved on. And as I reflect on my experience, I cannot help but urge Wike to do the same and allow peace and development to reign in Rivers State.
Nyesom Wike, when you speak of investing in Governor Sim Fubara’s election, remember those like me who also invested in you. Remember the sacrifices I made, the risks I took, and the promises and agreements you left unfulfilled.
It is time for you, Wike, to let go of the past and allow Governor Sim Fubara the breathing space he needs to lead Rivers State forward. Allow him to focus on the challenges of good governance and the aspirations of the people. Spare him these unwarranted and ill-conceived political manoeuvrings founded on personal agenda and not for general good of Rivers State and her people.
I may have lost my investment on Wike, but I have not lost hope in the future of Rivers State. And together, we will continue to strive for a brighter tomorrow.
Long Live the Governor to Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara!
Long Live the Good People of Rivers State!!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Engr Ikuru is former Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
Tele Ikuru
