There have been concerns that the current administration in Rivers State has deliberately disenfranchised the riverine communities from its development plan if there is any at all. Moreso, the clamour for a governor of riverine extraction as a way assuaging the growing angst of political injustice against the riverine axis of the state has reached fever pitch, especially as the 2019 gubernatorial elections draw near.  

Expressing his opinion on these and other nagging issues in the polity, a former Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs in Rivers State, Charles Okaye, who is also a security expert, in this exclusive interview with Africa Update Newspaper’s Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Gloria Boma Harry, comments on these and other trending state and na tional issues. Kristina Reports obtained permission to serve you the interview here. Excerpts: 

Things seem to be happening in the political scene at neck breaking speed. We have had defections on daily basis. What in your view is responsible for this? 

These defections as making the rounds are not issues that should baffle anybody watching the political scene for almost two years. In the first place, almost immediately Dr. Bukola Saraki became the President of the Senate, his opposition tendencies began to rear its ugly head. Most of his actions were to please the opposition party, PDP. Remember, he was helped by PDP to become the (Senate) President. As for Tambuwal, his presidential ambition took the better part of him and so he started a romance with Wike and was no more seen in major APC activities. Kwankwaso, in his presidential ambition, had been having a running battle wish his former deputy who is now the Governor of Kano State who supports Muhammadu Buhari for a second tenure. All the three people have presidential ambitions. Knowing that they cannot achieve their ambitions they increased the tempo of their romance with the opposition. Kwara State Governor is just a stooge of Saraki and so he must do the biddings of his master. Ortom, apart from abysmal failure in governance in Benue State, he showed how unreliable he is when he quickly accepted an aid from Wike under the guise of herdsmen attacks on Benue communities. So, in a nutshell, their spirits had been out of APC for a long time. Only their carcasses were with us. So, their defections had been long overdue.

Do you think it is a healthy trend? 

In a way, you may say it is not healthy for the party in the sense that politics is a game of numbers. So, by these defections, it has deprived the party of the votes of their supporters. We must not deceive ourselves that they have supporters that they are carrying along with them. On the other hand it is healthy for the party. It is better to go to battle with committed and loyal soldiers than to go with disgruntled and disloyal ones who will sabotage you at the battle. The effect of sabotage within is worse than that of an outsider. So, as we approach the elections we now have the loyal and committed party members to confront the opposition party to ensure our victory at polls. However, there is one negative aspect of the defections the party must have to overcome, and that is the public perception that APC is dying. Removing this negative image will do a lot to the morale of our teeming supporters at the grassroots, especially in the South-South and South-East.

You served as commissioner for chieftaincy and community affairs in Rivers State during the Amaechi led administration. How would you assess government/community relationship with reference to rural development? 

In the first place, do you think that apart from those PDP members who must clap for Wike even if he is slapping them in the face, any right thinking Rivers man will say Wike has performed? So, the question does not arise as regards his performance in rural community development. You cannot compare the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, under which I served, with that of Nyesom Wike. I see in some communities SEEFFOR working. This is a World Bank project in partnership with the state government which I set in place before our tenure ended. I will not be surprised when tomorrow he attributes everything to his government. It is just like what I heard not long ago that he brought the Ooni of Ife to commission the 99.9 per cent completed Traditional Council (secretariat) by our administration. So that is the kind of government we have. Attributing everything to himself and government.

There are agitations for a riverine governor. In your opinion would you say this call is timely? 

Yes, it is timely. This is because by 2019 the upland must have ruled for 20 years. So for equity and justice, the riverine should be given a chance. It is not too early to make this demand.