Few politicians in this democratic dispensation,and perhaps even beyond,have fought as many political battles and triumphed as Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, immediate past governor of Rivers State.Not many of his generation have mastered the informal channels of political power and used it to shape an amazing public image and sustained it over the years(and counting)as Amaechi has done.
From a political apprentice,he rose steadily in the trajectory of the greasy pole of Rivers state politics,to become a legislator and later Speaker of the State House of Assembly for eight unbroken years,and then another eight years as Executive Governor. None of these positions came easy for him.He knew it.”My politics is that of struggles and not an easy path”, he said a few years ago.But, Amaechi is seen by many as a gadfly,impudent,disrespectful of authority and to his benefactors.Some say he has a contagious arrogance. Imagine a doughnut without a hole.That is one of the many descriptions of Amaechi. In other words, Amaechi without controversy is like a doughnut without a hole. That much we have seen in recent years.It is not about to end anytime soon.Put together, Amaechi’s political career,spanning over 23 years is a classical case where the exercise of political talent is joined with a divisive personality and a seized opportunity to produce a brilliant display of leadership and political skill.
This deft skill came in full display in 2013 as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF).The way he opposed the Sovereign Wealth Fund(SWF)brought him on collision course with the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. Amaechi has never been afraid to walk alone in the dark.The way he presided over the NGF brought him commendation and condemnation in equal measure.His numerous spats with the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan,remain a constant political discourse . The consequence of all of these brought him a saloon of admirers and adversaries.This is why political success cannot be based solely on the capacity of a politician to gain notice from everywhere and win the respect of other individuals.
And today,all of that will come to the fore at the Senate where Amaechi will be facing a battery of questions from Senators over his nomination as a Ministerial appointee by President Muhammadu. In the past one week,the entire nation has been entertained by the ministerial screening.Some of the nominees had an easy ride,yet some faced tough questioning. And by the time the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki (whose own political battle was yesterday adjourned indefinitely by the Appeal Court)adjourned the screening of the nominees till today,without a doubt,all attention will be focused on Amaechi. His screening is what everyone is waiting to see.It’s expected to be full of uncommon drama.Twice it has been shifted.It’s not for nothing.The forces against him are legion.They are mainly from his own state,championed and orchestrated by one of his own,former confidant and staff,now worst enemy and successor, Gov.Nyesome Wike.
In the last two years at least,Wike and Amaechi have been carrying poison spray against each other.They have not hidden this animosity from the public.If Buhari had lost the presidential election,maybe,Amaechi would have been in jail by now on sundry allegations of malfeasance,criminal breach of trust,alleged unlawful enrichment and conversion of over N70bn belonging to Rivers people.That was the summary outcome of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice G.O. Omereji.
And since Jonathan failed in his re-election bid,Wike has retooled his strategy to nail Amaechi at all cost. Having failed to arm twist President Buhari from nominating Amaechi as Minister, perhaps the last battle is to stop Amaechi’s comfirmation as Minister of the Government of Nigeria.That’s what makes Amaechi’s screening today beyond the ordinary.Indeed,in the past few weeks, the Senate Committee on Ethics,Privileges and Public Petitions,headed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, have been pouring through the petitions said to have been lodged against Amaechi. Senators are said to be divided on this man,while the Committee is reportedly asking for a “stay of action”.
Some see this ploy as a grand plan to postpone Amaechi’s screening sine die, if not scuttle it completely.If this happens,that will mean a victory for Amaechi’s adversaries.
But, Amaechi’s camp,including his lawyers, have their own counter plan to forestall the plans of the opposition ahead of today’s expected screening.Again,which is why today’s screening will generate intense interest. A lot of questions will be asked should the Committee recommend a stay of action on Amaechi’s screening.Can the Senate stop the screening of a ministerial nominee based on the “indictment” of a judicial commission of inquiry? Will the Senate ignore the Supreme Court judgment in the case of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar that an indictment by a judicial commission of inquiry or administrative panel was not sufficient “for the purpose of preventing a person from holding a public office”.
Senator Anyanwu was quoted by Daily SUN yesterday to have said that the recommendations of his committee would be made known today. While corruption by public office holders should not be tolerated, when it becomes a political arsenal to gun down perceived enemies,it should not be allowed to prevail.My take is that if graft is a criterion for disqualifying public officials, no politician in Nigeria will be fit to hold any political position. Never.
However, our politics and the actors have always been a fun to follow. Amaechi could be a test case.Whichever way you look at it, this is arguably Amaechi’s toughest political battle.The only battle close to it was his odessy to become governor in 2007, courtesy of the Supreme Court. And if he wins this present struggle and become a minister, he will be more than a survivor.His middle name will be River phoenix.
This article was originally published on The Sun.