By Batos Nwadike
Nyesom Wike; the name sounds like the rhythm of an Ikwerre Igbo music. Though the variant in the central Igbo dialect means Onyesomaga Nwoke. Which means in the throes of life of the ancestors of the current warrior; who is the Governor of Rivers state, his forefathers must have been engaged in some inexplicable travails that they gave their son the name of their life navigations. Meaning: who is with me? That is the real meaning of the name Onyesomaga?
Today Wike may in pursuit of a life time ambition mixed with a confused bravado, try to extricate himself from his Igbo heritage. The Russians called those who deny their heritage- Refusiniks. The Russians say that they are worst than terrorists. Agreed? It is a subject of discussion for another day.
H.E Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria has done well as Governor of Rivers state. He has built uncountable road flyovers to enhance road infrastructure in Port Harcourt and other parts of the state. He builds durable infrastructure. He is widely commended across even the globe for his commitment to providing true and honest leadership to his people. He has done very well across the prism of developmental architecture.
Earlier this year, Wike’s achievement on ground has driven him to run to seek for the office of President of Nigeria. He needed to be like his country man Chibuike Amaechi and Peter Odili their master. All these character are Igbo’s but only bear the heritage when it pleases their fancy and or furthers their interests. Hide or seek, they are all Igbos by DNA. They are all aware that their tribe, the Igbo, in Nigeria have not ascended to the exalted office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They played to take advantage of that lacuna. Forget administrative boundaries such as South-South zone or whatever. They are Igbos. Ikwerre is Igbo. Ogba, Odilis tribe or clan are Igbos.
So Wike, in struggling to fill that gap, inadvertently, aspired to be President under the banner of the PDP. He came a close second to the winner of that primary elections Atiku Abubakar. He says he was betrayed by Aminu Tambuwal( Governor of Sokoto state). No. In politics that was not a betrayal. It is the essence of the game. The game is a concentric circle of conspiracy, in which the last group that conspires emerges victorious. Is he saying that his conspiracy should be the last? No, he is getting it wrong.
Today, Wike has thrown open Rivers State Government House, receiving all kinds of visitors and political gladiators. He has embarked on all kinds of travels to distant lands in the futile hope that he is playing politics. I think Wike is just catching cruise with his new found dress sense like a super star musician. All these empty bravado has time limit. After the February elections and his Governorship, they will all come to an end. He cannot bestride Nigerian politics alone. He may do well to quickly take his sides and lick his wounds while waiting for another day. The dynamics that will throw up a victorious President are bigger and far ahead Wike’s imagination. A looser must be stable enough to lick his wounds in this kind of dicey Presidential political chaseboard . A looser has no game in a time bound constitutional democracy. I advise Nyesom Wike to remain in the PDP as his best option. As his name means; who is with him? Onyesomaga?
Dr. Batos Nwadike( Oyi of Igboland) is Chancellor of Leadership by Example League International( LELI) and writes from Presidential Hotel, PortHarcourt, Rivers State.
NIGERIA NEWSPOINT
