OPINION

Rivers State PDP:  Fate Hanging in the balance

By Harry Amusa

Fresh crisis has hit the already polarized ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State as the Party heads for the rocks with the new plot by the leader of the faction led by Felix Obuah, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike to dump the controversial Chairman over what Wike considers as weak and cantankerous.

A source close to the Minister for State, Education, revealed under guise that the recent pronouncement by Obuah at Ahoada East during the inauguration of the Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, may have become his albatross. Obuah who sources within the group describe as inexperienced, less exposed and incompetent to play the politics at the centre because he possess no finesse and charisma may have shot himself in the foot when he declared that Wike is the next governor of Rivers State.

Our checks at AGOGO NEWS revealed that in spite of the ovation he received for that pronouncement, it tends to have exposed the sinister plot by Wike to deceive the people particularly those who have ambition to succeed Gov. Chibuike Amaechi  into believing that the campaign against Amaechi's government is for the success of President Goodluck Jonathan's perceived ambition to seek re- election.

As the news of Obuah's statements hit the airwaves, there was said to be a disquiet within the camp of the group headed by the vociferous junior minister. Obuah's unguarded statements were said to have sent a signal to the powers that be in Abuja that Wike's recent show of 'love' for the President and his wife may be a plot to retain power in the hands of the Ikwerre ethnic group where the present Governor comes from.

Inside sources at the Villa revealed that the political think- thank of the President have resolved that an endorsement for Wike will eventually pitch President Jonathan against his own people of Ijaw ethnic Nationality who believe that it is their turn to occupy the exalted seat after Gov. Amaechi in 2015.

According to our findings, the Ijaws in Rivers State comprising of Kalabaris, Okrikans, Andonis, Bonnys and the Opobos are already coming together in a bid to resist any plan by Wike to impose himself on the people of the State. Speaking on the issue to our correspondent, Alabo George Tamuno- Dagogo, a prominent traditional ruler dismissed the plan by Wike and his unsuspecting supporters as those who will work for others to benefit from in the long run. He said, "It is now clear that the so-called opposition against Amaechi is for the interest of one man whose penchant for avarice is known to us. He has deceived people to follow him in the plot to stop Amaechi at all cost while he is positioning himself to become governor. We now know better and we are going to resist him at all cost", he said.

With the clamor by the other ethnic groups particularly the Ijaws and the Ogonis to stop Wike at this stage, the spin doctors of the now embattled Minister have concluded plans to replace Obuah in order to reduce further mistakes by the man who they now see as having been used to oust the former Chairman of the Party in the state who is loyal to Amaechi. They say he has outlived his usefulness and they are confused on how to discard him to avoid losing grip of the Party's structure.

There are also reports making rounds that Obuah may eventually sell out to Gov. Amaechi who it was that ferried him to South Africa for multiple surgeries when there was an assassination attempt on his life in 2008. A close ally of Obuah revealed that the former Chairman of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni  LGA feels indebted to Amaechi and may eventually truncate Wike's plans to become governor. Obuah who is popularly known as GO ROUND is said to have complained of Wike's high - handedness particularly when he was the Chairman of Obio/ Akpor LGA and eventually the National Chairman of ALGON.

According to our source, the two men have never been best of friends even when they both served as local council chairmen, and Wike being suspicious of this is said to have concluded plans to replace Obuah before the 2015 elections. Asked how Wike will achieve that, the source said that his boss who masterminded the coming of Obuah against Chuef G.U. Ake possesses the falsified documents that may have brought Obuah into power as it is a known fact the Obuah never indicated his interest to vie for the position during the Party's congress.

The renewed crisis in the ruling Party may portend grave danger if the leaders of the Party do not wade in. The end result may be likened to the scenario in Anambra State and Imo States were the opposition took over the reins of power from the once formidable PDP.