Amaechi-Wike Rapprochement: My Take, by Achor Omodu

The other day, it was on the news that the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers is proposing a truce aimed at settling the political rift between the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike and the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who up until May 29, 2015 was the Governor of the once progressive State in Nigeria.

Whilst that initiative would be applauded by all men, students of History with sufficient information on the political development in Rivers State might question the call by these eminent leaders of various villages and towns within the Ikwerre sociocultural milieu with strong reasons. One can say, with near accuracy that these fathers "unfatherly" watched as one of their two sons openly fought the other without remorse, leaving a big question mark in their traditional cum social role in stabilizing society.

One may want to ask, where was the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers when their sons fell out and their differences snowballed into a big crater. The gulf got deeper and our fathers never bothered. They watched as the current Governor literally pummeled deadly blows on the current Minister of Transportation while he was Governor. They watched as the Governor did all he could to stop the Minister from being screened as a ministerial nominee, etc.
The Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers never did anything to stop the burning inferno. Now that the house is completely razed down, where do they start the rebuilding from? Well, they can start from where.

My take is that, it's either the Governor, after fiercely achieving his desire to be Governor even against rational ethnic balancing projections promoted by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has realized that on his way to Brick House, he stepped heavily on the toes of his estranged Master and had appealed to the Royal Fathers to reach out to the Minister of Transportation so that he can go down on his kneels and apologize to him or the Royal Fathers had thought on their own that the two men are powerful enough to the extent that been on the side of one would mean denying themselves of political benefits which those offices these men occupy attract. In other words, I am saying that they see the two sons of Ikwerre land as cash cows and there must be a way to force them to "sheath their swords" now so that they can appropriate some benefits.

Let me restate what the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said when a similar call was made by Father Steve at the 50th birthday(2 days to the expiration of his tenure as Governor of Rivers State). He said, "There can never be forgiveness without justice". In other words, Rt. Hon. Amaechi is saying justice comes before forgiveness. The Minister has a forgiving heart but he wants justice done.

I believe that the Royal Fathers can genuinely do justice. Once justice is obtained, forgiveness will flow. So, I task the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers to jettison any thought of personal gains in the quest to reconcile the two brothers. It will be beneficial to Rivers State if they come together. Once again justice comes before forgiveness.

--Achor Omodu writes from Port Harcourt.