How Politics Threatened Ogoni Clean-up Launch

Among the motley crowd who watched the official flag-off of the clean-up of Ogoniland this morning, the speech of the President of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King G.N.K Giniwa is still the subject of very emotional debate. There are those who believe that his speech was meant to boost the popularity of the APC-led Federal Government in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta. Others argue that the octogenarian only spoke the truth.

However, the high point of the argument seems to be the reference the king made to APC chieftain and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi as “Governor of Rivers State” when the incumbent Governor, PDP’s Nyesom Wike was seated next to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the event.

King Giniwa in his speech had praised Amaechi for his efforts, while he was still governor of the state, in ensuring that the clean-up of the oil-spill in Ogoniland became reality. He not only praised Amaechi, he called him “my son.” And when he said “…Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi…,” many people in the crowd shouted their correction with the name, “Wike!” However, Giniwa made no retraction.

Anyone looking in the direction of Wike saw the fire in his face. Nobody needed to be told that the governor felt terribly slighted by the king ascribing the designation due him to his predecessor and political arch-rival. Not only that, while speaking, the king had expressed disappointment that former President Goodluck Jonathan who is a son of the Niger Delta refused to do something about the clean-up. He even described Jonathan’s inaction as “one hand of the same person cutting the other.” What is more! He referred to the former President as “a very good boy” whom he ordinarily likes but that he disappointed the Ogoni people.

Now, some of those who watched the event swear that King Giniwa added the prefix “former” to Amaechi’s governorship designation. To which those who disagree ask the question, “Why did the crowd correct him by shouting, “Wike!”?

Indeed, as King Giniwa made for his seat after the speech, Governor Wike initially refused to acknowledge him by standing up like other dignitaries to shake hands with him. Giniwa had walked past Wike and was shaking hands with Osinbajo who stood up in acknowledgment, when Wike stood to shake the king like an afterthought.

As former Governor Rotimi Amaechi spoke, most people began to shift on their seats. It was all so apparent that the event was already divided by political leanings. Many watchers became apprehensive that anything could happen. Amaechi began by blaming Jonathan with the words: “When this clean-up issue came up, there was nothing we did not do to get the former President, Jonathan to do something. This includes going to churches to pray but he did nothing.”

He went on to narrate how he extracted a commitment from Buhari, during his Presidential campaign in Calabar to the effect that he would clean up Ogoniland if he became president. “Our being here today is a fulfillment of that promise,” Amaechi concluded.

Unknown to Rotimi Amaechi, while many people in the crowd applauded him, many others murmured that the event had been turned into an APC campaign. Apparently, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo moved fast at this point to stave off any development that could make the event ugly.

Obviously trying to ensure that the slight which host Governor Nyesom Wike had suffered was redressed, the invitation of dignitaries who would accompany the Vice President to do the flag-off of the clean-up was restricted to only three people. Minister of the Environment, Amina Mohammed had to personally call out their names as Governor Nyesom Wike, King Giniwa and herself. The move effectively ensured that Amaechi stayed back on his seat and prevented supporters of all shades on both sides from clashing.

Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Indecorum

Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha surprised quite a number of observers by his personal conduct at the event. His name was not announced by the Minister of the Environment as one of those to accompany the Vice President to do the launch. However, he shoved his way into the group who accompanied the Vice President.

Time for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to depart and Okorocha would not let the host governor, Wike to be ahead of him in accompanying the Vice President out of the platform. At first, most people thought Okorocha wanted to walk side-by-side the Rivers State governor. As it turned out however, the Imo governor soon overtook his host and headed straight to walk beside the Vice President. In that position, Okorocha effectively pushed Wike to the back while he, the guest, walked in front.