IMO POLITICIANS, OLD AND NEW, SHOULD DRAW USEFUL LESSONS FROM THEIR AGE MATES/CONTEMPORARIES FROM FIVE SELECT RIVERS STATE INDIGENES IN NATIONAL POLITICS TODAY!*

In thematic focus are-

▪AMAECHI,
▪WIKE,
▪ABE,
▪DAKUKU, and
▪SECONDUS.

In no particular order of protocol, these are at least five persons from Rivers State who were in politics the same time with a catalogue of Imo politicians upon return to democratic rule on 29 May 1999.

Obviously, and as will be shown shortly, these five persons of Rivers State extraction out of the legion in that class are now top flight players at the national political turf.

Spurred by patriotic concerns, we are constrained to ask if the same can be said of their age mates/ colleagues or contemporaries in politics from Imo State, the Eastern Heartland?

This chronicle is not to ridicule, demean or cajole but to provoke the debate on the query whether Imo State is the *”BERMUDA TRIANGLE”* of politics that swallow her own in an invisible manner locally and in national politics and to crystallize a paradigm shift.

Your answer, whether in the affirmative (Yes) or negative (No), is your entitlement but reflecting on the sad reality that it may likely be in the affirmative (Yes) is very worrisome and leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Here are the hard facts-

??1. *Chibike Rotimi Amaechi (CRA)* aged 33 years became the youngest Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007.

In 2007, Rt. Hon. Chibike Amaechi became the Executive Governor of Rivers State and secured two terms that ended in 2015.

Today, CRA is a ranking Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ranking D-G of a successful two term Presidential Campaign Council.

Please, who were CRA’s colleague(s) Mr Speaker(s) in IMHA from 1999 to 2007 and where are they in National politics today?

??2. Nyesom Wike became the Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Council at the age of 32 between 2000 to 2007.

He was later to become Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, Federal Minister of State for Education and now second term Governor of Rivers State.

Please, who were Governor Wike’s colleagues as Executive Chairmen/Chairwomen of the 27 Local Government Areas in Imo State including Chief of Staff in these epochs and where are they in national politics today?

??3. Magnus Abe became a Member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing the people of Gokana Constituency at 34 emerging Minority Leader in then ANPP.

In 2003, he defected to the PDP and was appointed Honourable Commissioner of Information by the Governor Dr. Peter Odili led adminstration.

Magnus Abe later became the Secretary to State Government under Governor Amaechi. Magnus Abe later became a Senator.

Please who were Senator Magnus Abe’s colleagues, Majority and Minority Leaders in Imo House of Assembly at that time?

How about his colleagues and contemporaries as Honourable Commissioners in Imo Executive Council and or Secretary to Imo State Government at the times?

Please where are they now in national politics?

??4. Dakuku Peterside became The Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government at 31 in 2002 and later Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Works aged 32 years.

This was between 2003-2005.

Dakuku was later to become the Honourable Commissioner for Works and an Honourable Member of the House of Representatives and immediate past DG of NIMASA after running unsuccessfully as the Gubernatorial Candidate of the APC in 2015.

??5. The last but not the least is Prince Uche Secondus, a multisectoral businessman and seasoned politician born in 1955.

He was two term PDP State Chairman in Rivers State and second in the series.

While in office, he was known as “TOTAL CHAIRMAN”.

Today, Secondus had become acting National Chairman of PDP and substantive 11th Chairman of the PDP National Working Committee.

We ask therefore, where are the former Imo State PDP State Chairmen that functioned in that capacity as Prince Uche Secondus within the period under review?

Certainly, without mentioning names, apportionment of blames and finger pointing and all that, something must give in Imo State.

Imo politicians are not doing well in national politics compared to their counterparts in Rivers State and elsewhere like Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, not to talk of Lagos State etc.

What happened, what must be responsible and what is the way forward for Imo politicians, old and new?

Too many questions begging for answers but it is not late to forge a progressive leap forward.

A new normal is possible!

?️
*Prof Obiaraeri is my name, the ☆☆☆☆☆ 5-Star Civilian General etc.*