THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN RIVERS STATE.

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The lack of a true political ideology, political will and the baseless economic mindset of Political office holders and Elites alike continues to be the bane of Nigeria. The Nigeria National mindset of our turn to get a taste of power, and the habit of primitive accumulation, where collecting from the sovereign wealth of the nation mythically referred to as “national cake”, continues inhibit the holistic and sustainable development of Nigeria. The Political crisis within the PDP and the ACN, in Rivers State is a direct reflecti9on of this dearth of party ideology guiding the actions and inactions of members of the party. The inability, and or lack of internal party mechanisms in conflict resolutions within the Party between politicians comprising the respective party beg the question of true democracy in Nigeria. This inability of the PDP and ACN to adequately put into practice what can be seen merely as the theoretical ideology of the party upon which platform they are elected, into actual practice, contributes to the cause of the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

The crisis rocking the state is a battle of the fittest between the various political classes in the state fighting for scarce resources in the state. This is typically a dialectical process where different groups are fighting for relevance and control of the machinery of Government to allocate resources for their own personal aggrandizement. The Felix/Nwike led faction of the PDP in the State is fighting for relevance in the running of the State machinery of allocating resources (Government), because they perceive that they have been sidelined enough by the present regime, and they have not benefited and or allowed to participate adequately in the running of the state by the Governor Amaechi led Administration.

Similarly the Amaechi led Administration is also fighting to maintain the status Quo by retaining its legitimacy and claim to the instrument of Government at present, and possibly even beyond 2015 by deciding those who would take over office from him.

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The crisis in Rivers State was propelled by the sacking of the PDP Executives in the State led by Chief G.U. Ake, by a federal high court, and in its stead ordered the inauguration of the Felix Obuah led Executives. Following this is the suspension of the Obio/Akpr Local Government Council by 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly without following the laid procedure as provided by the act of the State Assembly. The attendant consequence of that action 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, caused serious discord where 5 law makers have vehemently accused the other 27 of high handedness and impunity, and working on the orders of the Governor against loyalists to his erstwhile Chief of Staff and Director of his re election organization in 2011, Chief Barr Nyesom Nwike.

Closely following was the sacking and sealing up of the council secretariat by the Police on the orders of the Inspector General of Police.  And have continued to occupy the place, even after a competent court of Jurisdiction had asked it to vacate the premises. Allegedly this is a bid to prevent the newly constituted caretaker committee considered by some as illegal from performing their duties. 

The suspension of 27 lawmakers by the Felix Obuah led Executives of the PDP, from the Party for indiscipline, and the subsequent suspension of plenary sessions by the house of Assembly until further notice citing insecurity is another twist in the political turmoil in Rivers State.  

There have also been accusations and counter accusations by the warring factions of plots to make the state ungovernable, and of widespread impunity and highhandedness in the state by each of them.

The Amaechi faction have constantly accused the Felix Obuah led faction of the PDP, of collaborating with the President and other National officers and some aggrieved party members from the State in Abuja of trying to destabilize the Government, by distracting the Governor in a bid to bring him down because of this arrogance, and over bearing influence on the Nigerians Governors Forum (NGF), where it is believed that he uses his position as the Chairman to bully and disrespect the office and person of the President. 

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In response his opponents have accused the Governor of being too arrogant, sectional ,divisive, autocratic, impulsive and has being too busy using his position as the Chairman of the Governors Forum to waste Rivers Tax payers money to nurture a bid to run for a National office, there by neglecting his original mandate to his people. 

While the PDP wallows in a Crisis of its own, the ACN, which have always been an addend critic of the Amaechi regime, was thrown into chaos of its own, when the Publicity secretary of the party in Rivers State Mr. Jerry Needam announced that the National body of the Party had instructed if to accept Governor Amaechi into its fold in case the Governor wants to leave the PDP, a move which the Leader of the party and the publicity secretary were vehemently against. However the Governor had since denied he wants to leave the PDP.  The crisis deepened when the chairman of the ACN in Rivers State Mr. Esuku .S. Esuku, announced the suspension of some members o f the party including the publicity secretary of the party and Mr. Kenneth Kobani. They were accused been involved anti party activities.  

Surprisingly after the National Publicity Secretary of the ACN signed a statement saying the party have over turned the suspension of the members suspended by the state executives of the Party cause it cannot suspend National officers, a statement was released signed by the state publicity secretary of the party announcing the suspension of the state party Chairman Mr. Esuku .s. Esuku from the party also citing anti activities as reasons for his suspension. Equally the suspended chairman also denied his suspension from the party, stating he still remains the state party chairman. In a recent twist of events, the gubernatorial candidate for the party in the 2011 election and the party leader in the state have dumped the party as the crisis deepens,  equally leaving Rivers State in more troubles as the main political parties in the state are thorn deeply within itself.

By definition we can say Party Ideology is a set of conscious and unconscious ideas, and political beliefs that guides the actions, activities, programmes, mandate, and policies of a party. Political Parties

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normatively operate with this ideology as their guidelines and foundational principles, interpreted in their actions and policies. Members are recruited based on such principles, and are subsequently selected and put forward for elections upon this fundamental guidelines usually abstract but identified as the foundations upon which the party is built, and upon which individuals aspire to become political office holders. 

In sharp contrast the Nigerian situation is a mere verbal expression,  as the various individuals in the parties and those in political positions are lords of their own and are usually above the institutions of the state, except when they are on  the wrong side of the powers that be. The case of Rivers State is a case of battle for supremacy, and who controls the instrumentality of government, not to necessarily make life better for the general masses, but to ensure that they allocate resources for themselves and their support group. The drama in Rivers State is unfolding into an intriguing thriller with the people and social commentators delicately poised waiting to see what comes next, as we gradually and steadily sojourn toward the 2015 election year.