That Wike’s call for forgiveness and unity government

Forgiveness is good and the Bible puts it succinctly: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”. Hurt hurts the bearer even more. It is healthy for the individual and society to forgive and move on.

But the person asking for forgiveness ought state what he/she is seeking forgiveness. The specific acts/sins, no matter how grievous ought be listed by a truly penitent heart.

A blanket statement, like that of Governor Wike, not only trivializes the intent, it defeats the purpose, which is to avoid a repeat of the acts for which the forgiveness is being sought. You want forgiveness for what? You are forgiving everybody for what?

Governor Wike would have written his name in gold, and even beatified, if he had mentioned all the known and unknown acts/sins he committed against the state and against his fellow politicians since 1998, when the alleged birth certificate forgery began; to all the things he did as Obio/Akpor council chairman; through his underhand deals to redeem Rotimi Amaechi’s K-leg governorship in 2007; to all he did as Chief of Staff; especially the EFCC saga; through his senatorial quest; his appointment as Minister of State for Education and all the attendant scandals; his formation of GDI and fueling of the dispute between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi. – two persons that also need to seek forgiveness.

Governor Wike would have turned around the history of Rivers State, a state that is in dare need of absolution and a fresh start, if he had mentioned the sin of sponsoring gangs/cults; the hundreds of innocent souls that died in political violence since the governor began to covet the Brick House; the use of Mbu against Amaechi; the alleged huge payments to INEC staff, the Police and the Judiciary; the writing of results during national and state elections and conducting make-believe local government elections.

Governor Wike would have shamed the devil if he confessed to the abuse of the House of Assembly, Commissioners and other government functionaries. The governor would have been a direct candidate for heaven, if he asked forgiveness for all his outrageous property and financial acquisitions. He would have become an instant hero if he confessed to being an occult member who received the backing of all the big pastors and churches.

If Governor Wike had denounced his acts of raising false alarms as decoys for executing his evil machinations. Even asking, Dumo Lulu-Briggs for forgiveness for sponsoring fake governorship candidate within the Accord party and asking APC for forgiveness for actively supporting the exclusion of the party from the ballot.

Governor Wike would have truly healed Rivers State and even the country, if he had mentioned the acts/sins for which he wants forgiveness. Conversely, the governor should have mentioned the sins against him for which he is forgiving everybody.

The gravity of the sins does not matter once the request for forgiveness is from the heart. The Bible says that though our sins be red as crimson, they shall be whiter than snow, washed by the blood of Jesus in this auspicious season of Easter.

That Governor Wike couldn’t seize the moment to truly purge the state of the myriad of atrocities that had plagued it, makes his call for forgiveness and unity government a facade intended to take Rivers people for a cheap ride, having successfully secured a terminal tenure, for which he would need no more votes.

©Ijuye
22/04/19