“Apart from those PDP members who must clap for Wike even if he is slapping them”- Charles Okaye

Former Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs in Rivers State, Hon Charles Okaye, in this exclusive interview with Africa Update, comments on trending state and national issues.

Excerpts;

Question: Things seem to be happening in the political scene at neck breaking speed. We have had defections on daily basis. What in your view is responsible for this?

These defections as making the rounds are not issues that should baffle anybody watching the political scene for almost 2 years. In the first place almost immediately Dr. Bukola Saraki become the President of the Senate his opposition tendencies began to rear its ugly head. Most of his actions were to please the opposition Party, PDP. Remember, he was helped by PDP to become the President. As for Tambuwal his Presidential ambition took the better part of him and so he started a romance with Wike and was no more seen in major APC activities. Kwankwaso in his Presidential ambition had been having a running battle wish his former deputy who is now the Governor of Kano State who supports Muhammadu Buhari for a second tenure. All the 3 people have Presidential ambitions. Knowing that they cannot achieve their ambitions they increased the tempo of their romance with the opposition. Kwara State Governor is just a stooge of Saraki and so he must do the biddings of his master. Ortom, apart from abysmal failure in governance in Benue State he showed how unreliable he is when he quickly accepted an aid from Wike under the guise of herdsmen attacks on Benue communities. So in a nutshell their spirits had been out of APC for a long time. Only their carcases were with us. So their defections had been long overdue.

Question: Do you think it is a healthy trend?

In a way you may say it is not healthy for the Party in the sense that politics is a game of numbers. So by these defections it has deprived the Party of the votes of their supporters. We must not deceive ourselves that they have supporters that they are carrying along with them.

On the other hand it is healthy for the Party. It is better to go to battle with committed and loyal soldiers than to go with disgruntled and disloyal ones who will sabotage you at the battle. The effect of sabotage within is worse than than that of an outsider. So as we approach the elections we now have the loyal and committed Party members to confront the opposition Party to ensure our victory at polls.
However there is one negative aspect of the defections the Party must do to overcome, and that is the public perception that APC is dying. Removing these negative image will do a lot to the morale of our teeming supporters at the grassroot, especially in the South South and South East.

 

Question: You served as commissioner for chieftaincy and community affairs in Rivers State during the Amaechi led administration. How would you access government/ community relationship with reference to rural development?

In the first place do you think that apart from those PDP members who must clap for Wike even if he is slapping them in the face, any right thinking Rivers man will say Wike has performed? So the question does not arise as regards his performance in rural community development. You cannot compare the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi under which I served with that of Nyesom Wike. I see in some communities SEEFFOR working. This is a World Bank project in partnership with the State government which I set in place before our tenure ended. I will not be surprised when tomorrow he attributes everything to his government. It is just like what I heard not long ago that he brought the Ooni of Ife to commission the 99.9 completed Traditional Council by our administrative. So that is the kind of government we have. Attributing everything to himself and government.

 

Question: There are agitations for a riverine governor. In your opinion would you say this call is timely?

Yes, it is timely. This is because by 2019 the upland must have ruled for 20 years. So for equity and justice, the riverine should be given a chance. It is not too early to make this demand.