Amaechi's successor in spite of the fact that it negates the principle of equity and justice, zoning and rotation of political offices as enshrined both in the Nigerian Constitution and the Constitution of the Nigerian political parties.
Though in every major crisis, there are bound to be beneficiaries but in this case, it was not Amaechi's bargain that his former Chief of Staff and close ally, Wike, would be the man not only positioned to benefit from the crisis but to aggravate the matter.
There is no gain saying the fact that Wike is a Minister under President Jonathan, a position he attained courtesy of his former boss, Amaechi who against all odds nominated him in spite of the fact that at that time, the President was not favourably disposed towards having Wike in his cabinet based on reports against him in the public domain.
But the junior Minister seems to have grown like cancer so much that his supporters describe him in his recent posters in Port Harcourt as 'WIKEPHOBIA'. His planned governorship ambition seems to have exposed the real reasons why he fought against his Master like Brutus in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The same garment he had used to decorate Amaechi as King has been shredded living his boss at the mercy of God to cover his nakedness as he did to the first man, Adam.
While his supporters are right in their terse description of the man who left nothing to chance to destroy the empire he served in, the truth remains that both those who love him and those who hate him have this 'anxiety disorder characterised by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social status'. They may not be able to sleep with their two eyes closed knowing that he could decide to spring up surprises at any time.
There is every reason to be filled with a sense of phobia towards Wike. Since his entrance into the political arena shortly after his mandatory NYSC, he has shown a penchant for turning around to stab in the back whoever had helped him rise to the top.
First, it was Senator Sam Mbata, his kinsman who helped him become Chairman of the Council albeit it after the man who won the primaries, Rogers, was removed through Justice Mary Odili's court, after Wike had filed a suit which faulted the process of the primaries. The Odili's had helped him then in 1999. Rogers was the preferred choice of Sergeant Awuse while Odili aided Wike to edge Rogers out. Gov. Amaechi then was Odili's closest aide who also supported Wike to switch over as the candidate of the Party. Sam Mbata became Senator, representing Rivers East Senatorial zone. Himself and Wike hail from Obio/Akpor and so they worked closely together. When his first tenure expired in 2002, Mbata and the rest of the people thought that it was appropriate to have a replacement for Wike in the spirit of zoning and rotation. But Gov. Odili was prevailed upon by Amaechi who was the Speaker to give Wike a second chance. Thus, Wike fell out with his mentor, Mbata and quickly switched his loyalty to Amaechi. Therefore, Amaechi became his new political leader, more so as they both hail from the Ikwerre ethnic group.
When in 2007, Amaechi wanted to become governor and he was stopped by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo using the instrumentality of the EFCC under Mallam Ribadu, Wike had to pay back to the man who had given him so much support. He stood by Amaechi against the wish of the Odilis who had now parted ways with their political son. While Amaechi's mandate had been stolen and given to Celestine Omehia, his cousin, Wike became the rallying point for the supporters of Amaechi who were against the injustice meted out on him. Amaechi had been ferried to the neighbouring country, Ghana, from where he pursued his mandate through the Nigerian Courts. He dished out directives to Wike whom he had entrusted his political structure with.
As fate would have it, Amaechi won the case and returned to be sworn-in as the governor. This further elevated Wike who was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the governo, the office though not recognised by the Constitution of Nigeria but has become very powerful and lucrative. Wike was given a free hand to continue his leadership of the political structure of Gov. Amaechi who had become more engrossed with governance.
While Amaechi busied himself with governance, Wike who had secretly nursed the ambition of becoming governor, amassed so much wealth, power and influence. He converted Amaechi's supporters to his political school using resources from the state government where the governor held sway. Gov. Amaechi's nonchalant attitude and over reliance on his aide became his greatest undoing and Wike's greatest arsenal. The man known in the public court as a crude fighter turned against Amaechi and has become his arch enemy. Nyeso Wike for no justified reasons became the hatchet man for Mrs. Jonathan who has not hidden her disdain for Amaechi whom she believed had the ambition to upstage her husband in 2015. The Jonathans may have been right then to use Wike as an antidote to Amaechi who had become critical of them. But their folly is in choosing a man who already had an ambition to succeed Amaechi. The President and his wife probably did not when to stop the fight. Amaechi left for the rival APC and now Wike insists he must be a beneficiary of the fight. If they try to stop him, that may spell doom for the President as Wike being a member of their inner caucus as he was wit Amaechi may further employ the same tactics of blackmail.
In all, the fight is no longer on how to stop Amaechi from becoming Chairman of the Nigerian Governor's Forum or from becoming President or Vice President in 2015, rather the ultimate fight is to stop Nyeso Wike from becoming the governor of Rivers State in 2015.
Recently, Amaechi embarked on a 'Meet-the-People' Tour aaand his last bus-stop was Wike's presumed stronghold, Obio/Akpor LGA. The governor had used the opportunity to ascertain the level of work done and also areas that need to be touched. He also informed the people of how they were denied of certain projects by his former Chief of Staff who hails from the area. Though the governor was applauded for doing so, but the action seems belated. According to Wike's successor and former ally, Tony Okocha who happens to be from the area, "the exit of Wike as Chief of Staff after four years marked the end of betrayal, blackmail,sabotage, insurbordination, criminal acquisition of wealth, violence and other vices that characterised his tenure as Chief of Staff".
Wike's kins men who had gathered at the occasion confirmed that Okocha's style is in deed a deviation from the old order which had made them live in fear and poverty.
Though many still have this phobia for the man, Okocha who had been his field marshall believes that he has what it takes to tame the Minister as "the governor can now sleep with his two eyes closed".
But the plot to tame Wike and demythologise him will be the responsibility of his Party, PDP, where he hopes to fly the flag for the governorship elections. If he does not emerge at the primaries, it may not be Amaechi nor Okocha's fight after all.
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