By Dele Sobowale
“Hit them from where you are”.
Senator Jacob Javits, New York State Senator in 1970s.
“Where all think alike; none thinks very much”.

Certainly, you have read about the face-off between the wife of the President, Mrs Patience Jonathan and the Governor of Rivers State at Okrika. Virtually all the columnists, usually based in Lagos/Ibadan, but increasingly in Abuja, have condemned the woman.

As usual when the controversy is between the powerful but will ultimately have serious impact on common people, I decided to go and find out for myself. So, two weeks ago, I went to Rivers State; and even gave myself the indulgence of lodging at pricey Hotel Presidential, where the least expensive room goes for N38,000 per night –room only. But, before anyone sends the EFCC after me, let me confess that the hotel is offering 50% discount.

And I wanted to experience again the spendour of a hotel where I used to lodge in the 1970s and 1980s. The management of the hotel needs to re-consider their tariff – otherwise they will continue to offer discounts.

President Jonathan has done very little to impress me; as you know. But, I have no animosity towards him. At the moment I remain neutral regarding candidate for whom to vote. His wife, meanwhile, has cultivated the reputation of being a tough customer.

One of my favourite co-columnists called her an Amazon. It was not meant as a compliment. My friend has voiced, inadvertently, the prejudice that precedes judging the case involving someone labeled a “trouble maker”. Yet, columnists are to some extent like judges. We must strive to judge the case – not the person.

The habitual trouble maker could, in one particular matter, be the aggrieved party. The case of Mrs Jonathan versus Governor Amechi is one such example.

For the sake of those who might not be familiar with the way trouble started let me quickly summarise. Mrs Jonathan was a guest of the people of Okrika because she is (emphasis mine because this has an important bearing on the case) an indigene of Okrika. As protocol, or “apple polishing”, demanded, the Governor accompanied her and even planned a dinner for her after the visit to Okrika.

Unfortunately, since the road to hell is often paved with good intentions, the Governor attempted to demonstrate to the august visitor his developmental programmes which included the upgrading of some schools. He then mentioned that buildings must (again emphasis mine because this will also have a bearing on the matter under discussion) be demolished.

At that point, Mrs Jonathan, reportedly, got up, snatched the micro-phone from the Governor, and took him up on the use of the word “must”. She also reminded the Governor that she is an indigene of Okrika and instead of using the word “must”, he should instead employ diplomacy to convince the people.

Needless to say, there was no banquet at Government House that evening. Mrs Jonathan herself left for Abuja immediately after the altercation and the next day became the butt of cartoonists jokes and umbrage by opinion makers. The question is: was she wrong? My answer is: not much. And let me give my reasons.

First of all the subject of controversy was DEMOLITION. Before the episode at Okrika, demolition had become a major bone of contention in Rivers State –especially Port Harcourt where the government had demolished a lot of water front dwelling (and drinking, it must be added) places for reasons as diverse as the need to construct a road to ridding the place of criminals.

But, our collective experience at Maroko (Lagos); Abuja (under El-Rufai) and lately the Garden city, is that the poor who formerly occupy the places never return as governments will spend a great deal of money, which they failed to spend when the poor lived there, to develop the land and allocate them to the highly placed. Instinctively, Mrs Jonathan was against the demolition because she is keenly aware of government’s insincerity.

There is always a hidden agenda. Standing in front of THE NATION newspapers premises, along the Port Harcourt water front, one can see why the high and mighty have developed a taste for water front plots from which the poor must be dislodged –at all costs. Mrs Jonathan has struck a blow for the poor and powerless….

LAST WORD ON ZONING
“0803-322-4414
Uncle Dele, am not quite sure you are truly your usual self on this zoning debate. If you doubt it, go over them & compare them with your formers on other topics. Your writings typically drip with passion, patriotism, profound knowledge & lack of bias.

You seem to labour too much sir to put out these illogical, ill-digested arguments on zoning. For instance, quite unlike you, you just ignored all obviously natural questions to wit: how would Jonathan at his age, a VP who emerged President refrain from contesting election he’s empowered to so do by Nigerian constitution?

How dare you neglect the Niger Delta factor completely in all your analysis? Sir, between you & I do you believe that any Northern politician dead or alive in Jonathan’s shoe would have refused to contest? What’s your assurance that any Northerner voted in 2011 will stay just one term?

Assuming Jonathan stays altogether 9yrs + OBJ’s total 10.5yrs+Shonekan’s 8 months+Ironsi’s 6months i.e say 21yrs. Do they compare with the North’s 35yrs of rulers hip of this country? Why are some of our Northern brothers unrealisti ?Well if you sincerely believe in these your views on the debate (warts & all) please pardon me.

I concede you have right to your opinion. Who said you’re infallible or you cant make mistake? But it isn’t funny for some of your admirers. Ezeanyanwu, Enugu.
The text message was sent for publication two weeks ago along with POOR JONATHAN; POOR JEGA -1. Unfortunately, the message was dropped by the Sunday paper. Apparently, people who are unfamiliar with my style had assumed that Ezeanyawu wrote the intro.

I sincerely apologise to him.
UPDATE ON CHIEF OSUNKEYE’S LECTURE
“FG to stop three dams along River Niger”.
PUNCH, September 7, 2010. page 57.

The story went to say that three dams planned for construction in Mali, Guinea Bissau and Niger “will have negative impact on Nigeria”. It is only apt that the report came on Chief Osunkeye’s 70th birthday because in the study conducted water had received great attention.

Although the pamphlet is not with me as this column is being written, as the researcher on water, I remembered vividly, as if it was yesterday, writing that “water will become a major source of conflict in many parts of the world – including Africa”.

Specifically, it was pointed out that unless Nigerian governments at all levels took pre-emptive steps to address the matter of identifying and developing water resources within Nigeria’s borders the nation will become hostage to those countries in West Africa through which the River Niger passes.

The conflict predicted for middle 21st century appears to have arrived earlier than expected. One thing is certain; the continued access of Nigerians to River Niger water might have to be purchased at the cost of soldiers blood spilled in ECOWAS countries.