AS experience clearly shows, Nigeria is still in the era of retrogression in public life when the dominance of paternalistic figures in politics is all too often considered a necessity, not only for winning power but also for retaining it.

Here, of course, what is meant by paternalistic figures are those personages who have the most power behind politicians in public office on account of having sponsored or funded them on their way up.

By popular parlance, these are the elements Nigerians identify by the term “godfathers”. And so preponderant has been the negative influence of these elements on development during most of the present generation that a political consciousness now prevails that apparently sees nothing good in the contemporary ruling class.

Ask any Nigerian you see along the street what he thinks about any of the present governors, and he loses no time to respond with a widespread cynicism. Because the godfathers who are the oligarchists that constitute the topmost echelon of the ruling class had shown themselves to be corrupt and dishonest in the conduct of governance, the people are today in the habit of branding all who rule them in terms of a stereotype. They condemn the whole class to dishonour.

Of recent, events in Rivers State have naturally occasioned outbreaks of political fireworks. But these tensions have seemed to be only spontaneous, sporadic, and rather momentary. Trouble has been far from enduring.

The old enclaves or pockets of organized violence have long ceased to be operative.
But this time it is not the voices of some grand local oligarchists that Nigerians hear commenting on things happening in Rivers.

Indeed, the question which the present inactivity of Rivers State godfathers raises is one of fundamental concern. And this concern is fundamental because it encompasses the national interest in its totality. For if the disease of corruption in government is everywhere in Nigeria, when it is impossible to single out Governor Amaechi  for exemption from it.

To be precise, what concrete evidence is there at this stage of the relationship between Governor Amaechi and the well-known personages who are supposed to play the role of godfathers to him in running the affairs of the state?

In the State capital, Port Harcourt, virtually everyone  can tell who are the most prominent or the most notorious of Governor Amaechi’s seniors in both party politics and governance.

Concerning the way in which the state was governed before he became governor, it is common knowledge that today there is significant difference. Here and there, criticisms of government can still be heard. People in the street do not say Governor Amaechi is a saint or a messiah, under whose leadership the conduct of governance has achieved absolute perfection.

But today if you are a visitor to Port Harcourt, you may do well to choose your words properly on the question of corruption in government even when talking with a taxi-driver. If you speak too generally, you may be sharply informed that now is not like the past anymore.

In actual fact,  during the old order  when the godfathers held sway behind state governors, governance had in essence consisted in bare-faced stealing of public funds. And it had then been the practice for a sitting  governor to share Rivers monies with godfathers and political associates of all sorts.

Nevertheless, as things now stand, all four of Governor Amaechi’s supposed godfathers are totally estranged from him. But why?

Some of the more fanatical believers in the Amaechi agenda are quick to allege that the estranged godfathers are not happy with the current emphasis on development. But what seems closer to the truth is the allegation that they have found themselves unable to adjust to the present arrangement in which Rivers money is no longer used by governor to service godfathers and political associates.

Still, at the center of the estrangement is the fact of Governor Amaechi’s rejection of the entire psychology of subservience to godfathers, political observers are taking the view that it is rather for this reason that the estranged oligarchists consider him arrogant.

But looking at Governor Amaechi’s standpoint, what is it that constitutes arrogance in it? In all truth, there is probably nothing of the kind at all. However, let it not be forgotten that the supposed godfathers being far senior to him in politics and governments may well be perfectly entitled to the condescending manner in which they speak of him as no more than their “boy”.

Actually, such people never did believe Governor Amaechi would have the capacity or courage to attempt to rule the state without depending on their dictates.

In that case, the line of conflict between the Governor  and the estranged godfathers is based on the fundamental difference in both principle and practice which is irreconcilable. And even if, as Governor Amaechi has often been heard to proclaim, he is open to discussion at all times, it remains a question whether these men will ever forgive him.

For the time being, the supposed godfathers have come to be branded “the Abuja Politicians”. At one stage, they were thought to have attempted to form a parallel structure of the ruling People’s Democratic Party in the state. Their purpose was to seize the party’s machinery from the governor, but they failed. Yet the matter awaits adjudication at a court of law.

On the other hand, in the pronouncement of many of the development strides of the governor Amaechi administration by the ordinary Rivers man, many now begin to wonder why the Governor has consistently refused to follow the old order of governance that has rather drawn the state back to the Stone Age in terms of development.

Is it that it pays more for the governor to stand with the people of just follow the dictates of a select selfish few which would have guaranteed him no opposition?

What is Governor Amaechi’s business in building a model city called the Greater Port Harcourt City, when he could have allowed the waterfront to remain and armed robbers, kidnappers and all forms of criminals continue to operate in that safe heaven?

What is Amaechi’s interest in the training and re_training of teachers in the Rivers State education system, when he could have just allowed them to continue in the old order of not attending classes and not having anything to impact on the students?

Has it not occurred to the governor that since the creation of Rivers state, they have not been such training and the state has been training and producing “best brains” in all facets of human endeavor, including militancy?

Of what importance is the massive revolution in the health sector, when monies could just have been appropriated to these powerful men who will send their wards abroad whenever they have fever? Why would the governor embark on construction of modern health facilities, including the building of primary health centers in all the area councils?

Does it not smack of unintelligence that the governor has embarked on massive construction of roads and building of low cost housings, which has now led to the opening of new link roads in Port Harcourt city and the state all over, when he could have still allowed the dilapidated road infrastructure to remain? Why in God’s name why is this governor embarking on construction, including federal government owned roads in the state, when he could have just pocketed the money and share some to his old folks? Does he not need money to prosecute his second tenure?

To set the records straight, the problem with the governor and why he will continue to face opposition is stemmed from the fact that Governor Amamechi has constructed about 350 model primary schools of international standard with modern facilities, including internet facilities. What business does a Rivers child need in an internet? In fact leaning under the mango tree is even a more preferred option, after all it has been like that before he became a governor and the heavens have not fall.

Why is he constructing over 35 model secondary schools? Why giving indigenes scholarships abroad? In the time being, over 1,050 students have received scholarship and about 154 students have received scholarship overseas to do undergraduate, masters’ and doctorate degrees at different countries.

Why is the governor so interested in the education sector that he is providing free school uniforms to the entire primary school pupil in the state? Governor Amaechi will say he is doing this to make sure that there is no stigmatization between the rich and the poor in the state. Is that what the godfathers want him to do?

*Kalu Okorie is a Port Harcourt based activist.