By Emeka Ngige, SAN

In analyzing Rivers State crisis, one has to look at the remote and immediate causes before proffering solutions.

The remote cause is the culture of impunity which General Olusegun Obasanjo sowed in this nation during his infamous 8 years. Illegality, they say, begets illegality. The monumental rigging of national elections by the PDP -led government in 2003 and 2007 produced charlatans and renegades as our representatives at different tiers of government. These renegades are the ones determining the fate of other Nigerians at different levels of government today.

The impunity which we are witnessing in Rivers State today is not a new phenomenon in our polity. It has happened  before in Oyo State where Adedibu held Governor Ladoja to ransom, in Anambra State where the Ubas organised   the worst mayhem ever witnessed in the   history of the State with properties worth billions of Naira destroyed, in Plateau State where Gov. Dariye was held to ransom by forces loyal to the sitting President. The examples are endless. None of these people involved in these crisis were brought to book and so the impunity continues till date.

For the immediate cause of crisis   in Rivers State, we all know it has to do with politics of 2015. The President of Nigeria wants to run again in 2015 and perceives that Governor Amaechi is nursing a vice presidential ambition for the same election. He therefore considers Amaechi as a threat to his re-election.   I now ask? Is that the reason why Amaechi should be crucified or Rivers State turned into a theatre of war?

Why are our politicians so intolerant of opposing views? Are we practising democracy or monarchy where the views of the King are unchallengeable? The crisis in Rivers State is challenge to the Rule of Law. A situation where the Commissioner of Police is openly supporting the renegades in their nefarious activities is condemnable.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) as presently constituted is a toothless bulldog otherwise the Commissioner should have been brought to book. A PSC under Parry Osayande would not tolerate the acts of indiscipline of the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State.   It should be mentioned that this Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu   was an Assistant Commissioner (Admin) during the Anambra State political crisis of 2003-2004.   So it can be seen that he was thoroughly schooled to unleash what is going on in Rivers State today.

With the emergence of a fake Speaker whose intention of impeaching the Governor   of Rivers State with 4 members out of 27 members is in public domain, the resolution of the House of Representatives for the takeover   of the business of Rivers House of Assembly under Section 11 (4) of the Constitution is very commendable.   I hope the Senate   will tow the same line as the House of Reps in the interest of our democracy.

I will also suggest that the National Judicial Council (NJC) should issue a red alert to all judges sitting in Rivers State (whether   as a Federal or State judge)   to be cautious in dealing with cases arising from the crisis in the State. The judges or justices hearing cases arising from the crisis in Rivers State should give the matters accelerated hearing so that law and order can be restored in the State. Recall that the illegal impeachments   or removal of Governors that took place during Obasanjo years in Oyo, Ekiti,   Plateau, Bayelsa and even Anambra   States succeeded majorly because of the connivance of either the State Chief   Judges or the judges that handled the cases.

Finally, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should call his party men to order. He should have a rethink on the crisis. Withdrawing the soldiers guarding the Governor as well as removing the armoured tanks stationed in front of the Government House could not have been done without the permission of the Presidency.

It smacks of pettiness and desperation for the Presidency to be giving support to the renegades causing mayhem in Rivers State. The President should be statesman in this crisis and learn from the mistakes of General Obasanjo who enjoyed destabilizing State governments that were not in his good books. At the end of Obasanjo’s tenure, what happened to PDP in South West?

Instability and turmoil took over including his household. That’s a lesson for all of us that when you sow the wind you reap the whirlwind.   Our President should be a statesman and allow Governor Amaechi to be. Only God can determine who will be our President in May 29th 2015. Nobody should play God. The President and his wife should not play God.