Click to read The Rivers of Karma Part 2

Yesterday at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, a court presided by lay men tried and sentenced the Governor and people of Rivers State to three and half years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine. But on appeal God reserved his judgement at the fullness of time.

The above opening paragraph encapsulates the opinion and sentiments of men and women of goodwill at home and in the diaspora going by the avalanche of angry reactions on the social media against the 8-point resolution now known as directives. However, I disagree with the public on some issues and strongly too, for the following reasons listed below after critically analysing the effects of the resolutions with an open and proactive mindset.

Mr. President as a father reconciling two son’s claims over the law makers failed and or neglected to resolve the issue of the lawmakers who jumped bail from the lawful custody of the PDP to APC. The President as the Chairman of the meeting maintained a dignified and stoic silence on the defection of G-27 lawmakers to his party. This is where I wholly agreed with others that the resolutions were designed to be “neutral in favour” of the Almighty Wike against his disobedient son Siminaliyi.

Nevertheless, one resolution which made half sense to me was that “all impeachment proceedings should be dropped”. It did not say that it should not be attempted again in future to create the needed finality. This obviously leaves a window for the “HAMAS” lawmakers to strike again in future if circumstances permit. This is both a deliberate trap and reminder to the Governor that it is not “It is not OVER, until it has ENDED”.

However, since there has never been any total and enduring resolution of any disputes without major sacrifices from both sides, I believe that this was a very costly sacrifice by Siminaliyi who may in future have an opportunity to sustain and consolidate the half-relief if he thinks out of the box and God helping him too.

I shall attempt to analyse the other 7 “Israeli-Hamas” cease resolutions seriatim. The views and opinions expressed herein are entirely personal and without prejudice.

RESOLUTION 1.
G-27 TO DROP FURTHER IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING AGAINST THE GOVERNOR.

This was the main crux of the conflagration. Legally and naturally speaking, you cannot put something on top of nothing and expect it to stay. Therefore, my take is that the resolution to drop the impeachment whether temporarily or not amounts a collective 85% quantum leap in terms of immediate political survival. The other 7 resolutions though as delicately contrived are not as lethal as being silent on impeachment proceedings as in the case of the defection of G-27 to APC by the Stakeholders sitting in Aso Rock on that fateful day.

In the circumstance, the totality of the 8 resolutions simply amounted to a return status quo before the wahala, the effect of which is that the sovereignty as epitomised by Governor Siminaliyi is no longer threatened at least by the Legislature but definitely not the Judiciary depending. If the tenure will be guaranteed by the Legislators after the Supreme Court election petition judgment then that item of the resolution’s political gain becomes immeasurable throughout the first tenure. So with the power of incumbency, access and control of the commonwealth, the other 7 resolutions can be managed and navigated through with a modest, cooperative and all inclusive application of 48 Laws of Power. After, “It is never too late to correct a mistake” by the Governor. The liquid power of the coat of arms is a rare privilege and a blessing that no amount of sacrifice is too much to maintain it in the words of the Governor himself.

Conversely, if the Impeachment option was not in the shopping list and the Governor was ceded the other 7 resolutions with the G-27 members in APC, the Governor’s gain and tenure would be like a candle in the wind. So I sincerely believe that even though he has no immediate control over the legislators the fact that the memorandum of Agreement does not by interpretation envisage any impeachment attempt again, the Governor is sincerely advised to navigate through the other issues contained in the resolution. Mr. President, I suppose also expects him to think out of the box and run with that safe environment created for him including but not also limited to also considering joining APC as a safe haven. The President had fought with Aregbesola, Fashola and Ambode so he was mentally and emotionally wearing his Minister’s emotional and political shoes while presiding over
the meeting.

RESOLUTION 2: DISCOUTINUACE OF ALL MATTERS IN COURT.

This is removing the bullet proof vest worn by the Governor even if the protective court orders will be obeyed as it is prevalent in Nigeria today. Discontinuance is a tacit endorsement of a mutual agreement reached whether by coercion and or intimidation which breach will amount to bad faith. Unfortunately, the issue of courts and obedience have been totally hijacked and anything coming out of it is either under the direction or control of the system. So whether the matters before the courts are discontinued or not by the Governor amounts to absolutely nothing. This is the sad story of the last hope of the common man. So I advise measured compliance by the Governor through an application for an out of court settlement to abide events.

3. RESOLUTION 3.
   RE- SUBMISSION OF LIST OF RESIGNED COMMISSIONERS TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY BY THE GOVERNOR FOR CLEARANCE AND REAPPOINTMENT.

This is one of the tragic resolutions that has made a caricature of the meeting and resolutions. The Governor was treated as a boss who must obey his appointees. He has been forced to receive the Commissioners who abandoned him and the State Executive Council and took a position against him and the Council. How will he receive them, accept them and confide in them particularly on critical State matters that requires absolute confidentiality and loyalty from third parties since he has lost their loyalty and support. Though may not have been any loyalty before it became obvious and public. However, since the Governor has a right to reconstitute or rejig his cabinet at will, I suggest that he complies. In the event he reconstitutes or dissolves his cabinet in the near future will the “Hamas” House of Assembly approve his nominations without subjecting him to obtain approval from the Lord of the Manor in Abuja ?

4. RESOLUTION 4.
   POWER OF THE HOUSE TO DECIDE THE VENUE OF THEIR SITTING PENDING THE REBUILDING OF A NEW ASSEMBLY COMPLEX.

Conventionally the Executive branch provides accommodation for government officials whether the Legislature or the Judiciary but the meeting in their wisdom handed over the powers and functions to the House of Assembly. The security of life and property of the Legislature has been removed from the schedule of the Governor of the State and handed over to the Lord Manor. It will not be surprising to see the members preside at Presidential Hotel or the residence of the Lord Manor. What this resolution clearly proves is that in war, all is fair. I think that the Governor loses nothing but has been freed from the problems of providing accommodation and furnishing a new accommodation for the members. So long as they make good laws for the good governance of the State they can even sit in an aircraft and pass their bills if they so wish. This therefore is not an issue for anyone to worry about really speaking.

RESOLUTION 5.
RESUBMISSION OF THE PASSED 2024 BUDGET FOR RECONSIDERATION AND PASSAGE.

Here again, the meeting knelt down the Governor before the factional Speaker of the House of Assembly. By the operation of the law, the law was passed in the absence of the defected members and the appropriations are basically for the common good and interest of all parties. So of what use and gain do you make by this resolution except to humiliate and ridicule the Governor and the G-4 who passed the budget, though inelegantly under 24hrs without due consideration except for the reason of political exigencies of that moment. Here again I do not see any big deal in the resubmission of the budget, after all, whatever approval or disapproval by the House will have direct consequences on the entire State going forward. The Governor by law can also operate without a budget for a period of six months if the worse comes to the worst and the State will suffer any deliberate delay by the House of Assembly eventually.

RESOLUTION 6.
PAYMENT OF WITHHELD SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES OF DEFECTED G-27 LAW MAKERS.

The Governor has no right to withhold the emoluments of the defected members before the completion of the process by the Independent National Electoral Commission assuming there was no intervention by Mr. President to resolve the feud. All earned allowances should be paid forthwith as of right. This is elementary.

RESOLUTION 7. RECOGNITION OF AMAWHULE AS THE AUTHENTIC SPEAKER WITH THE G-27 DEFECTED MEMBERS.

Since the meeting in Abuja presided and issuing orders and directives over and above all orders made by both the Federal and State High Courts, with the parties also accepting such directives either by consensus and or coercion, the Governor being a signatory in black ink to the agreement is bound to recognise and work with the faction as long as the resolution not to impeach him is guaranteed. The Governor must also be very vigilant because “equity does not protect the indolent”. My intuition do not trust the State Chief Judge’s disposition in the event the Hamans House of Assembly strikes again.

8. RESOLUTION 8.
   NO CARETAKER APPOINTMENTS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL.

The Governor was directed by the meeting not to appoint caretaker committee members for the local government councils at the expiration of the tenure of the incumbents appointed by his predecessor. It is shameful that this decision was reached in a meeting presided by people whose States are currently operating a caretaker committee government at the local governments levels. The wonders that a sitting incumbent Governor can be ordered not to make appointments in the State he governs shows the level of moral and democratic bankruptcy of the nation where non State actors issues perpetual INJUNCTIONS to an elected Governor. If former Governor Wike appointed Caretaker committee members during his tenure why is he insisting that his successor should not do same. My reflection in Rivers of Karma, part 2 is instructive on this and needs no further interrogations. I am of the opinion that the Governor should not also conduct the election that will further foist on him Wike’s stooges as agreed and cage him. He should rather should run the government with the civil servants with the Directors of General Administration in the local governments to safeguard the State’s resources from the proposed elected cronies of his predecessor.

GENERAL.
The sad commentary arising from this meeting and its consequent resolutions which “executed the Governor” is that the powers of government institutions have been hijacked and personalised. I am a die hard advocate of strong institutions. It is only strong institutions that sustained civilised climes where all powers are subject to the operation and control of strong institutions. Unfortunately in Nigeria we had weak institutions
which was made weaker under the Buhari administration. Under that administration all known norms of rules of procedures of governance were jettisoned with brazen impunity. The greatest casualty was the judiciary. Today nobody has a right if not backed by the cabal or with stupendous corrupt money. All public and civil servants who looted our commonwealth dry only releases 30% of the loot to the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to be free and thereafter enjoy their loot with pride and arrogance before us.

The political class have used our judiciary to make a nonsense and caricature of the provisions of the constitution and the electoral act to circumvent all provisions and relying on technicalities fabricated by the apex courts. Where do we go from here ?

Today there is no rule of law but rule of might. We are told to go to court. Is it the Courts that have been captured ?

Today there are new normals that have replaced the normal things of law and nature.

Today parents fear
and take instructions from their children just as governments and citizens now take instructions from unknown gun men and stay at home on Mondays in the entire South East.

Today the Church has directed same sex marriage against God’s commandments and the law of nature.

Today human and animal life have equal value, emotion without empathy in the event of death.

Today nations are no longer united at United nations. Greed has become a legitimate practice of the wealthy nations and men against the developing nations and fellow men.

Today EMPATHY has given way to FARCISM as witnessed in the resolutions of the Rivers of Karma assault on the Governor, Government and people of Rivers State.

God where are you ?😭😭

Willie Amadi, a lawyer and environmentalist writes from Owerri.