OPINION
Tony Okocha’s ‘Untold Stories’ Of Contradictions
By Sotonye Ijuye-Dagogo*
I am compelled to respond to Chief Tony Okocha’s most recent writing on the political crisis in Rivers State, titled “The Untold Stories” and dated July 1, 2024.
It is not uncommon to find Tony Okocha’s writings online, which are laced with verbose diction and combative imagery. It has intensified since he was appointed Rivers APC Caretaker Chairman.
This time, Tony Okocha goes on a lengthy excursion, recounting how former Governor Nyesom Wike picked up a lowly civil servant, Siminalayi Fubara, promoted him ‘up and down’, made him ‘this and that’, and finally foisted him as governor of Rivers State.
Tony Okocha claims that by taking this action, former Governor Wike can rightfully regard Governor Fubara as an investment in the business enterprise known as Rivers State. He claims that Nyesom Wike, as a legitimate investor, has the right to supervise and control his investment because no prudent investor would allow his investment to go to waste.
If the theme of Tony Okocha’s “The Untold Stories” is strange, the style is even stranger. The writer appears to be both the opposition APC state chairman and the ruling PDP’s hatchet man.
He accuses former Governor Nyesom Wike of manipulating the electoral process in favour of incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara, but he does so in the public interest and under the influence of the same Nyesom Wike.
He intends to portray Governor Siminalayi Fubara as an ungrateful recipient of Wike’s generosity, but ends up portraying Nyesom Wike as a criminal. He idolises Wike but eventually exposes him as a megalomaniac. He claims Wike is a benevolent man while portraying him as a brute. A man of deception. A “movie director” takes part in a “Palace Coup.”
Tony Okocha purposefully creates a story full of contradictions and ambiguities to deceive his readers. No number of negatives can adequately describe “The Untold Stories.” It is deceitful, dishonest, and two-faced.
Finally, Tony Okocha said nothing new in “The Untold Stories”. There is nothing “untold” about the story. This is not a new story. Rivers people know the story better than Tony Okocha and do not need anyone to tell it to them.
The Rivers people have since moved on. They have moved past Tony Okocha’s stories. Nyesom Wike may have invested Governor Fubara for profit, but the investment has since gone bad, and Rivers residents are happier as a result.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara is currently regarded as our generation’s Moses. He may have been picked up on the side of the road and raised in Pharaoh’s palace, similar to the biblical Moses. This is why he is referred to as Siminalayi, which means “the poor has given birth to a prince.” He may have killed an Egyptian during his years of tutelage, but he is still destined and prepared to lead his people out of slavery. Pharaoh cannot stop him because his opponents will face the Red Sea.
Rivers people are pleased with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was installed by Nyesom Wike to continue their enslavement but has since become the leader of the New Liberation Movement.
It is easy to understand why Tony Okocha wrote “The Untold Stories.” He wishes to keep the flames of political discord in the state burning. He pokes the fire to make it burn brighter. He has reaped significant benefits from the spoils of war. He wants to impress his paymasters in order to maintain his position as APC State Chairman and Rivers State Representative in the NDDC. He hopes to keep both jobs for himself.
Tony Okocha’s writing disrespects the Rivers people and undermines the intelligence of his readers. He may have also become a fifth columnist. He understands that President Tinubu’s attention will be drawn to all of the acts of lawlessness and corruption that he has correctly attributed to Nyesom Wike.
The concern is that Rivers State is endowed with so many distinguished and decent citizens who are doing great things in Nigeria and abroad. Unfortunately, they remain silent about events in the state, allowing individuals such as Tony Okocha to pollute the political space and disrupt the state’s peace.
Rivers State has previously had indigenous governors who either served their terms or were removed by the military. Diete-Spiff, Okilo, Ada-George, and Odili. These were governors of different ethnicities in the state. They served and retired to their homes, while their successors continued to serve in peace. Why should it be different now? Why can not the Rivers people live peacefully? Why has not the state achieved peace since 2013?
*Ijuye-Dagogo writes from Port Harcourt.
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