The Political Economy of 2014 Politics in Rivers State ….

 

First published: 9 July 2014 at 19:55

The Political Economy of 2014 Politics in Rivers State ….

The politics in Rivers State has evolved for the better that despite the deep seethed disagreements and struggle for the Resources of the state, there has been no ‘real’ casualties from the politicking that has been going on in the state. I say this because if this had happened 8years ago the level of violence would have been unimaginable.

The politics in the state is at across road and is about to enter the next phase of ‘man-pass-man’ for those in the PDP they will have to ensure that no APC flag is planted in their domain and that those who left were of ‘no political consequence’, while for those in APC they will want to walk their talk to their new leaders in Lagos and beyond that‘na dem hold ground and nothing dey happen’.

We all know that Rivers politicshas never been populist but driven by state machinery and resources and oiledwith local ‘violent muscle’.

The Rivers State matter haspotentials for danger as the bloated ego of followers are gradually throwingcaution and reason to the wind. These followers are won’t to forget that thereare no permanent enemies in a political fray but ‘interest’, ’interest’ and’interest’ rule supreme. These followers do not realize that they do not countin the dispensation of patronage and there is absolutely no need to resort toviolence as the Political class is only plying their trade….Politics.

It is no longer a secret thatRivers State is intense in Cult activities and the various groups that holdsway in the state and the villages will be courted by all sides evenreluctantly ( as the need for ‘Informal Security’’, Boys’ or ‘Self-help’ willbe instigated by the lads in order to become very relevant in this dispensationin the name of Loyalty) as these lads in the bid to deliver will not seek thesoap box to express their opinions but will likely implore violence to‘deliver’ for their masters.

The question to the gladiatorswill be …How far are you willing to go …?

What will be the implication for RiversState and its inhabitants in terms of Funds, Governance and Security?

These will include less work onthe part of all tiers of government and more politics and even projects will begraded based on patronage and the opposition is likely to fault any product ofthe government no matter its importance to the state.

A lot of expenditure by Riverspoliticians will occur on the Lagos & foreign based media, while locally,onlythe Radio stations will see small, small ‘chop’ and ‘greasing’ as the mediawill play both sides and lean slightly in favour of the better pay master sothat they can have their cake and eat it.

All sides will oil the hierarchyof their parties and the leaders for support in perpetuity and most of these‘leaders’ reside outside the state and these leaders will visit from timefrequently and make very provocative speeches that must substantiate the   ‘GMG-Ghanamust go’’, TP-Transport Money, TYC-Thank-You-Coming’   or ‘MG-mixed grill’ (Naira, Euros, Pounds& Dollars) that will accompany their return to their bases.

The Indian textile firms, Screenwriters aka Artists and local suppliers based in Port Harcourt will enjoy aboom as Wrappers, T shirts and Face caps must bear the logos of parties andpictures of aspirants and their party leaders, while the village women and boysare waiting for these wrappers …unlike in the past they will insist thewrappers are oiled with N2,000.00 per mobilization session.

While for the boys no postdatedpayment is allowed…‘money for hand and back for ground’…I hereby warn allpotential mobilizers with the tendency to embezzle this mobilization money…desist ooO …and dam the devil, as it might cost you you a limb or even yourlife. I will advise that you increase the budget with your principal instead ooooO…as it is cheaper to defraud ya principal than to defraud the boys.

The manufacturers of the Partyinsignia are based in Aba, Lagos and Ikot-Ekepene(IK) as there will be flurryof orders for Brooms and Umbrellas and these will come in three shades,Designer for Oga dem, Elitist for the show men and local for the people.

Rivers State is located in therain forest belt and Canopies and Tents will be required for the severalrallies that will hold and kindly insure them as they might be destroyed if the‘other’ side attacks. Insurance here might come in the following ways, portrayyourself as politically neutral and ensure the local muscle are on yourpayroll( they might even help in the installation and de-installation of thesetents) or you do the needful and pay full compliments to the local Policecommand or put a proper insurance policy in place.

In transportation, the mini busesand big buses will be patronized, while boat drivers in Bonny, Opobo, Kula,Riverine –Abua and Andoni will experience some windfall , no worry boat no godey as the other side go don charter the boats on the day of your rally or ifdem dey price will be ten time the amount and when commuters complain, the boatdrivers will remind of their disappearance skills after the elections….for theOga dem na the helicopter firms go chop that side or oil companies go provide.

The entertainment sector willprovide Public Address and Sound systems, Comedians, Musicians and MasqueradeGroups and they will be hired ‘strictly and purely’ on their Partyaffiliations…He,He,He,He.

Rivers people are very social andthey love to hang out either in Bars, Hang-outs, Associations, Clubs or gendergroups. The political divide will color attendance or even split these groupsand the quarrels that will arise out of these shades of opinions might in somecases very adverse.

The biggest ‘hammer’ will beformal security as Armed Escorts ,Gunboats, Armored Personnel Carriers andBullet proof vests will be required at alltimes and the authorities will never have ‘fuel’ and the ‘rank & file’ haveto be made happy, even though all that is released for the boys will not get tothe boys.

The custodians of traditional in artslike ‘spiritual bullet vests, luck charms and disappearing charms will be ingreat demands as their perceived fame will go before them with lots ofunverifiable exploits. The patronage of these practitioners on the local andregional front is devoid of ethnicity, the regional fronts will be consulted asTiv, Yoruba, Fulani, Kanuri, Calabar, Ijaw and Okija axis. These practitioners most times play on both sides but leantowards the better pay master or a ‘brethren’.

The oldest profession willenhance membership as patronage will cover every nook and cranny of the stateand the local damsels would not want to be found wanting or some sisters fromneighboring states will dare the waves of Okoloba-toru to meet the ‘ body –no-be- wood ‘ needs of some of the visiting politicians .

Aha…will the clergy be left out?‘nehi’ oops sorry that is the only Indian word I know and it means No. Some saw‘visions’ and provided ‘prophecy’ that fuels our unrepentant optimisticpoliticians and these extremes of the faith will never tell their wards thatthe vision and prophecy was a bit tainted by emotions. The Elders of the faithwill pray for all parties and refrain from supporting anyone publicly.

A new set of mobile devices and laptopswill be born and they have and will continue to invade the social media space.The local ones are attack dogs and resort to verbal abuse at slightest hint ofa difference in opinion while a new corp of Key Board Warriors aka Progressiveswill be born, whose only credentials are to abuse the establishment.

Abeg opportunities abound inRivers State , choose one side.