Mathew Stanley
Since the visit of the First Lady, Patience Goodluck Jonathan to Rivers State and her native Okrika and its aftermath was first publicized in the press, there have been series of reports in the newspapers on what happened between the Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and the First Lady over the planned demolition of some houses in Okrika town to pave way for the building of a school. The visit which was primarily to flag off the state chapter of the Women for Change was turned into a political battle for supremacy. Thus, rather than focus on the purpose of the visit, the hawks in Rivers state have focused on the harmless encounter between the Governor and the president’s wife.
Many writers rather that addressing the issues involved from objective perspective have taken a biased stand on the matter. Political gladiators have also seized the opportunity to malign the First Lady and also advance the political cause of the embattled Governor. Thus, the reports in the press and the actions taken by the Governor thereafter in removing the chairman of Okrika Council have shown us the nature of personalities at work over the seemingly harmless encounter and the political propaganda we have seen in the press.
The conduct of the Governor and the press over this matter is, to say the least, disappointing. I will illustrate my argument with some examples. One, the image we have of the First Lady’s visit in the television ran counter to what the newspapers tried to portray. The visuals in the television did not show the kind of fiasco that the reporters and the writers are dishing out to the public. There was no evidence of microphone snatching (the Governor was even shown extending the microphone to the First Lady as she spoke), no springing up from the seat (as everybody was standing) and the speech of the First Lady was subtle and did not betray aggression. She spoke on the pros and cons of the issue and offered advice. One would therefore, be surprised to see that newspapers have been painting fictitious pictures of the entire incident. Those in doubt need to see the clips of news reports in the NTA and AIT. Until I saw this too, I was totally confused. My conclusion therefore, is that the commentators have been acting a carefully worded script and what they have written is not totally different from one another, rather an adaptation of the approved script. I therefore feel utterly disgusted that those who are supposed to guide our conscience are the ones truly leading us astray.
Read Also: Meet Mfonobong, fashion entrepreneur with passion for affordable clothing
I expect the Governor, as a responsible leader, not to ignite the already tensed situation in his state by urging caution and seeking amicable solution to what might have come as a misunderstanding or miss-reading of the minds of the First Lady. But he behaved like someone already spoiling for a fight. Thus, he covertly encouraged the writings and comments in the newspapers. The fact that he boycotted the reception for the First Lady in Okrika even while his own wife attended showed that he did not show political maturity. The First Lady was quoted to have spoken well of him and his goal of development at the reception and repeated what she had advised at the waterfronts, dialogue and peace. I am surprised that all the reports and comments ignored the import of the First Lady’s comment- dialogue and peace. Instead what they all preached was war and they asked for the head of the innocent woman who merely expressed her fears and how violence could be prevented through the sheer use of force.
No one has been able to dispute the fact that she called for dialogue and assurance that the people would not be abandoned by a government that is supposed to protect them. What happens in situations like this? Is it not for government to offer compensation for land being taken or resettle the displaced people somewhere else? Has the Amaechi government taken any of these steps? Thus, in their analysis and stand over this matter, our venerable writers and commentators have failed us. They became a pawn in the chess game, perhaps unconsciously.
The Governor also let the cat out of the bag when he sacked the local council chairman of Okrika. He went for the prey that he could gore. Reports claim that the chairman is a cousin of the First Lady. The Governor did not explain why he sacked the man and replaced him with his deputy. But it is obvious that the Okrika man was being punished to hurt the First Lady. Why the Governor needed to go this far is unclear. The people of Okrika organized a reception for their worthy daughter and invited the Governor. He shunned them and turned the press against their daughter. What is the Governor who expects support in the forthcoming 2011 election showing to this people? Now we have also been told that the anger against Okrika and the First Lady also has to do with the governorship ambition of an Okrika man, Abiye Sekibo. Shouldn’t our revered commentators now begin to see that they have taken on a fool’s ride? They have been used to clear somebody else’s mess, in this case that of Governor Amaechi.
Writers and commentators ought to read events carefully before taking their stand. The event in question took place on Tuesday last week, and within two days before the whole facts of the matter could be unearthed, a newspaper had already written an editorial, bashing the First Lady and taking side with the Governor and by Friday, not less than seven opinion articles had been written. It shows that those determined to rubbish the First Lady wasted no time at all to launch their missiles. Now, from what we know, this is not objective journalism. We have all being taken for a ride, a stupid ride for that matter. I feel utterly disappointed in the conduct of those who have taken biased stand on this matter. It is however, not totally their fault. It is that of the hawks at play.
I commend the First Lady for her dignified silence over this matter. It shows that silence, sometimes is not only golden, it is also dignifying. By not agreeing to go to the laundry with the washermen of Rivers, she has shown her esteemed level of maturity in the handling of the matter. Whatever bad things some may have written about her, therefore, is completely different from what she is.
