By Ochereome Nnanna
YOU HAVE probably heard that former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter
Odili has written an autobiography. I’ve not only heard; in fact, I have
read through the 511 interesting pages of Conscience and History – My
Story.
When, obviously the most influential state governor during the
Olusegun Obasanjo years as president of Nigeria (1999 to 2007) writes
his own story of the events of these heady years and the years before
and since, you want to read it.
As a journalist who also followed public events very closely through
those years, you want to know what disclosures he is prepared to make,
what he wants to play up, play down or keep out altogether.
Rarely does a politician (or anyone) disclose EVERYTHING in a
biography. Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe,
once told me: “There are secrets a man must carry to his grave”.
I guess you are puzzled (just like me) that a man who dominated
completely the political space in Rivers State for eight years, where
virtually everybody started proudly wearing what was then known as
“Odili cap” to demonstrate their belonging to his political camp
suddenly became a “pariah” overnight when his former protégé, Hon.
Chibuike Ameachi assumed power. So what must have happened?
You must also be itching to know why a presidential front runner not
only suddenly got bumped out of the race but was also denied the vice
presidential ticket.
In fact, things got so rough for him in a space of ten days that he
would have been impeached by the State House of Assembly if they had
bowed to the overbearing hectoring of Malam Nuhu Ribadu’s Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Remember, that was how Obasanjo got rid of former Bayelsa State Governor, DSP Alamieyeseigha. So, what really took place?
The gang-up
You must also be wondering how Odili has managed to escape arrest and
arraignment by the EFCC. You want to know how he got the “perpetual
injunction” entered in his favour by the Justice I.N. Buba of the
Federal High Court in Port Harcourt?
How and why did the “Obasanjo Boys”, such as Ribadu, Nasir el Rufai,
Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Andy Uba, Bukola Saraki, ex-Governors James
Ibori and Lucky Igbinedion, block his presidential ambition and stopped
him from being made the running mate of Umaru Yar’ Adua?
But for these chaps and their foxy principal (Obasanjo) Odili would
probably be Nigeria’s president today! They are all graphically told,
with further insights provided by Wikileaks.
However, it is not only about dirty politics. Odili’s story outside
the realm of politics is, frankly speaking, very inspirational and good
for young people to read and learn.
Being from Ndoni in the former Midwestern Region and today’s Rivers
State, Odili belongs to those groups of Nigerians (including yours
sincerely) whose lives were totally devastated by the crises and civil
war in Nigeria between 1966 and 1970. They lost everything; and a new,
unforeseen course of destiny opened.
Peter was one of us! Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha and the
University of Nigeria (UNN) equipped him and directed his life
(including his family life) to what it eventually became.
How do I summarise my impressions after going through Odili’s Conscience and History?
Number one, it is an illustration of how the formative years of a
young person’s life – especially the schooling experience – prepare them
to tackle life’s challenges at adulthood.
Secondly, it chronicles the building blocks of his political life,
particularly his eight years as the Governor of Rivers state; including
the triumphs, successes, failures and scorching betrayals by
self-professed loyalists when a leader vacates office.
He has a useful piece of advice for those who want to understand the nature of “loyalists” in the political circle on page 487.
There are genuine loyalists and fake ones. The fakes are much more in
number but it is difficult to tell the real apart from the pretenders.
Thirdly, Odili has been an embattled
man since he left office in May 2007. Not only was he schemed out of his
legitimate tussle for the presidency and vice presidency; he has been
engaged in running legal battles with the EFCC and later on the Rivers
State Government under Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Strangely, it was Odili who initiated the court actions at the High
Court of Rivers State presided over by Justice PNC Agumagu and the two
cases at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt led by Justice Buba. In
fact, the second case before Buba was decided on March 5th 2008, nearly
one year after Odili left office.
It was in this case that Justice Buba granted him the perpetual
injunction against EFCC from circulating unproven allegations of
corruption against Odili.
The war on corruption
This outraged many Nigerians who wrongly felt that Odili was granted
perpetual immunity from prosecution. A petition against Justice Buba at
the National Judicial Council (NJC) cleared the judge of any wrongdoing
and upheld his verdict.
It was also when he was already out of power that Odili dragged the
Rivers State Government and the Justice Kayode Eso Truth and
Reconciliation panel, to court and yet Justice Roland Ahiakwor of the
Rivers State High Court invalidated his indictment by the Eso Panel.
Much of this book contains detailed records of these judicial battles,
all of which were decided in Odili’s favour.
One is left with the conclusion that it is either that Odili is a
wrongly accused innocent man or those accusing him do not know how to go
about proving it. This is perhaps because of the political motives
behind his accusation so far.
Odili has since thrown an open challenge for those who have any case
of corruption against him to come forward. With no cast-iron case
established against him thus far Odili feels he has been vindicated.
That is what the book is chiefly about.
For me, there is no war on corruption in Nigeria. Whatever you see or
hear in that coloration is just politics by other means. We have not
yet started.
Vanguard
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