As the politics and politicking for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, a curious development surfaces in Rivers State as some of the most notable figures in the state’s political arena go into oblivion, but analysts say they should be reintegrated into mainstream politics for further advancement of the state
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
Most of the popular and well-known politics in Rivers state are missing in action. Why are they missing in the political space of Rivers State? This is one million question in the lips of political watchers in the state. They are silent, quiet and in active in politics that brought them fame, honour and recognition.
There is no doubt, that the absence of those notable political tacticians is affecting the quality of politicking and governance in the state.
Chief Emeh Glory Emeh also known as ‘Uncle G’ is an accomplished lawyer, a seasoned administrator and grassroots politician no one can ignore. He has remain inactive or quiet at this critical period of political engineering.
Glory was a prominent member of the famous Sergeant Awuse’s political group known as SERGROW SERGROW. He was the engine room in political planning, research and strategy.
When that republic collapsed, Emeh joined the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) where he served Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Peter Odili on media and special duties. He also served as Commissioner for Transport and Aviation in the state’s executive council.
He later served as Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt during the administration of former Governor Celestine Omehia and later appointed Special Adviser to former Governor Nyesom Wike on political matters and strategy.
Due to the effectiveness of the lawyer turned political propagandist, some admirers likened him to Uche Chukwumerije of defunct Biafra and even as others see him as the amazing Okoko Ndem.
Also not visible in the current politics of the state is Rt Hon. Austin Okpara, a former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives Abuja, who was two term member of the lower chamber of National Assembly, representing Port Harcourt City Federal Constituency.
He was once a top contender for number one seat in Rivers state under the PDP, before he was asked to withdraw for his kinsman, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi who later became governor from 2007 to 2015.
The husband of Justice Meg Okpara of Rivers State High Court, is one politician that has large grassroots supporters, especially in Port Harcourt City. He is one of the top politician political observers are asking of his whereabout .
Another popular figure in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a former Commissioner of Works under the Amaechi administration, was later elected to represent Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He was the APC governorship candidate in 2015 election where he lost to PDP candidate, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike, who is now a minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
Peterside, a former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) seems to be retiring from active politics so early. He is a long-time friend and strong ally of former governor and the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Former Governor Peter Odili, the Ndoni born medical doctor turned politician started his political career in Rivers as a Deputy Governor in 1991, who became governor between 1999 and 2007, seem to have withdrawn from active politics.
Popularly called the golden Governor of Nigeria, he is regarded as the father of modern politics in Rivers State. The husband of Hon. Justice Mary Odili, a retired Supreme Court judge and father of two female judges, one at Federal High Court and another at Rivers State High Court presently serving.
As politicians in Rivers state began to cash in on the rivalry between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike to sow seed of discord, the political giant took his leave of absence.
Presently, he is focusing all his energy and resources to his PAMO University of Health Sciences where he is the founder and chancellor. His daughter, Dr. Mrs. Ada Oreh, a medical practitioner is the immediate past Commissioner of Health in Rivers State. All said and done, anyone who ignores his political weight in Rivers does so at his own peril. He is the godfather of all politicians irrespective of political affiliations.
But he has since parted ways with his political god son, Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) because of his (Wike’s) continued rift with Governor Fubara.
A former National Chairman of PDP, Chief Uche Secondus, the Andoni born businessman turned politician is another great politician that has seemingly abstained from Rivers State politics. Popularly called “Total Chair,” Secondus is no longer seen in political circles both in Rivers where he once served as the state chairman of PDP and at the federal level.
Political watchers are of the opinion that his fight with Wike which made him to end his tenure as National Chairman abruptly pushed him to watch political activities from the sidelines.
During his active days in politics, as a big player, he was instrumental to the appointment of his cousin, Engineer Tele Ikuru as Deputy Governor for eight years under Amaechi administration.
Sir Gabriel Toby, the Opobo born former Super Permanent Secretary in Rivers State served as Deputy Governor under Odili for eight years. He came from the smallest local government in Rivers State that had the luck to produce a Deputy Governor and Governor in the present dispensation- Governor Fubara also hails from Opobo.
A very successful politician, the daughter, Mrs. Ibim Semitari was Commissioner of Information under Amaechi. Since he left office, he is on sabbatical leave in politics.
The Etche-born political mover, Prince Emma Anyanwu, a multi-millionaire businessman is also missing in action in politics. The political leader in Etche, Emma Anyanwu, his two children, Obinna Anyanwu and his senior brother, David Obinna were former executive Chairmen of Etche local Government area. For now, he is out of circulation in political matters in Rivers state for reasons best known to him.
Also former Chairman, PDP, Rivers state, Chief Felix Obuah popularly called “Go Round” is another prominent name that is no longer active in Rivers politics. He was a strong contender during the 2023 PDP Governorship Primary, but was force to step down for Governor Fubara.
He is a great grass-root mobilizer and at 67 he might think that he is too old to lead a dynamic state like Rivers, which may have informed his decision to stay away from the state’s political arena.
A former chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Beatrice Itubo, is a politician whose name rings a bell. She was the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, although she lost the ticket, she has since taken the back seat in Rivers politics.
Senator John Azuta Mbata was a member of the upper National Assembly, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District. A former political mentor to Wike, has parted ways with the later.
The former Senator who is the Chairman/CEO of Monier Construction Company (MCC) is now the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo World-Wide. He is no longer active in Rivers politics, suggesting that he is now more interested in his business and Ohaneze Ndigbo affairs.
There is no doubt that the absence of these notable political tacticians is affecting the quality of politicking and governance in the state. Political observers are of the view that efforts should, therefore, be made to reintegrate them into the mainstream of Rivers politics with a view to tapping from their wealth of experience.
