Daily Independent (Lagos)
Dr. Brian Wilfred
3 July 2009
opinion
Port Harcourt — The journey on the 29th of June 2009 to the Brick House Port Harcourt by Alhaji Asari Dokubo, who was led by Prince Tonye Princewill, the leader and chairman, of Board of Trustees of the Forum of Organised Opposition Political Parties (FOOPP) in Rivers State, has not only left many people agape, but also proved the critics of the Eso-led reconciliatory panel wrong.
As a renowned emancipator and fighter of the injustice being meted out to the people of Niger Delta by the occupational force of the FG, Alhaji Asari Dokubo felt that he was included among Governor Chibuike Amaechi's list of criminals. Asari further reiterated that he had no such problem with Governor Amaechi, apart from how he was imposed on the people of Rivers State by the Supreme Court on Oct. 25th 2007 and his variance on the governor's approach to certain issues, particularly his statement that all militants and freedom fighters were criminals, as well as the lopsidedness of projects by his administration in favour of the upland to detriment of the riverine areas.
As we all know, Asari has been very vocal and had always condemned the Governor Amaechi-led administration as an imposed government on the people of Rivers State; but this visit made possible by Princewill seems to indicate the end of the many years of Asari's antagonism on the issue of governance in Rivers State, owing to the fact that he is today soft-pedalling on many aspects of his stance.
We hope that this visit signal the quest for a vibrant, virile, peaceful and egalitarian Rivers State that many people in the state, and indeed all Nigerians, have been looking for.
Brokering peace is not easy, especially between the likes of Amaechi and Asari: two stubborn men. Asari, the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Vigilant Force (NDPVF), should continue not to compromise with evil, even though we all seek peace in Rivers State. Princewill has achieved a very rare feat by bringing these two prominent sons of the state together under one roof. This calls for celebration.
No matter where these two former foes met, is unimportant. What is important is that they met and accepted one another, no matter their differences. Whether Tonye Princewill took Asari to visit the governor at his private house in Port Harcourt or at his village house in Ubima, the important thing is that they were received warmly by the governor and after normal pleasantries the threesome retired into the inner chamber. We know that there is no way such a visit could have been made without various issues concerning the past and the need to move the state forward as one united family being discussed.
According to Asari: "After much persuasion by his cousin, Prince Tonye Princewill and as a law-abiding citizen and a believer in law and justice, I decided to follow him to visit you, the governor, today to demonstrate that apart from the issues highlighted above, I have no other grudge against you and to formally accept you as my governor and the undisputable Governor of Rivers State, as upheld by the Supreme Court."
On the governor's side, Amaechi explained his happiness and commended Princewill for this feat. "My becoming the Governor of Rivers State, apart from being divine, was a calculated attempt to restore hope and actualization of the vision of the founders of our dear state in 1967. Today is one of my happiest days because no matter our differences, I admire Asari so much for his love for our region and his readiness to lay his life on behalf of our people; and I feel so bad that such a personality could not team up with me to contribute to develop our only state. But thanks to God who, in his infinite wisdom, decided to use Tonye to make this great reunion possible."
Asari also advised that the needs of the riverine areas be prioritized in the 2010 budget so that no part of the state is left behind or under-developed. Asari will in due course be updated on some of the remarkable feats of the administration.
Dr. Brian Wilfred writes from Port Harcourt.
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