Anytime I reflect on the ongoing Israeli – Iran war and the recent statement credited to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu that ‘strength brings peace’, I laugh in Abua.
I also laughed in Iran when I watched all the victory rallies by the Iranian people immediately after President Trump declared a ceasefire, claiming they won the 12 day missiles conflict. And their Ayatollah’s claims that the Americans were forced to declare the truce when they missiled an American military base in Qatar amused me.
Like the proverbial lizard, the Iranian laugh is that of victory in all circumstances, whether in victory or defeat. If not, how can you be victorious when statistics on ground point the opposite direction? Over 300 deaths and more than one thousand injured, plus total obliteration of nuclear facilities and economic infrastructures, compared to a paltry less than 30 deaths and 200 wounded on the side of the Israelis. Who should be celebrating?
There’s an acerbic laugh in Abua that suggests the seriousness of a matter and the dire consequences that may follow a certain course of action. It’s a cautionary one; the still small voice from within.
Commending Trump shortly after the US striking of Iranian nuclear facilities, Netanyahu observed that, “with strength comes peace.” How correct he was – the Iranian are now begging for peace.
Intercalatorily, his statement reveals that the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State is a rankling war between the people and her enemies; one that calls for her strength and unity. The type between the United States and Israel in defeating their common enemy.
However, the more I reflect on Netanyahu’s words and the Rivers political impasse between a godfather and godson in which every one is crying out for peace in the face of injustice, the more I realise how united Rivers people have been in the fight against hegemony, rascality and ingratitude. They lined behind their elected governor.
Netanyahu’s words that before peace comes strength and unity lend credence to the collective faith of the people in their unity to winning this political war of attrition; strengthening their interests for the state far and above their personal and tribal ones. They’re now fully united, irrespective of tribal differences, in one accord to chase away a common enemy – the looters and plunderers of our commonwealth. The popularity of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara across the state for 2027 have plummeted and topping the scales at the moment.
The sole mandate of Sole Administrator Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) is returning peace to an embattled state within six months. In this wise, he was expected, on assumption of office to have, first and foremost, solicited the people’s cooperation and support. Thereafter, embark on strengthening her unity before peace.
But he rather chose to implement a hidden agenda. How far has his actions engendered peace in the state in the last three months? Are they in line with his mandate of restoring peace to a troubled and politically fragmented state? Is peace or justice the panacea to the Rivers imbroglio?
How would the imposition of local sole administrators by a Sole Administrator bring peace in the state? Nor the appointment of a non indigene, a fellow Cross Riverian to chairman a sensitive commission like RSIEC? Unity before peace? Because peace before unity is like the cat before the horse.
Has his actions so far been justifiably balanced to encourage and enthrone the much sought after peace in the state? Rather, we’ve seen skewed actions that have challenged the collective strength and unity of the people. Equal justice before peace.
The SOLAD has continued to question and insult the collective strength and unity of Rivers people, confirming insinuations that he’s an ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike who has continuously drooled that, “whatever he does in the state, nothing will happen.” An euphoria.
Will his planned handover of grassroot structures to Wike via a kangaroo local councils elections enthrone peace in the state? Won’t his alleged proposed recruitment of ten thousand staff jettisoned by the suspended governor not aggravate the very peace he is supposed to keep?
More questions than answers?
Unbeknownst to him, his actions are strengthening the unity of the people towards peace in 2027. The emergency rule has brought the realisation on both camps that the SOLAD can only restore an illusionary peace in the state within the tenure of six months. If not extended. And nothing more. That the true peace will only come in two years to come.
That’s because recent events unfolding in the state confirmed people’s fear that the emergency rule is a ruse designed for state capture and treasury looting. The attack on Ahoada East sole administrator in which he was beaten to stupor for not sharing council funds to his bosses opened the pandora box.
Both partisan and non partisan persons, Wikematics and Simplified in the state have resolved to fight this common foe with their all. They’re irked at the brazen open looting of the treasury and appalled that strangers are the ones feeding fat from such loots.
One fallout for sure is that, despite tribal and political differences, the people have come to know their real adversaries, fueling the realisation that true and genuine peace will come in 2027. That’s when they’ll collectively vote in leaders with the best interests of the state, who would galvanize the people into the much desired peace.
For now, the onus is on Rivers people. Strength and unity before peace.
Memoye Ikiti Oghu is the Editor of Thescale.com.ng and can be reached on 07052371385 or thescale24@gmail.com and all other social media channels.
