Recently, Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of Rivers State took a swipe at one of the most reputable and respected veteran Northern politicians, Sule Lamido of jigawa State, gov Wike alluded that Lamido’s political irrelevance and his ambition to create a political dynasty was the cause of PDP’s inability to win the state in 2015.
This statement did not only expose Wike’s harbored treachery, but also flaunted his pathological lust to spread spurious statements against his perceived political opponents. The remarks further displayed Wike’s arrant ignorance of the trajectories of Northern politics as well as the charismatic traits of notable Northern politicians.
For the record of all repentant militants, Sule Lamido is a well respected Northern elder, a charismatic politician, a role model to many upcoming politicians as well as a founding father of numerous Northern political formations, including the PDP, the party that offered Wike the opportunity to ride on its back and become the governor he is today, a position that lends him the audacity to utter such filthy unsavory remarks on the person of our political father, Sule Lamido.
For Wike’s record, the PDP he now wants to bulldoze because he is intoxicated by the opium of power and taxpayers money, was a product of Sule Lamido’s selfless sacrifice. Lamido and his allies such as Solomon Lar, Adamu Chiroma and Bola Ige initiated the G9 and G18 at the aftermath of June 12 elections to checkmate what they termed as Abacha’s quest for perpetuating power. They were jailed by Abacha in 1993 and remained there till after his death. This sacrifice, and a lot more at a time Wike was a pip-squeak, was what led to the formation of PDP, the party Wike is presently bragging to have pocketed.
In Nigeria’s political history, no personality can match Lamido’s political pedigree in the entire South-south. This I can say anywhere without an iota of fear of contradiction.
Lamido attained this revered political pedigree not through the misappropriation of 13% deprivation proceeds, because his state doesn’t even enjoy that. His state is one of those at the bottom of revenue allocation recipient list.
Sule Lamido earned his political relevance with no UMPADEC or NDDC proceeds, no orchestration of illegal refineries, no militancy and no bunkering. He earned his relevance through selfless services to humanity, patriotism and genuine commitment to nation building, by the will of Allah.
If there is one person battling with ‘relevance crisis’, that person should be Nyesom Wike. He rose to where he is today politically through gangsterism and politics of psychopancy. From 2011 to 2015 he was on Goodluck Jonathan’s political chess board. The manner Jonathan used him to frustrate Ameachi’s progressive government, thereby scuttling huge developmental projects of the state is on record.
Wike’s undoing as a governor and his vehement suppression of opposition is not hidden.
The despotic role played by Wike during the 2019 presidential elections by orchestrating thuggery and violence against opposition and INEC material is well on recorded. Many well meaning indigenes of Rivers state have lamented the near state of anarchy Rivers was plunged into. lives were lost, properties destroyed and materials vandalized. All in an effort to silence opposition and perpetuate himself in power.
For Wike’s record, Sule Lamido’s political legacies transcends the boundaries of Jigawa and Kano states. Sule Lamido is a national hero with stake in most of the good policies PDP was able to execute during its 16 years reign. He was part and parcel of all the formation and strengthening of structures, Institutions and programs that PDP achieved in its four-terms rule.
Many of the Federal developmental projects Wike and the people of Rivers are currently enjoying courtesy of PDP have Sule Lamido’s input.
All these achievements of an outstanding founding father are born out of experience and foresight. Lamido was an active member of People’s Redemption Party (PRP) during the 2nd Republic, and a founding member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the aborted 3rd republic.
A minister in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s government, a two-times governor, and a founding father of PDP. Sule Lamido has been on think tank if the PDP, a presidential primaries aspirant and a member of governing council of federal boards.
Wike Should know that if it were not for the fact that Nigeria’s politics has been basterdised, he is not worthy for the position of PA to Sule Lamido.
Adamu is Special Adviser to Dr Sule Lamido on Media, writes from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa state via amu3333@yahoo.com
