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Governor Odili, What is the Source of the Naira Shower? By Bright Adeola Coker
It is no longer news that Governor Peter Odili of the oil rich Rivers State is interested in contesting the 2007 presidential election. What might be news to some people is that His Excellency have been spending unimaginable amount of money to pursue his ambition. Whether this spending spree is right or not should be a topic for discussion another day.
At one time, the news making the round was that President Olusegun Obasanjo had anointed Governor Odili as his successor. This was widely accepted because of his close relationship with President Obasanjo and the fact that he comes from a zone that has not produced the leader for this country in the last forty years. President Obasanjo is believed to have jettisoned this idea because of Odili's secret campaign against the tenure elongation project. To this end, Olusegun Obasanjo is believed to be considering the anointment of one of his kitchen cabinet members or a governor from the north for the ticket.
The above scenario notwithstanding, Peter Odili has carried on undaunted as if to say with or without Obasanjo's blessing, his ambition stands realized. I pitch my tent with Peter Odili on this note because I belong to the school of though that it is the Nigerian electorates that will ultimately decides on who governs them.
Peter Odili believes in the power of the electorate and has, therefore, decided to take his case to them. The manner, in which he has gone out to execute this, is what I'm not comfortable with. He is desperate to get the endorsement of those that matter in the society. His calculation is that once these leaders can endorse him, then getting the votes of the larger society won't be a problem since these leaders have a hold on their followers and hence their votes.
It is in the process of getting the endorsement that he has to expend a huge chunk of resources to achieve his aim. He started by inviting religious leaders, and their entourage, to his state to see the 'good work' he has carried out so far. All expenses [airfare, accommodation, feeding etc] relating to the visit are promptly settled by the Governor. At the end of the visit, the guests return home smiling to their banks. Next on the line are the traditional leaders who get the same treatment like the religious leaders. Other leaders of thought in the society are not left out.
The practice world over is that political office seekers organize launching to solicit for funds to offset political related expenses. This is because of the high cost associated with political activities. Peter Odili, to the best of my knowledge, has not publicly solicited for funds. But the manner in which he has been showering the naira rain all around is very astonishing. For example, Odili was said to have given a mouth watering sum of N50,000,000 to Lamidi Adedibu, the self acclaimed strongman of Ibadan politics. This is just for an individual who is fast losing relevance in the scheme of things. Adedibu's numerous political associates in the state were not left out of Odili's largesse.
Peter Odili is also said to have given the speaker of the House of Representative, Alhaji Aminu Masari, a whopping sum of N700,000,000 to pursue his gubernatorial ambition. In all states of the federation Odili visits, the tale of his naira shower is all the same. The PDP national executives at the Wadata plaza are still basking in the aftermath of the naira shower. The garrison commander holding forth at the PDP secretariat best captures the scenario by his expression, 'ọja mị nta da da' i.e. my market is flourishing.
On advertisement, giant billboards litter the streets of our major cities across the country. Print and electronic media are having a nice time with jingles, colour adverts, documentaries etc. Africa Independent Television [AIT] is to Odili what NTA is to the federal government as he is believed to own substantial shares in the private television station. There has been an upward review in AIT's rates to ward-off other presidential aspirants who may want to patronize them.
I find it difficult to believe that His Excellency has dipped his hands into the coffers of the state to pursue his personal ambition. Aside from the confrontations he is likely to have from his kinsmen, i.e. if he dares to touch the resources of the state, the anti-graft body, EFCC, would not let him be except if President Obasanjo gives him 'insurance' cover.
Therefore, we are surprised that this is happening at a time when the EFCC is canvassing against money politics. Yet no one is questioning the source of the naira rain in Port Harcourt . All we are witnessing now is just the preambles to the real show since the campaign proper has not yet commenced. One then wonders what will happen if this man eventually secures the PDP presidential ticket.
Bright Adeola Coker
Victoria Island Extension Lagos
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