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| Hon Ken Minimah : Chairman Rivers APC New Media Team |
I ventured into active party politics in 1999, working with my father of blessed memory, Warisenibo Godwin O. C. Minimah, popularly known and addressed as "GOC", who rose to the position of National Treasurer, ALL PEOPLES PARTY(APP), as at the 1999 general election.
After the election where H.E OBJ of the PDP got elected as president, with APP clinching a few states and stood as the major opposition party. Afterwards, I decided to join the PDP in the year 2001, outside my father's political ideology and party affiliation. Though, it was a very tough decision to make and implement, as I sought to join those whom were my father's political opponents. It was indeed a difficult task, as my late father was my inspiration, my friend, my brother, my benefactor and close confidant.
Eventually, I consulted with him, sought for his advice and blessing, to enable me join the PDP, which he gave, though reluctantly, since it was within my rights, as an adult, while also avoiding to hurt our cordial father and son relationship. It was at this point that I went to pledge my political loyalty to AOS Sam Sam Jaja, PhD( BOT member APC) and declared to join his political linage then in the PDP, which he accept and adopted me as a political son.
By 2002/3, AOS Dakuku Adol Peterside, as CTC Chairman of ONOLGA, offered me appointment as a Protocol Officer to his office, I accepted and resumed work with him. Within 2002 - 2012, I successfully held several LGA political offices, such as; CSO to ONOLGA council/chairman, Senior Special Adviser, Supervisor Youths/Sports, Ward Councilor and others.
My prominence and political sojourn climaxed in the year 2006, when H.E CRA was maliciously/illegal substituted as the gubernatorial flag bearer of the PDP, after he had successfully emerged as the party's flag bearer in a keenly contested and transparently conducted party primaries election. At this juncture, I actually wasn't close Amaechi, my link to him was through Hon. Dakuku Peterside, my immediate political boss and leader, but from afar, I had this strong respect and admiration for Amaechi's personality and life style, haven diligently served as the Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker for 8yrs and Speaker of All Assembly Speakers for about same duration.
Going into the 2007 general elections, I had this very firm believe that CRA will succeed his political boss and benefactor, H.E Odili. I also had this premonition that he will perform well as a governor, hence I put my all to the actualization of this vision. As at when he was illegally stripped-off of his rightfully won gubernatorial flag of the PDP, by H.E OBJ, H.E Odili and the then PDP leadership, replacing him with his cousin Barr. Omehia, I was the ONOLGA CSO. The Rivers PDP then under Dr. Odili, became divided into two factions, the Omehia group and the Ameachi group. I opted to stay with the Amaechi group, while my then principal, the Chairman of ONOLGA, who appointed me as his CSO, was on the side of Omehia. This cost me the CSO appointment by the council chairman, since I chose to follow the Dakuku-Amaechi group and I had no regrets for my decision.
Early 2007, few weeks before the general elections, I was involved in a fisticuffs with some members of the Omehia group in my home town, Opobo, which later resulted to a full blown clash, where a mob was mobilized to attack me and others, perceived to be supporters of CRA. Though, I managed to defend myself, they overpowered us, used the mobile police and a gang of cultists(mob) to molest and arrest me and four others, detained us at the Opobo police station, on the grounds of "orders from above". The next morning, men of the Nigerian mobile police from PH, stormed the Opobo police station and moved us to the Anti-Robbery police detention at Bori, with verbal "orders from above".
By midnight of same day, while in Bori police detention, men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) stormed the station in a commando style, harassed the police officers on duty to submission and whisked us away without any formal documentation, but stated that the operation was an "order from above".
The men of SARS, physically abused and tortured us mercilessly, falsely alleging that we are "armed robbers/hired assassins", falsely claimed that I led a gang sponsored by DAP, to assassinate our LGA chairman(my former boss) who escaped, but wickedly lied that we robbed him of several millions of Naira. After about 1hr of torture and abuse along the Bori-Sakpenwa rd, threatening to kill us, if we don't confess to the allegations and return the money.
This was happening within the ungodly hours of 1-2am. Somehow, the God of miracle touched the leader of the team, who suddenly realized that they've been deceived by those who sent them, he ordered his men to stop further torture, and drove us straight to the SARS office at Borikiri. After a few hours of mild interrogation/phone calls to Opobo, the SARS leader pronounced that, I and the others were innocent of the allegations, stating that he has gotten credible information from the Opobo DSS office, that there was a clash between CRA & Omehia factions in Opobo, and there was nothing like robbery or assassination attempt, because the LGA chairman, who claimed to have escaped assassination and robbed, was no where near Opobo on that date.
SARS had to detain us in their cell that night(early morning), waiting for the next day. By daybreak, my late father, emissaries from Dakuku and others approached the Bori police Station, demanding to see us, asking for our immediate release, the DPO thought that the men of SARS would've summarily executed us that night, denied and claimed that nobody like Ken Minimah and four others were ever arrested by his men or detained in the Bori police Station. The hell let loose within my family and the DAP political family, everyone was terrified and alarmed.
At this time, we were inside the SARS cell at Borokiri in PH, an experience I term to be the worst all my lifetime. At about noon, through the instrumentality of Hon. Dakuku, all hands on deck, State CP followed up and got credible intelligence of our secret incarceration at SARS Borikiri. He immediately ordered the then SARS commander to transfer us to the SIIB PH. The SARS officers who whisked us from Bori were arrested and detained at same SIIB, but were later release after 2-3days. But, our ordeal continued, as the member representing ONOLGA at the Assembly then and the council chairman, who were behind the SARS operation and our persecution didn't relent.
They now perfected and forwarded a petition to the CP, alleging "assassination attempt and armed robbery", with a target to charge us to court and get us remanded in prison custody.
God of the innocent showed His hand of miracle again, after we had spent about 2wks in SIIB detention. God used a police officer to intercept their evil plot, where our persecutors had cooked their plans to charge us to court for "armed robbery and assassination attempt", before a compromised court/judge, using "orders from above", even though police investigation had exonerated us from any such crime. The officer, secretly came to the cell, called me out and demanded that I urgently give him the contact of my people, that it was urgent and very important, I gave him Dakuku's number, which I had off-hand.
While the evil aggressors were waiting for Thurs to execute their evil plot, DAP swung into action, with the help of the good police officer, who revealed how he intercepted an intelligence and gang up to send me and four others to prison, so the next day being Wednesday, the police adjusted our charges and took us to a magistrate court in PH, which was presided over by Her Excellency, Justice(Mrs) Nyesom Wike, and charged us for "disturbance of public peace and unlawful gathering capable of leading to breakdown of law & order". We pleaded "not guilty" to the charges, after a few questions from the presiding magistrate, Mrs Wike granted us bail as argued by our lawyers and adjourned the case for further hearing. After two adjournments, where the prosecutors couldn't produce a single witness to prove their case, but several witnesses appeared to testify for us, the matter was struck out, all accused persons discharged and acquitted. Till date, I am still appreciative of Her Excellency Suzette Wike for that judgement.
Upon my freedom and acquittal, the judicial struggle to reclaim CRA's mandate has commenced and I was committed to this project with my body and soul. After the general elections of 2007, Barr. Celestine Omehia was sworn in as governor in error and after the unforgettable hectic judicial battle that lasted about 7-8months, the Supreme Court in her wisdom, declare H.E CRA as the substantive and duly elected governor of Rivers State in the month of October 2007, in a historical landmark judgement, which faulted the substitution of CRA as the flag bearer of the party and declared that his substitution was illegal and lacked cogent reasons, that Amaechi should be sworn in as governor of Rivers State.
H.E CRA performed excellently and exceptionally well in all facets of governance, leaving behind monumental legacies and high profile developmental infrastructures, reasonably touching all 23lga's. With verifiable empirical evidences, H.E CRA can be rightly referenced as the best governor Rivers State had ever produced in her history till date, comparable to only H.E Diete Spiff.
Towards the end of H,E CRA's 2nd-tenure, a new political phase of my life had evolved. I had graduated into a more serious career politician, under the CRA's political family and school of thought, I naturally followed and stood firmly by CRA during the "operation destroy Amaechi" and all he stands for, by all means humanly possible. The principal actors who sort to extinguish CRA include, but not limited to the former First Lady Mrs Jonathan and Barr. Nyesome Wike, while President GEJ looked the other way and even encouraged the onslaught against CRA, ignoring all attempts at reconciliation and played a demy god, until destiny and God's will vindicated CRA and humbled all his adversaries.
Religiously following H.E CRA, I joined the APC in 2013 and by 2015, APC won the Presidential election, majority of the States governments and NASS seats, thereby democratically defeated the ruling PDP, displaced them and formed the incumbent PMB-APC led federal government. Unfortunately, using the instrumentality of former President Jonathan(federal power), who was still on seat after loosing his own election, Barr. Wike and the PDP, grossly manipulated the 2015 election results in Rivers State. They successfully compromised the security architecture for the election, brazenly influenced the electoral umpire and unleashed unimaginable scale of violence against CRA and all those who dared to oppose the PDP in Rivers. In the process, hundreds of innocent souls where sent to their untimely grave and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.
The scale of political violence that engulfed Rivers was so high that the Supreme Court ratified and approved the relocation of Rivers post-election tribunals to Abuja, as already held by the lower & Appeal courts, in her judgement, they ruled in favor of DAP/APC, where they held that, "Rivers State was like a theatre of war, the periods before, during and after the 2015 elections, hence the lives of Judiciary workers can't be put at risk". Little wonder how the same Supreme Court impliedly reverse herself, in the case between Dakuku/APC vs Wike/PDP, where they held that the Rivers election was free and fair, thereby upholding the election result that declared Wike/PDP as winners of the gubernatorial election, this is after the lower court and the Appeal court had ruled in favor of DAP/APC, canceling the gubernatorial election.
The unanswered question, still begging for answer is; how could a "credible, free and fair election", as held by the Supreme Court be possible in a territory the same Supreme Court had earlier adjudge to be "likened to a theatre of war, where the lives of judiciary workers can't be put to risk"?
During the Rivers post election judicial tussles, two senatorial districts, several House of Reps constituencies and House of Assembly elections were cancelled by the tribunals and rerun elections ordered. INEC obeyed the court orders and conducted two legislative rerun elections on the 19th of March and December 10th 2016 respectively. Since the President Jonathan's induced "superman(High-Tension)" status and "false confidence" had vacated Gov Wike, APC convincingly won and recovered two Senatorial Districts, which includes Wike's own Senatorial district, out of the three(3) Districts in Rivers State, several House of Reps constituencies and several Assembly seats, to the admiration of Rivers people.
Repercussion and karma apparently set sail to Wike's shores, with the ascension of his political Boss and benefactor, to the office of Fed Minister and now DG PMB's reelection Campaign Organization. Wike is now embattled and vulnerable. Worst-still, Gov Wike has failed to offer meaningful and purposeful leadership to Rivers people, judging from all ramifications. Wike is running a one man govt, where all principal political office holders in his cabinet, both elected and appointed are mere appendages and stooges. He has crippled the local governments, embezzled and subverted her allocations for over 3yrs now. The State judiciary has been nicknamed "Wike's supermarket", where judgements are procured at random. The State House of Assembly lacks independence and a complete puppet in the hands of the governor, as rightly exposed by Hon. Byke Nwanjoku of the APC, who was illegally suspended by the House leadershi and Hon. Martins Manna of the PDP, who recently defected to APC.
Those who address governor Wike as "Mr. Project", are paid political "praise singers", because in reality, the governor has done nothing tangible to merit any such title. The two biggest projects, embarked upon by governor Wike so far are; the sponsorship of PDP Nigeria and his personal house projects. Wike's private castle(house) is bigger than the current Rivers government House, a project he started and completed while in office as governor, estimated to be worth several billions of Naira. The house at talk, is bigger and more expensive than any single state project he has embarked upon as governor. While the money he has so far invested in trying to control, revive and reposition PDP is more than that which he has invested in any program or infrastructure in Rivers State.
On the strength of the above, as the 2019 general elections set in, it's pertinent to remind the Nigerian populace and Rivers people that governor Wike and the PDP violently rigged the 2015 general elections and afterwards have also failed to provide purposeful leadership. Therefore, the stage is set for an electoral rematch cum APC comeback, as recently witnessed in Ekiti state and the result won't be any different. As the election approaches, it's obvious that governor Wike will fly the PDP's gubernatorial flag, while the APC has the likes of Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Senator Magnus Abe, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs and Comrade Celestine Akpobari, as her likely candidate(flag bearer).
Finally, on the strength of the above knowledge and political experience, haven extensively consulted widely and asked for almighty God's guidance, I solemnly wish to declare as follows today;
*That amongst the above listed possible APC gubernatorial aspirants, should Hon. Dakuku Adol Peterside, incumbent DG NIMASA declare interest to contest for the APC gubernatorial flag, I Ken Minimah, my family, my friends and my political associates will support Dakuku physically, morally,financially, spiritually and otherwise. For the following reasons;
1. Dakuku lost the 2015 election to high scale violence and undisputed electoral malpractice, hence he naturally and justifiably deserves another chance, more so now that the factors which favored Wike/PDP are no more. Just like the legislators who got 2nd and third chances.
2. Going by Dakuku's disposition currently, it's my opinion that he is eminently more qualified and prepared for the position than Wike and any other aspirant, considering his outstanding excellent leadership qualities, as displayed in the various offices he has held in the past. Under Dr. Peter Odili, Dakuku was declared as the best CTC chairman by the governor himself, as Commissioner for works under Gov. Amaechi, his signature can be seen everywhere, as he successfully supervised the design and construction of the highest number/quality of roads, drainages and bridges/flyovers infrastructure in the entire history of Rivers state.
3. Dakuku's integrity is exceptionally excellent, considering that between 1999 to date, he has held the positions of SA to governor Peter Odili on Students Affairs, CTC LGA Chairman, SA to governor Peter Odili on Works, Commissioner for works under H.E. Amaechi, member of House of Reps 2011-15 and DG NIMASA 2016-date, yet DAP has never been sacked in any of the above capacities, neither had he been found wanting or culpable in any unusual circumstance. Till date, the Dakuku Peterside I know has never been indicted or invited to answer to any single case of corruption by any of the Anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.
4. Dakuku's loyalty to friendship is exceptional, as displayed by his political father/son relationship with AOS Sam Sam Jaja, and prominently his senior/junior brother political relationship with his boss/benefactor, H.E CRA and a few others, spanning well over 25yrs without a break.
5. Lastly, Dakuku is the youngest, most vibrant and most popular possible Gubernatorial hopeful in Rivers today. As the current DG NIMASA, he has repackaged/repositioned NIMASA, turned her into a world reputable and very efficient agency, wining local and international accolades. PMB and FEC, have on different occasions applauded Dakuku's ingenuity. Hence, Rivers State deserves a Dakuku Petreside as governor in 2019.
*That, I Ken-Minimah, irrespective of the induced and forced defections that greeted the APC from the NASS, I will remain in the APC led by Hon. Ojukaye, follow H.E CRA and vote for PMB in 2019.
*Lastly, that I Ken-Minimah is nursing a political ambition, I will likely present myself for an elective position in the forthcoming 2019 election, on the platform of APC, that is, if my ongoing consultations with party leaders and critical stake holders of my constituency yields positive result, God Being my Helper.
Ken Minimah
Chairman, Rivers APC New Media Team
Writing from Port-Harcout.
7th August, 2018.
Well said my chairman
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