Police, SSS Exposed Odili

Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, Rivers State Commissioner for Information, tells OKAFOR OFIEBOR that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission relied on reports submitted by the Police and the State Security Service

Q: To what will you ascribe the hot exchanges between the  Rivers State Government and the camp of former governor, Dr. Peter Odili, over the report and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
A: Anybody who has any misgivings should read the findings and recommendations of the Commission. Retired Justice Kayode Eso is one of Nigeria’s finest judges. He has, over the years, built impeccable integrity. I like to commend the reaction of Professor Itse Sagay to Abiye Sekibo’s comments on the revered jurist. Sekibo spoke about Eso as if he was a piece of cloth. Nothing can be farther from the truth. I do not know anything about Dr. Odili’s camp, but I do know that there’s an effort by the Rivers people to come to terms with the events of their past and use that as a genuine basis for reconciliation. Rather than cast aspersions on the document, I’d recommend that those who are attacking the integrity of Eso or the report, which they have not read,  first read the report. It is only when they read the extent that the Commission had acted that they can hold opinions. If what Eso said while presenting his report, which is also contained in the report and which neither Abiye Sekibo nor Odili has been able to address, is that if there be any negative thing said against them, they are contained in the SSS and Police files submitted to the Commission. That is the key. All this name calling is an attempt to pull wool over the eyes of Nigerians. I think that there are people with analytical minds, who can read between the lines. What we should be asking is: Was there indeed an SSS report? Was there a Police report? If there were, what were the contents of the reports at the time these men were at the helm of affairs in the state. I think these men should do more to attack both the Police and SSS reports, not the integrity of Justice Eso. I do not need to hold brief for Justice Eso because posterity will vindicate the respected jurist.

Q:  Many people reckon that the next governorship election is at the heart of the fierce dispute between Governor Amaechi and Dr. Odili. How would you react to this?
A: They are missing the point. This matter should purely be seen from the perspective that the establishment of the commission was purely an arrangement to hunt for the truth and reconcile people, who needed to unburden themselves. I do not know about 2011. I will prefer to get to the bridge before crossing it. The point is that we have a government to run. Those who impute politics in what we are doing are merely diversionary and not being sincere to themselves. Odili has done the maximum eight-year tenure and so, he is not a candidate for future governorship elections. In truth, we feel shy talking about him. At least, history records that he is one the political leaders of the state. Rather than exchanging words, we like to see a situation where we sit down to discuss the future of Rivers State and our people. What our people expect us to do is resolve the differences, if any, within the political class. The differences led to the destruction of whole communities, the psyche of so many people that made them to live in fear. We have to find a way of generating confidence. I think that is what those who call themselves leaders in the state  are expected to do. Now that we know what could be called ‘a missing part of Rivers history,’ we have go back to the basics and use it for the development of our state. Part of the recommendations of Justice Eso is that we should create a permanent structure for resolving internal conflicts. He said that was not done in South Africa and he hopes that Rivers State will go beyond the South African experience.

Q: Do you think that the Commission achieved the objective for which it was established–reconciling aggrieved people in the state?
A: To a large extent, the Commission did. The mere fact that it was able to delve into the root of the crisis that engulfed the state, that it gave people the opportunity to unburden themselves and bring to the fore the causes of the crisis, it has achieved its purpose. Do not forget that reconciliation is a process and it is not something that you can achieve in one day. Emotions may be high now and people are blowing hot, but when egos are out of the way, we will come to the  table to discuss interests that are common to us all. At the level of the communities, many people who had been banished from their communities for eight years have all returned home and jubilation has been the order of the day. Those who argue that the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry re-open new wounds are making a mistake. For genuine reconciliation to take place, there must be justice. It should not be forgotten that I was dragged before the commission because I replied those who tried to degrade the aim of establishing the commission by their lawyer, claiming that the Rivers State Government was not sincere in finding the truth and reconciling the people. Today, we now know who the obstacle is. Rivers people are not the obstacle. The only obstacle to reconciliation is the overblown ego of some of our sons. They should not forget that life is dynamic. They forget that times were when they called the shots. Times have changed and they have come to terms with the fact that every Rivers man is now seeing what government money can do. In two years, we have more developmental activity than in eight years. Let us collectively work for a better Rivers State. That is what Rivers people expect to see. All these claims about the Commission being set up to target some persons do not make sense to me. For the avoidance of doubt, the establishment of the Commission was made by the stakeholders. Unless somebody is saying that stakeholders do not exist in Rivers State.

Q: There are people who interpret the current developments as the parting of ways of a former political godfather and a godson. Is this right?
A: I don’t think so. Quite frankly, people are jumping the gun. In life, there must be differences. There are bound to be differences of opinion even in the same political family. They are all from the same political family and by the grace of God, they are of the “Restoration Family.” As far as we are concerned, there are some persons who are creating a wide gulf between the former governor and the incumbent. Those are the ones using the respected former governor as cannon fodder. It is certainly not Governor Amaechi who is fanning embers of trouble; it is Abiye Sekibo. If he wants to fight Amaechi, he should be a man. He should come out and fight and stop hiding behind Odili’s back. Odili is a father. I am sure he is not fooled by the antics of those who pretend to be fighting on his side. Most of those who did these sordid things, which brought his tenure to disrepute, are the same people creating enemies around him. Do they think the man is blind?

Q: Is Amaechi on speaking terms with Odili?
A: I don’t think that is an issue now. There could be some contact at some levels. Don’t forget that they are of the same political family, the PDP. It is not supposed to be my business to tell you that they met yesterday and they talked yesterday. What is important is that some people are trying to create differences that don’t exist and we know that these differences can be managed. I always say those of us who are information managers on both sides should be careful what we say, as they may make or mar reconciliation. On our side, reconciliation is achievable in the interest of the Rivers people. It is not a personal war between the Governor of Rivers State and his former master.

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