Taming the Madness in Rivers
It was three consecutive weeks yesterday since the All Progressives Congress (APC) commenced the process to its national convention, starting with the ward, local government and state congresses. Although the turn of events in many of the states has been disappointing to say the least, what has so far played out in Rivers State appears the most ugly across the states.
With the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, on the one hand, and Senator Magnus Abe on the other hand, Rivers has started walking its way to a gruesomely violent election in 2019.
Whilst it may be too early to apportion blames, both sides of the divide must roll back their propensity for violence, otherwise, state intervention might be necessary.
Unfortunately, the national leadership of the APC has maintained an unfortunate silence on the situation in Rivers, a development that has further encouraged the current brigandage and by extension, aggravating the already deteriorating atmosphere of insecurity in the state as well as creating needless anxiety in the countdown to 2019. What is going on in Rivers APC is irresponsible and condemnable by all standards.
The trend of events in the state is consistent with the disposition of its politicians to power.Yet, it portends huge threat to democracy and should be condemned.