There are generals with troops and those who have no troops. Of the 12 aspirants who subjected themselves to the outsourced consensus arrangement by CRA faction of Rivers APC, two have troops . The two without doubt are Dakuku Peterside and Ojukaye Flag Amachree.
Since after the ill-fated decision to present Tonye Cole as consensus candidate of the riverine extraction in APC, these two have kept sealed lips. Dakuku is known to be outspoken but on this occasion he has said nothing . Ojukaye is known for action, he too has not taken action. The silence of these two political generals have unsettled the rank and file of APC, including the leadership . Conspiracy theories have gone to work .
PDP chieftains who are more interested in Rivers APC matter than APC members say three things are in the offing. The first is that Wike will call Dakuku and ask him to nominate a Deputy Governor plus 3 commissioners . The second is that Dakuku, better known as DAP may align with Magnus to redeem his political career Amaechi wants to destroy at all cost . The third theory is that DAP may buy form and run the primaries on his own accord . APC insiders say they are 100% sure DAP will not do deal with Wike .
The same PDP conspiracy theorists believes Ojukaye, also known as OJ Marino have three options ; one is to go with Wike for a sign on fee . Two is to buy APC form and run on his own hoping to benefit from mass protest against the choice of Tonye Cole . The third is Ojukaye may move to another platform to actualize his ambition . The same PDP sources confirmed that this uncertainty is also affecting Wike who is reading the situation in APC. Wike is worried according to the source that any move made by Dakuku will be consequential because of his footprint in all LGAs and popular support . Not quite sure of what Dakuku will do has held his back from endorsing any candidate . The PDP sources claim that an alliance among the trio of Magnus Abe, Dumo Briggs and Dakuku Peterside will alter all calculations about Rivers Governorship.
This is where the silence of the generals are no longer golden.
APC members on the other hand are worried . Any funny move by Dakuku will cause a permanent crack in APC for which it will be impossible to recover before 2023. APC sources claim Dakuku has a deeper knowledge of the internal workings of APC than Magnus Abe and had his own structure in the LGAs well organized than Magnus . Ojukaye’s movement on the other hand will bury any advantage APC plans to harvest in Kalabari which will make a mess of the party’s strategic plan . Magnus Abe is believed to be waiting in the wings to reap from the crisis.
PDP insiders claim Wike had almost settled for one Fubara who is his accountant general but is re-evaluating the situation . Second option for Wike , according to the source is Kamalu, his commissioner of finance . Whichever way it goes, there is full blown confusion in Rivers State . The silence of the most visible grassroots generals in APC is complicating the matter.
A stitch in time saves nine .
Eno can be reached on [email protected]
