Wike's G5 flies like a G6, By Osmund Agbo

In American pop culture, there is such an expression as "fly like a G6". It's a thing among Millennials and Gen-Z. G6, short for Gulfstream G650, is a brand of private jets manufactured by luxury aircraft manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace. But the phrase actually comes from the lyrics of the hit song "Rocketeer" which took the world by storm when it was released in 2010, by Asian-American hip-hop group, Far East Movement and featured Ryan Tedder from One Republic. Like most songs I love, my wife sometimes reminds me of how I used to play Rocketeer on repeat, to everyone's anger and frustration. But that's a topic for another day. Either way, when someone flies like a G6, such a person is considered cool, confident, and as one can imagine, super rich.

In an article written by yours truly and published in Sahara reporters on May 16, 2020 titled “Gov. Wike and the Culture of Waste in Nigeria,” I wrote, “As PDP Governor of Rotimi Amechi’s River State, I had since concluded that Nyesom Wike’s heart was carved out of raw steel . When he went head-to-head with APC thugs during his re-election campaign in 2018, many predicted a faith no different from that of former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State. In the end, he turned out to be the biblical David whose single slingshot was enough to demolish the mighty Goliath. Out came a battle-hardened, typhoon-ravaged warrior. Since then, this Rumuepirikom-born lawyer has fought more battles than the most decorated general in the Nigerian army. Today, Wike is still waging its many wars. The only difference is that this time his war chest is now heavier so he flies like a G6 and loves it. The Governor is jealously positioned as that most beautiful bride courted by a coterie of the rich and famous.

Just to be clear, I'm not a big fan of Nyesom Wike. Not even a chance. In fact, I find him loud, brash, bossy and with an extremely unpleasant attitude. The man who, in the world of Achebe, had his palm kernel broken by the benevolent spirit has no interest in being humble. He tolerates no opposition and takes his fights to the gutters. He treats River State as he would treat his personal property. Not too long ago he stood in front of national television and denied his Igboness. The man was convinced that such an association would darken his prospects in the Nigerian political space. But in this fight with Atiku and the new PDP, many in Southern Nigeria are one hundred percent with him this time and applaud his G5 group's stance.

Previously, many have pointed to the 2009 PDP constitution, Article 7(2c) which states that: "Under the principle of fairness, justice and equity, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices, and its enforcement is ensured by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.’ Yet Atiku and those who championed its emergence have argued that the PDP should abandon zoning to allow the best candidate to emerge. It turns out that this best candidate is a serial loser who, in the last election, couldn't even defeat a man with an awful record as the worst president in the Nigeria's post-independence history. But here's the kicker, even after clinching the party's presidential ticket, the north still retains the slot for the national presidency. This means the only position left to their southern brethren in this new PDP is to stay known r the key and cheer until the cows go home. Haba!

Apart from the fact that the populations of the South-South and South-East have been the most loyal to the DPP, it is logical that after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner of Fulani origin, the next president of the Nigeria should come from the South, especially the South East. Since zoning, much like affirmative action implemented in the United States, is far from perfect, justice always demands inclusiveness and equitable representation. Recall that in 2015 when President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan was ousted from power, notable northerners saw zoning as reasonable for fairness and argued that to keep Nigeria as one, zoning and the rotating presidency should be on today's agenda. Today, Wike and his G5 members insist that such a gentleman's agreement must be respected. But we are asked to disregard Wike because h...