Rivers state and the 48 laws of power

When things fall apart, the center won’t hold anymore. This is the situation in Rivers State. Twenty-seven State House of Assembly members recently decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC). The Assembly is a 32-member unicameral legislature. This is unprecedented.

The story of Rivers State supports the truism that there is a thin line between love and hate. The line is so thin that you could hardly notice if you bask in the euphoria that politics is for the fainthearted. Politics is for men and not boys. It is a game in which the winner takes all. There are no compromises, and as such, once you make a move, do not retreat and be ready for the consequences.

Clint Eastwood starred in a 1966 epic film, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. In one of the scenes, he was in a bathtub, and an enemy rounded him up—the lousy guy elected to rant instead of taking out his long-sought target. Clint Eastwood had a gun with him. Swiftly, he shot at the bad guy. He said, “When you have to shoot, shoot, and don’t talk.”

That scene in the movie was instructive, and it leads us to one of the 48 laws of power, a book written by Robert Greene, an American author. “The 48 Laws of Power is a self-help book offering advice on how to gain and maintain power, using lessons drawn from parables and the experiences of historical figures.”

Law 15 says Crush Your Enemy. “To crush your enemy partially means that they will eventually recover and seek revenge. Ultimately, you can only gain peace and serenity if your enemies cease to exist. If you remove all of your opponent’s options, they will have no choice but to bend to your will.” Was this the former governor’s joker?

Could this be what is playing out in Rivers State? I will give two examples: a Federal High Court issued a restraining order preventing the Rivers State Government from obstructing the State House of Assembly from performing its statutory duties and business. The Court further prohibited the State Government from “withholding any amount standing to the credit of Rivers State House of Assembly in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State, including salaries and emoluments due and payable to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other members.”

The Court also restrained Governor Simi Fubara from removing or transferring the House Clerk and Deputy Clerk. Some days later, 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members decamped. What a pleasant coincidence.

There are different versions of what caused the rift between the former and present governor. Some argued that it came too early. However, the former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose, jokingly warned Governor Simi Fubara. He said, “God will help you; don’t see more than what you should see. When you want to see more than what you are supposed to see, you will begin to see spirits. I know Wike. If he says he will fight you, it’s either you surrender or look for that trouble to the end.” The audience erupted in laughter. But it was a counsel that was ignored.

Did the governor attempt to see beyond what he is not supposed to see? Is he now seeing spirits? Let us be the judge. But I will state my opinion. There was a breach somewhere. Please, let’s leave morality out of the equation. He that is without sin should be the first to cast the stone. And if there is none without sin, let’s be circumspect in our analysis of what is playing out in Rivers State.

There is a relationship history between the former governor and the current governor. Permit me to use the word “was.” He was an ally and the money man of the state. He was the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Rivers State Government House under Wike in 2015. He became a Permanent Secretary in 2020. The same year, he was appointed Accountant General of the State. This is a long history of trust.

He was the chosen one, and he emerged as governor against all odds. Discussions must have been held, and agreements were reached due to the long relationship history. Trust, they say, is a burden. “How should trust work? Is trust an entitlement, something to be expected in a relationship? Can trust cover for mistakes and transgressions? Wherein lies the burden of trust—the giver or the receiver?” This is a tough one.

I asked earlier if there was a breach. Was trust betrayed? “Trust not only disposes us to feel betrayed, trust can be betrayed. Understanding what a betrayal of trust is requires understanding how trust can ground an obligation on the part of the trusted person to act specifically as trusted.” Only the former governor and the present governor are in a position to understand this.

I also stated that we should leave morality out of the equation. Even in law, morality is contested. “The law does not set out to legislate against sin. This is because there are no uniform moral standards, and between the extremes of maximum and minimum,” Betrayal of trust erodes the foundation of every relationship.

I will use alternate history to make my point. The former and current governors agreed on dos and don’ts. The trust was not betrayed, and there is peace in Rivers State. Twenty-seven members of the State House of Assembly didn’t decamp, and Governor Sim Fubara was not under any threat of impeachment. That is alternate history. It is not the reality.

The reality is that something went wrong. The center can no longer hold. One party made a move and retreated. This is contrary to Law 15 of the 48 laws of power. The other party is going all out. This is in conformity with Law 15 of the 48 laws of power. When things fall apart, the center won’t hold. Absolute power corrupts, and it corrupts absolutely.

Ocheja, a military historian and doctoral researcher, can be reached via [email protected]