2007: Will the North Betray the South south?
By Ahmed Usman
Most of us northerners would naturally want a fellow northerner to become the next president of Nigeria in May 2007. This is because everyone feels more secure when his kinsman is at the helm of affairs in any given society. But in a multi-ethnic and multi-regional country such as Nigeria, one’s kinsman would hardly be in power forever.
 This is why there is the need to consider alternatives in presidential leadership slots because no one ethnic group out of the 253 groups that make up Nigeria can be sure of producing the president at any time. This is why most of us resident in the Southern part of Nigeria felt gratified and comfortable by the recent declaration of the Arewa Professionals Forum (APF) which has appealed to northern politicians to resolve the presidential slot imbroglio with the South south amicably in view of the long-standing political cooperation between the two sides. The appeal for the north to concede to the South south has met hearts desire of many, in the sense that it would cement the alliance which began in the days of the late Pa Dapa-Biriye, Chief Melford Okilo etc and this would create future opportunities for both regions.
Now that such thinking has emerged, it is time for the north to begin to examine the character and political conduct of some South south leaders and pitch tent with anyone found to be a true ally. We find Dr. Peter Odili, the two-time governor of Rivers State as one such personality. Dr. Odili has proved to be a truly detribalised leader. It is wrong to assess an aspirant by his utterances and activities close to an election but by what he represented at ordinary times.
 Dr. Odili has since proved to be a liberal-minded ruler who would encourage all Nigerians to pursue their religious and vocational endeavours without discrimination. Though a papal Knight and Christian, he is known to have supported and donated generously towards the renovation of the National Mosque. During the launching of the appeal fund, he showed physical presence in Abuja and initiated the N10million-per-governor action. It is on record that some of the governors were unhappy to be coerced into such a donation and refused to pay it, but Dr. Odili promptly paid it for the Muslim brothers. In the true spirit of brotherhood, Muslims too were not ashamed to help when it was the turn of the Christian Ecumenical Cathedral. Through his maturity and political sagacity, he made leaders of both faiths to help each other in building national worship centres which are a pride to both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria today.
 It is also on record that Governor Odili’s administration has so far sponsored the highest number of muslim pilgrims to the Holy land, Mecca. At the moment, Rivers State ranks overall 3rd highest in number of pilgrims to Mecca even as Dr. Odili remains an exemplary Christian.
 The chairman of the National Muslim Pilgrims Board (NMPB) was so touched that he came down to Port Harcourt in 2005 and congratulated the state governor and conferred on Dr. Odili the honour and award of Most Muslim-Friendly Christian Governor in Nigeria. This has convinced all northerners and Muslims that they have an ally and partner in Dr. Odili.
 Such a trust is not frivolous. It comes in handy in times of need. We the muslims in this part of Nigeria are not in a hurry to forget that during the ethnic killings and counter-killings that swept through parts of Nigeria in the first term of the present democratic dispensation (and repeated ever after), it is on record that most Muslims found safe haven in Dr. Odili’s Port Harcourt. Dr. Odili worked round the clock to protect Muslims and northerners in the state. It was Dr. Odili who made a state policy and activated a security mechanism for full-scale protection of fleeing Muslim brothers. The entire Muslim community was so very happy about Dr. Odili’s sense of brotherhood and patriotism which they described as unprecedented. This was because, a few kilometers from Port Harcourt, the opposite was happening as northerners were massacred like birds by their fellow Nigerians. Who then is a brother except the one that comes in time of need?
Many northern students have not forgotten what happened in Jos many years ago, when no one was thinking of a presidential slot. There was bloodshed and crisis in the university town and a Rivers man, Professor Godwin Tasie, was the vice-chancellor. The Rivers State government under Dr. Odili sent relief materials and established a relief centre which was supposed to provide help to Rivers students. This Allah-sent centre eventually turned into an important centre of safety and relief for all students. It haboured and provided succour, even for former adversaries, and eventually served as a reconciliation centre.
 That is the kind of force Dr. Odili has come to represent in times of need and emergency in this country today. The families of the December Sosoliso air crash can tell better. This was one of the earliest signs and shows of humanity from Dr. Odili even when there was nothing to aspire to at the centre. It was an indication of true concern for all, north or south, Muslim or Christian. Nigerians are no stones and it is not true that genuine good works make no meaning in this country. Nigerians do not just hate persons of other tribes or religions but when some selfish leaders cause divisions for personal financial or political benefits, they pitch the common man against each other. At least, no Nigerian standing trial today for massive corruption can say he passed the huge billions to his ethnic group to share among them, yet, when he is being prosecuted, he easily claims it is ethnic persecution. Proof that ordinary Nigerians recognize a true friend and ally is the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the late MKO Abiola and (Babagana) Kingibe, a ticket believed to represent the greatest hope for Nigerians and a victory that represented the most genuine electoral breakthrough of all times in Nigeria. Nigerians simply appreciated Abiola for his unprecedented affinity with the common man across ethno-religious divides.
Most northern leaders today admire Dr. Odili the more, because they see him as selfless. His reluctance to accept several awards from respected northern institutions who felt like compensating him for what he has continued to do to the north makes him a naturally genuine man. His refusal to jump at these awards has rather earned him more respect as the northerners have found that Dr. Odili did not do those things for any reward but as a responsibility. Kindness and generosity are natural with him; else, he would have received many awards from reputable northern institutions.
Zamfara State government was so thrilled and had to write to appreciate the selfless efforts of Dr. Odili in protecting northerners in the zone. Northerners operate huge businesses with ease in Rivers State; haulage, vehicle sales and services, manufacturing, import, etc. Today, the north has bigger investments outside the north in Port Harcourt, and this is even on the increase in the wake of privatization and liberalisation of the oil and gas industry. Northern groups now look up to the Rivers State government for assistance in prosecuting worthy socio-cultural ventures just as they look up to their own governments. This expectation has not been in vain as they have received vehicle gifts and other forms of assistance to run their affairs, so long as these activities contribute to national development.
There is always a meeting point in humanity. Comfort is an important factor in attitude and response, and whoever provides comfort to the masses is truly in their heart, Muslim or Christian. A leader who cares for the comfort of the masses is a friend to all, no matter the ethnic group. Often, it is one’s kinsman that is his greatest threat or undoing.
The welfare programmes of the Rivers State government especially in the areas of health, education, transport, social benefits etc. are also available to other Nigerians and residents of the state without discrimination. The wife of the Governor, Justice Mary Odili, founder of The Adolescent Project (TAP), has opened her doors to the people of Rivers State and non indigenes alike and today, many of them are proud graduands of the skill acquisition programme with start up kits and credit facilities to start life on a new platform of convenience.
Besides being a friend of the north, Odili as a leader is charismatic and understands service delivery to the people and many believe that all that a leader needs is vision and political will to do what is right. Dr. Odili demonstrated a clear understanding of some national problems early in power at state level and set out, despite limited conditions, to address them. He unleashed kindness to the masses of Rivers State by clearing all salaries and allowances owed to civil servants in the state as soon as he stepped in to power. This was when he was earning the same amount with most other states in the zone. He abolished all fees paid in schools up to secondary school level, released 75 buses to carry school children to and from school, free, and has increased bursary from N2,500 to N20,000 to university students of Rivers State origin. He immediately undertook payment of all WAEC/NECO/NABTEB examination fees, and the wife, Justice Mary, embarked on recouping school dropouts and girls ruined by unwanted pregnancy through her award-winning TAP.
 Dr. Odili has continued to build some of the most expensive roads in the history of Nigeria and seems bent on conquering the waters of the state with the N11.8billion Unity Road in the eastern flank, the six billion naira Trans-Kalabari Highway, the Abonnema Ringroad, the Degema Highway, the Ndoni double road, in the western flank, and many others elsewhere. Soon, any man traveling on boats would be doing so for fun. He has built so many roads that no one can keep count, and the garden city is under multi-billion naira contract with Julius Berger to keep it fit and to resurface it. The airport road, though a federal project, has been built with four billion naira with a maze of solar-powered flood light for several kilometres.
Dr. Odili has built a new four billion naira State Government House, described by many as one of the best in the world. A new House of Assembly complex has been commissioned at the cost of two billion naira, and a taxi cab system is on with 500 cars. Agriculture is on the upswing, and credit schemes are on for those with entrepreneural skills.
The Governor is the only one so far that has done something concrete as an answer to Nigeria’s intractable power problem. He initiated a N40billion Independent Power Project (IPP) which has been hailed across the world. The IPP which is anchored on three gas turbine stations has an environmental benefit knockout, converting flared and wasted gas to power. This model has been adopted by the Federal Government for the Niger Delta on a first scale, and Nigeria later. This is truly a leader at work.
Dr. Odili scored a point in the first term by creating potency out of the Police Force in the state with greater equipment and incentive to combat crime. The team (SOS) got over 130 vehicles and other articles to boost crime fighting. This gave Port Harcourt peace and attracted companies from everywhere. These are the kind of things Nigeria needs, and the north must seek such partnership with such a leader, a leadership that causes an explosion in the provision of infrastructure and agriculture. If Dr. Odili could do these things as a state governor, he sure can do more as a president. With the foundations laid by the reforms and debt relief on ground, an enthusiastic president and a believer in the reforms will surely fly like a bird when it comes to turning Nigeria’s economic fortunes around, and Dr. Odili is an important player in this matter.
He has already completed a development plan for Rivers State that looks like the Marshal Plan that transformed Europe. Those coming after him would only run along the Rivers State Sustainable Development Programme (RSDP), which has been endorsed by global players and is being crafted by an international team of experts. This plan can be expanded for the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and it has answer for every development challenge under the sun.
Most northerners have viewed these facts and now know better. If the argument is about justice and equity, the north knows that it is the right time to think South-south. And if it is about trust, the north sure knows that the enemy you know is better than an angel you do not know. As far as northerners and muslims in Port Harcourt, and those in the north who have been touched by the Odili philosophy are concerned, Dr. Odili is a tested leader and a man we can trust. This is why the north will be willing to support him.

Alhaji Ahmed Usman wrote in from the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Warri, Delta State.