By Emeka Amaefula
HOW NYESOM WIKE REVIVED SERGEANT AWUSE, RAISED HIM TO FIRST CLASS KING
The story about the life of Rivers state top politician now traditional Ruler, His Royal highness Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse of Emohua traditional kingdom may not be complete without reliving how his dwindling political career was revived and uplifted with First Class enthronement and economic empowerment. The kits and kins relationship existing between HRH Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse may not be unconnected to the fact that Wike while holding sway as executive Governor of Rivers state publicly declared that Awuse was a forerunner to the quest for an Ikwerre man to emerge as executive Governor of Old Rivers state which was realized through Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and himself. In the 1990s when Old Rivers state politics was dominated by the largest geo-political ethnic group in South-South being the Ijaw ethnic nationality, it was unheard of for Ikwerre ethnic group or Ogoni , Ibani or Engenni or Ogba ethnic groups to rise to political power in Rivers state. But with the Bayelsa state creation by late General Sani Abachi’s Military government it became obvious that in Rivers state Ikwerre ethnic with Igbo major ethnic nationality who are close neighbours and majority residing in Rivers state now turned a political fortune for the Ikwerre ethnic group. In the 1999 nascent political re-arrangement of the 4th Republic Chief Sergeant Awuse battled Sir Peter Odili for a place in the Peoples democratic Party PDP but he was overwhelmed by the role played by late Dr. Marshall Harry who picked Dr. Peter Odili in his place. Thus in 2003 when Awuse tried All Peoples Party -APP which later transmuted to All Nigerian Peoples Party ANPP he was unable to emerge as Governor of Rivers state. That was how far Chief Sergeant Awuse struggled haven by defeated by Chief Zebulon Abule, and Dr. Peter Odili and even his kins man late Eric Aso, he was left to shrink in his political influence in Rivers state. When Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi emerged in 2007 to become elected Governor of Rivers state Chief Sergeant Awuse was not given front role because Amaechi was seen as a product of Sir Dr. Peter Odili who Awuse battled politically but failed.
So, when in 2015 Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike got elected into office as executive Governor of Rivers state, he quickly took interest in resurrecting the dying economic fortunes of Eze Ohna Sergeant Awuse who by training earned a degree in Accountancy and a Chartered Accountant by professional practice. Like a thunder bolt, Chief Sergeant Awuse was pronounced a First -Class King of Emohua Ancient Kingdom. As if that was not enough the Rivers state traditional Council had a new leadership with Eze Ohna Awuse being pronounced Chairman of Rivers state Council of Traditional Rulers a very powerful institution with the ears of the Governor since they are the custodians of the tradition and customs of the people of Rivers state.
It was then speculated that Eze Ohna Awuse brokered some deals with Julius Berger Construction Company which also made him to smile to the banks each time a new contract involving Julius Berger and Rivers state was entered into. How long the business relationship lasted was as good as the tenure of Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike lasted. No wonder Eze Ohna Awuse threw all traditional caution to the winds as he joined some Rivers state politicians to sing ‘On Your Mandate We stand’ when they visited Wike at his Rumuepirikom palatial mansion in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
But before the 2023 political rigmarole in Rivers state that threw up Siminalayi who sergeant Awuse played major role in supporting the emergence of the next Governor and Deputy Governor with elders like Sir Dr. Peter Odili who many believed selected Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu who was adjunct lecturer at Pamo University of Medical Sciences-PUMS, Port Harcourt, both Awuse and Nyesom Wike have had close relationship. When Eze Ohna Awuse had Prostate Cancer surgery in far-away London it was Governor Wike who flew into London and went straight into his recovery bedside at the hospital and took charge of all the medical bills. And when Eze Ohna Awuse returned to Nigeria and had a World Press Conference in honour a Survival Thanksgiving and after convivial party told all who cared to listen to him at his Visa Karina Hotel off Olu Obasanjo Road Port Harcourt; “Thank Governor Nyesom Wike for me” he boldly informed his listeners as he launched his “Awuse Cancer Center” with office at his Dougeli Consult building located at Mile 4 Ikwerre road Port Harcourt.
Any way you may consider Eze Ohna Awuse’s change of fortunes for the best of his life Nyesom Wike comes handy for Eze Ohna Awuse to have resurrected financially and his change of living also came with a multi-Billion Naira mansion built for him by Nyesom Wike.
Again, his 5 percent remuneration from statutory allocation to Emohua Local Government Area for traditional Rulers in the LGA was secured with extra allowances as Chairman of Rivers state Council of Traditional Rulers coming courtesy of Wike as Governor then. It was a boom time no one like Eze Sergeant Awuse couldn’t resist but it was all truncated by the time he remained loyal to Nyesom Wike while the political crises in Peoples Democratic Party PDP ensured with incumbent Governor Siminialayi Fubara and Wike in different political camps. Vexed with the disloyalty against his administration, Governor Fubara quickly turned his heart against Eze Sergeant Awuse and selected another Ikwerre First Class traditional Ruler as substantive Chairman of Rivers state Traditional Rulers Council.
With the followership of Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja Minister Wike, Eze Ohna Awuse had in the last week of August, 2024 directed all his subjects and followers to keep on supporting Wike for his days as leader of PDP in Rivers state will soon be resuscitated irrespective of the ongoing political quagmire. He spoke in Ikwerre language as he vehemently asked his subjects to remain loyal to Wike and never mind Governor Siminalayi Fubara. And that anyone supporting Fubara should not get close to his House (Palace).
—–Emeka Amaefula—+234(0)8111813069——
