Reflecting on the political dynamics and interventions by elders in Rivers State, Princewill remarked, “As I mentioned, I have not been around, so I am not sure about the details of all the efforts made and so I can’t speak about what I am not sure of. But I know our elders are very proactive, so I am very sure they would have waded in without hesitation. Some of their direct interventions, I personally witnessed.”
He added, “But how much is enough and how many politicians listen to their elders? You can take the horse to the stream, but you can’t force it to drink. In the end, it is a family quarrel, it is just that it is affecting our state.”
When asked about potential solutions to the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, Princewill identified a key issue: “The No. 1 factor that has plagued our state is Presidential ambition. All of our Rivers Governors want to be President, but none of them made it.”
He elaborated on the problem, stating, “They control too much money, are surrounded by too much sycophancy, and consequently, they perceive themselves as having too much influence. They can make or break a President. Ask Obasanjo, Goodluck, Buhari, or Tinubu. No Fourth Republic President can write his story and leave out the role of the Rivers State Governor at the time he was President.”
Princewill lamented the recurring pattern, noting, “We are big but all we are good for is use and dump but we will never learn. When Rivers State sneezes, the whole country catches a cold. So there is a lot of interest in who becomes Governor here. Not always for positive reasons.”
However, he expressed cautious optimism about the current governor’s lack of presidential ambitions: “This Governor doesn’t look like he will be interested in being President. This might be the difference that will allow us to focus within.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>