By Ekesunnie Caleb

Many political enthusiasts extending to the academia have tried to construct and understand the meaning of ‘Wikematics,’ a political philosophy which has received illumination by the acts of the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. While some say it is the dawning of a new era of political sophistication and mastery of the Nigerian political climate, quite a few see it as a new political system orchestrated by a man who had spent decades learning and understanding law and politics with its uncanny application to current societal dynamics.

Take it or leave it, Wike has left no one in doubt that this is his time. Wike did not just emerge from nowhere; he has paid his dues from the grassroots by going through the crucibles of the political system, to wit: serving as the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Council, becoming Chief of Staff, Government House, Rivers State; Minister of State Education during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, two-term Governor of Rivers State and now Minister of the FCT where he has left no one in doubt that he is capacity personified.

Wike parades an enviable curriculum vitae, which better explains his political trajectory and mastery of politics as an art.

Speaking at the twilight of his administration as governor of Rivers State during the launch of Lagos-Ibadan railway on the invitation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Wike said: “I will not learn bad thing(s). I will not emulate wrong things; I will always learn good things.” He went on to commend the economic development strides of Lagos State. These demonstrated his penchant for positive values. No wonder he was nicknamed Mr. Project by then Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, an APC member, during a visit to the state. During his tenure as governor, Rivers State received a repertoire of dignitaries, big guns from across political parties, industry leaders, senior government functionaries and leaders of thought whose primary mission was to commission quality projects and social infrastructure that spread to the rural areas.

Wike has maintained his infrastructure development streak in Abuja such that he has earned another sobriquet WIW, which means Wike is Working. His execution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda manifested in the 30-day project commissioning exercise across Abuja to mark the president third year in office. Wike will always emulate and execute what is good.

Now, could it be said that there is no philosophical or ideational relationship between the emerging democratic political system in Lagos State’s Governing Advisory Council (GAC) and the Rainbow Coalition, a political system which is gathering momentum in Rivers State?

The Lagos GAC is a bi-partisan political council comprising industry leaders, elders, past and present political leaders, leading lights in Lagos as well as Lagosians who are distinguished in their rights, who bring to bear their wealth of knowledge and experience in a collegiate format to select would be top political office holders from a collection of many qualified aspirants from among whom the electorates could choose – a pragmatic and innovative human capital and leadership resource recruitment model engineered to steer the Centre of Excellence on the path of sustainable growth.

This is perhaps what ‘Wikematics’ means in the Rainbow Coalition devised by Wike. The Rainbow Coalition threw up and ensured the nomination of Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, the immediate past minority leader of the House of Representatives, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general election.

It is noteworthy that the Rainbow Coalition is a democratic and bi-partisan group of critical political stakeholders intent on recruiting quality leadership from among qualified alternatives cutting across different electoral categories in Rivers State with less rancour and also ensuring the re-election of President Tinubu for a second term in 2027.

Thus, the Rainbow Coalition is a corollary of the GAC in Lagos State – a political system geared towards enthroning a systematic leadership recruitment procedure based on peace, unity, inclusion, faith and sustainability.

At the grand finale of Wike’s thank you visit last December at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, Rivers State, he told Rivers people that political violence would have no place in Rivers politics; not anymore. Reflecting on media editorials of “Rivers of blood” in the run-up to previous elections, the minister lamented improper political behaviours where contestants battled themselves to death to the detriment of the state. He had urged party men to embrace peace, unity and brotherhood as well as broader inclusion of all and sundry in the interest of the state and its development by shunning extreme partisanship and violence.

‘Wikematics’ is knocking off the violence content of Rivers politics. It is eliminating the winner takes it all element, which fuels attrition, hatred and violence by promoting social and political inclusivity thereby neutralising inherent improper political motivations and incentives. Evidently, the roll call of Rivers people with federal appointments courtesy of ‘Wikematics’ is legendary. These appointments cut across different political parties, local councils and ethnic groups in the state who are pulling together for the election of Chinda as governor of Rivers State and re-election of Tinubu president.

It is reported that the ‘Wikematics’ system has set up a reconciliatory body to bring back every member of Rivers political family to the coalition’s fold. Such political overtures would mark the height of Wike’s political wizardry in creating a stable, progressive Rivers State where citizens, leaders, politicians and the grassroots would pull in one political direction devoid of rancour in the interest of the stability, peace, development and progress of the state.

Could this model of democracy be adopted and adapted into our political philosophy, at least conventionally? This perhaps could save the country of the rancorous elections cycles riddled with violence and with zero filters for every candidate whose only qualification is ability to show good bank account to purchase exorbitant nomination forms.

• Caleb, the Chief Press Secretary to the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State, wrote via [email protected]