Nyesom Wike’s ‘Delusion Of Grandeur’
By
Coker Onita
This story will start with a self-confession. I left with a first degree in Psychology from one of Nigeria’s foremost universities many decades ago, hence, competent to diagnose Mr. Nyesom Wike, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister’s behaviour on most of his media chats. This diagnosis emanates from deep systematic, scientific penetration into his conduct and probably, its socio-political imperatives on leadership.
In a Media chat barely two weeks ago, he, as usual, seized the opportunity to lambast, sometimes insult, defame and intimidate his opponents, especially the politicians.
For emphasis, his vituperations are not limited to politicians. It also includes media personnel and their organisations, which he usually describes as his enemies. The other day, he descended on Mr. Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television and concluded that if it were possible, he would have shot him on set. Colleagues at Arise News TV are already in his black book for daring to criticise him or challenge his opinion on any matter.
The financial implications of his Media chats to this government are a subject for another day. The Media houses, for sure, especially the electronic ones, must be smiling to the banks, if privileged to be invited. You can imagine what Wike would pay for his sponsored two-hour show, beamed “live” to the entire nation and the world at large.
The professional implications, however, when Wike seizes the opportunity to bully, insult, sometimes berate his opponents without immediate right of reply are also questionable. His unrestricted ability to buy media space, to me, should not be an excuse. The day he descended on the Ijaws of Rivers State, which almost caused uproar, is another classical example.
So, it was the turn of his former boss and close ally, his former political leader, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi. By the way, Wike was Amaechi’s Chief of Staff when Rotimi was Governor of Rivers State.
In the last Media chat, he descended on Amaechi, calling him names and finally concluding that he’s a political liability to Rivers State. His argument was that Amaechi, as Vice Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was a bad decision. To Wike, Amaechi’s contribution to the fortunes of ADC in Rivers State would eventually be insignificant. Indeed, to Wike, the aspiration is “dead on arrival.” He added that Amaechi’s past two showings as the Director General of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Council were utter failures. As two-term Minister in the last dispensation, the man added no value to the lives of Rivers State citizens, Wike added.
It was an opportunity to now advertise his own accomplishments as “master” in the game. Wike sees nothing wrong in being a PDP member and working and singing for another political party, APC. In Rivers State, Wike has now comfortably emerged as the undisputed leader of the two political parties. What an aberration!
Now, the time has arrived for him to gallivant and behave as the Lord Manor. He now bestrides the political terrain of Rivers State like a Colossus. He even talks down on anybody, including his old political leaders. Wike now sees himself as the best, the grand master, and the (grand) godfather of Rivers State politics and even beyond. His word is law!
But, it’s all a delusion! Call it a delusion of grandeur. This is simply defined as an unrealistic, inflated and false sense of superiority, power, wealth and self-importance. I’m surprised that Wike has not learnt any lesson from history. If he did, he would not be behaving like the proverbial hunter who goes to the forest and uses his cap to kill an elephant, gets accolades and acclamations, only in one day. For other days, months and years ahead, he’s now avoided like a plague in the community.
The man should be told that he’s making far too many enemies for himself, all in his lust and craze for power, fame and wealth. Slow down, my brother!
COKER ONITA IS THE FORMER PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TODAY’S CHOICE MAGAZINE AND EDITORIAL CONSULTANT AND COLUMNIST, INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS LIMITED. HE WRITES FROM LAGOS.
