Tinubu Presidency - The Game changing Strategy, that brought Hope to Rivers people
The concept of game theory is well known in the field of Economics and politics. It basically involves strategic thinking and interactions between individuals and firms,inorder to maximize and protect business interest , especially in terms of profit maximization and efficiency.
In politics also, the theory which involves predictions and strategic planning as well (from political parties,and key individuals at the centre stage in any political spectrum), play a crucial role in influencing preferred outcomes of elections.
During the just concluded 2023 general elections,especially the presidential poll, we saw a lot of the principles of the game theory at work.There were permutations and counter permutations base on vested interest, both on individual basis as well as political parties. Some of the strategic calculations manifested in mass defections from one party to another,and gave way to change of ideologies and direction of loyalty.
A typical example was the SMA faction of the legacy APC , which was hitherto part of Asiwaju movement in Rivers State.The Leader of that faction of APC , Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe, was among the advocates of Asiwaju presidential ambition in the state, but prior to the campaigns,he changed his strategy.What was more paramount to him and his team was his Governorship ambition. The Leadership later realized that campaigning for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an APC candidate in Rivers State, will jeopardize their party's chances of clinching the Gubernatorial ticket under SDP. So their best was to defect to SDP, with all their supporters.
Similarly, in legacy APC, what appear to be like a defeatism syndrome, and the issues of litigation characterized the attitude of CRA led APC Leadership, and their strategy. They simply abandoned the party both at the national and state levels, and decided not to identify with the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Shettima ticket. In the end, they resolved not to campaign for APC, but secretly shifted support to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who was the presidential candidate of the PDP.
However, in all these political moves and permutations by the dominant contending parties, the game changing Strategy that took the centre stage and worked for Rivers State, is the political move and smart decisions taken by Chief Tony Okocha, Ksc Jp, DSSRS. While the confusion was raging in the legacy APC and SDP, prompting their sudden movement to opposing camps, Chief Tony Okocha, was quick to identify an opportunity, which he immediately harnessed, by searching for all true loyalists of Asiwaju's Bola Ahmed Tinubu's APC in Rivers State. I mean those who are members of APC who were pro Tinubu to the core.
Further more, as the Leadership of the opposition parties (legacy APC and SMA) secretly withdrew support from Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and influenced their supporters to work for SDP and PDP, Chief Tony Okocha, immediately organized the New APC members, who were the faithful remnant of Tinubu's presidential ambition.
He personally located this category of pro Tinubu supporters, majority of whom were former APC PCC/ICC members.It was this group and several other interest groups,spread across the 23 local Government areas, that he organized to receive Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Port Harcourt. More still, he invested heavily in press conferences, and other various strategic engagements, that set the stage for the adoption of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by other parties, notably the PDP, that gave their overwhelming support.It is pertinent to state that, without Chief Okocha's bold move to fill the leadership gap created by legacy APC and SMA/SDP, APC would probably have gone into extinction and only exist in paper.
Another favourable move that ignited chief Okocha's commitment to BAT and APC, was former Governor Wike's decision to withdraw support from PDP's presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.That decision laid the foundation for collaboration of APC and PDP to work in synergy for Bola Ahmed Tinubu's victory in Rivers state.
It is on record that from the former Governor's support, and the direction laid by the Leadership of new APC through Chief Tony Okocha, both parties, became united in one mission. A mission that produced the victory of APC Presidential candidate in Rivers State, for the first time, in all most two decades of our political history.
So, as Nigerians are still in the euphoria of celebration for the inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as the 16th president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as the democracy day remembrance, Rivers people are saying a big thank you, and congratulating their democracy icons of the last political dispensation, chief Tony Okocha, Ksc, JP DSSRS,the Rhwunu Oha of Ekinigbo,and former Governor Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON, GSSRS POS Africa, and life bencher, who have brought hope to a hitherto hopeless people.
In the same vein, Rivers people are equally saluting the President, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the nation's excellent score card of the performance in just three weeks on assumption of duty. Rivers people appreciate the sacrifices,as well as the sagacity of both Leaders, who through their visions, have changed the face of politics and governance in Nigeria in just three weeks.
To other gladiators, especially other political leaders in Rivers State, who saw the pendulum, differently in their own calculations, I think it is time to come to reality, that the support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu by Rivers State through the effort of Tony Okocha and Bar Ezenwo Nyesom Wike , was a good move , capable of changing the fortunes of the Rivers people. It is time to rally round the party(APC) that produced the President, in order to attrack greater dividends from the centre, and further position Rivers State for the best
It is true that politics may go" beyond political parties", but as a state, let all Leaders begin to eschew differences and embrace the synergy between former Governor Wike, and Chief Tony Okocha, to engender enduring peace and harmony. These great icons in Rivers state, demonstrated courage with foresight to place Rivers state at the centre. A feat APC have never achieved for decades.
In terms of the Renewed Hope from the centre, Rivers people are excited, that they are among the APC states , that installed Mr President. Already he has started implementing tough decisions, which previous administrations failed to implement, due to combinations of various Nigerian factors.
Specifically, the president is receiving accolades on daily basis, for his stance on:
- fuel subsidy removal and the simibiotic framework in place, to resolve all labour related issues.
-His appointment of competent aides to implement the decisions so far.
- the immediate removal and probe of top government officials indicted for various misconducts
- the opening of the Nigerian borders that were shut for some years
- allowing the new National assembly to follow due process in selecting their leaderships
- wide consultations with Royal father's of the Nation to forge a path to peace and unity.
- on growing the economy, and advocating for fix exchange rate regime.. etc.
- the recent signing of the students's loans bill
- directive on the road map to revamp the moribund refineries.
This piece will not be complete without reminiscing on the other aspect of the strategy, which was the reciprocatory version of the deal. I mean the much demonstrated "Nyendeba, Nyendeba" concept of give and take introduced by former Governor Wike.
In a bid to repay back PDP ,for supporting Tinubu, the New APC under Tony demonstrated their loyalty by trouping enmass in their Local Government areas, to vote for the PDP Governorship candidate, Amaopu Senibo Siminialayi Fubara, now the executive Governor of Rivers state on 25th March 2023. Suffice to say that the New APC under Tony Okocha, is proud to be part of the victory of the current Rivers State Governor, AmaopuSenibo Siminialayi Fubara,and indeed all PDP candidates that won in their various positions.
As we look forward to a more symbiotic relationship between PDP and APC, I also congratulate His Excellency ,the Executive Governor of Rivers State, AmaopuSenibo Siminialayi Fubara,for the successful inauguration and assumption of office.
In conclusion, the visions of Chief Tony Okocha and former Governor Wike, for Rivers State, and APC, were right, and their missions very clear on the result we have seen today. They are truly game changers who have applied their strategies in the right direction, in the installation of Tinubu presidency. Indeed Rivers people, especially the progressives of Tony Okocha led APC, are glad and confident, that the dividends of democracy from this struggle( both from the state and centre) will not elude them.

Dr Godpower Egbono
Zonal Coordinator,
COSGABAT/ Former PCC/ICC Member
Rivers State.