Is there a connection between wealth and the way politics is played in Rivers State? Former Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Dr Emma Okah, believes there is.
Responding to a question about the role of politics in the development of the state on Nigeria Info’s Hard Facts, Dr Okah, who is the current Chairman of the Media and Publicity Subcommittee of the Rivers State Investment and Economic Summit, suggests there is a significant correlation between the state's oil wealth and its political landscape.
He argues that “at the end of every month, billions of naira roll into the coffers of government, so everybody is struggling to get a piece of the cake.” This, according to Dr. Okah, creates a political environment that is “a bit untidy” compared to other regions.
He highlighted the detrimental effect of the "bitter wrangling" on development initiatives:
“Even as we are talking of this summit now for instance, I can tell you some people who are on one divide or the other may not even be interested in wanting to know how they can tap into it.”
Watch here:
