Nigeria, Nov. 3 -- Before Wike started remaking Rivers State in his own image, he used to rail against Lagos' godfatherism. He thought it was feudalism. But those days are over. Now that he considers the Rivers government his political furniture, the private ownership of Lagos politics must be the manual to control his own stooges. Some say his hypocrisy is likable because it's laughable. I guess that amphibian adaptability has helped his political ascendancy and longevity.

Those who know him speak copiously and eloquently of his generosity. Some call him POS Africa. Whatever that means. But this son of the general manager of many companies has other traits that endear him to many besides being a capricious political Santa Claus with pub...