Opinion
Things Jonathan, Amaechi Have In Common
Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State are unique personalities. They share many things in common.
They bear uncommon names in Ijaw and Ikwerre – Ebele Azikiwe and Rotimi. Whereas President Jonathan went to South East (Igbo) to pick Ebele Azikiwe as his name, Governor Amaechi headed to South West (Yoruba) to adopt Rotimi as his name.
President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi are from Niger Delta region in the South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Governor Amaechi is from Rivers State; President Jonathan was a Rivers man before the creation of Bayelsa State. They are young and people of the same generation. Both of them had their secondary education in the present Bayelsa State. President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi attended University of Port Harcourt, and thus, are Alumni of the great university.
Both of them divinely became president of Nigeria and governor of Rivers State without contesting for the positions. Something that is impossible in a democratic setting. Whereas, Jonathan became the president of Nigeria in 2010 as a result of the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, whom he served as vice president, Amaechi became governor of Rivers State in 2007 as a result of the Supreme Court judgement declaring him the official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, and thus, the winner of the 2007 governorship election in the state.
President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi contested the 2011 elections as president and governor for the first time, and perhaps, the last time. Whereas Governor will complete his second tenure in 2015, President Jonathan may end his joint mandate with late Yar’Adua in 2015. Although Jonathan contested the second lap of the joint mandate without Yar’Adua, he stands tall as the arrowhead of the ticket!
President Jonathan and Governor are fortunate Nigerians. Their first attempts at their present positions were successful. Positions many have struggled, and became veterans without success. Many even died in the process. What a great combination of luck, destiny and divine providence!
Above all, Jonathan and Amaechi have powerful and strong spirit that no mortal could tame, no matter how powerful they may be. Every obstacle, obstruction, hindrance, blockage, among others, placed on their way to stop them from becoming president and governor, respectively, failed.
In 2007, every effort made to stop Amaechi from becoming the governor of Rivers State by the power that be, collapsed like a pack of cards. Similarly, in 2010 and 2011, all efforts made by the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), and some powerful individuals to stop Dr Jonathan from becoming president of Nigeria capsized into the deep sea. What a combination of untouchables!
Today, whereas Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is the president of Nigeria, the Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is the chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). He is the governor of all governors, just as he was once speaker of all speakers in Nigeria. Or if you like, call him the governor general of Nigerian governors.
Thus, through these great sons of ours, God has placed Nigeria under the feet of the Niger Delta region, the people hitherto relegated to political oblivion, socially obscured and economically marginalized for more than fifty years by successive governments. That is God for you! When God remembers a long neglected person or a people, He embarrasses him or them with boundless blessings.
With these positions, it is clear that God ordained both personalities to salvage our people from the shackles of underdevelopment, political irrelevance, economic dependency and subjugation and suppression. It is also obvious that God commissioned University of Port Harcourt to mould and package these quintessential colossuses for this time to take up the onerous task of leading Nigeria out of the woods.
Therefore, both Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan and Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will have no excuse to tender if after the expiration of their present mandates, the people of the Niger Delta region remain the same. I imagine that they would not disappoint the huge number of expectant people from the region who have battled day and night to keep the momentum steaming. They cannot afford to leave the many unanswered questions relating to issues of underdevelopment, injustice, inequality, marginalization, and politics of next-of-kin, among others, unresolved. This is their time to make history.
Recall that Nigerians, and indeed, the whole world admitted that the Niger Delta people have been short-changed for ages, in terms of benefits from the oil and gas wealth extracted from their soil, and thus, deserve an urgent redemption and integration into the active playing factor in the Nigerian state. So, now, the ball is your courts, Mr President and Mr Governors’ Governor.
Remember that opportunity, they said, comes but once. Take that chance today, with all zest of political will and might.
I salute President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi for being honoured by the Alumni of University of Port Harcourt at the recently concluded 27th Convocation ceremony of the highly revered tertiary institution, last month. These are some of things that both President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi share in common. That is my take!
Ogbuehi resides in Port Harcourt.
Prince Ike Ogbuehi
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.