Politics
Deputy Speaker Commends Orderly PDP Congress In Rivers
Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee has commended the people of Khana Local Governemtn Area for their orderly conduct during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward Congress held last Saturday.
Kwanee, who spoke to newsmen in his hometown, in Khana Local Government Area, expressed happiness on the turnout and attitude of the state party officials as well as party members for exercising discipline.
The Deputy Speaker noted that this singular action displayed at the congress will go a long way in helping to ensure internal democracy and deepen democratic values in the polity.
He commended Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and other party chieftains for giving everybody a sense of belonging, adding that this would strengthen the PDP in the area and entire state.
He appealed to party members to consistently display a gentleman’s approach in politics rather than resort to violence that does no one any good.
In another development, the leadership of PDP says Nigerians owe former President Olusegun Obasanjo a lot for his forsight and undiluted belief in the unity of the country.
Prof. Rufai Alkali, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, made the remark in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday while congratulating Obasanjo on his 75th birthday anniversary.
“For a man whose destiny has twice enthroned him to lead the nation at challenging times, he left no guesses as to his commitment and competence, leaving legacies that will outlive him.
“The nation owes a lot to his conscience, foresight and undiluted belief in the unity and oneness of our dear nation. From every stretch of imagination, Obasanjo is a great Nigerian, African statesman and a world citizen whose immense global contributions will be indelibly etched in history,” Alkali said.
The party image maker urged Nigerians and friends of the country to fecilitate with Obasanjo.
The party wished the former president good health “and many more years to enable the nation continue to benefit from his wealth of experience.”
It described Obasanjo as a man, who for the better part of his life, demonstrated uncommon leadership in service to Nigeria, Africa and the world.
It added that “the significance of these years of fearless patriotism beckons on the psyche of all Nigerians and that of those that wish her well.”
The Senate yesterday received the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Bola Tinubu, marking the formal launch of the 2026 federal budget cycle.
In a letter addressed to the upper chamber, Tinubu said the submission complies with statutory requirements and sets out the fiscal parameters that will guide the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He explained that the MTEF/FSP outlines the macroeconomic assumptions, revenue projections, and spending priorities that will shape Nigeria’s fiscal direction over the next three years.
The letter was read during plenary by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the document.
“It is with pleasure that I forward the 2026 to 2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for the kind consideration and approval of the Senate.
“The 2026 to 2028 MTEF and FSP were approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of December 3, 2025, and the 2026 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions therein,” the President stated.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved the fiscal projections, pegging the oil benchmark price at $64.85 per barrel and adopting a budget exchange rate of ?1,512/$1 for 2026—figures expected to significantly shape revenue forecasts and expenditure planning.
After reading the President’s letter, Jibrin referred the document to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), with a directive to submit its report by Wednesday, December 17.
The Senate adjourned shortly after to allow committees to commence scrutiny of the fiscal framework and continue the ongoing screening of ambassadorial nominees.
Tinubu’s communication to the Senate came less than 24 hours after he transmitted the same MTEF/FSP documents to the leadership of the House of Representatives.
The letter was read on the House floor by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who also urged timely legislative action as required by law.
The MTEF and FSP are statutory instruments mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and serve as the blueprint for Nigeria’s annual budgets.
They outline the government’s fiscal stance, macroeconomic assumptions, revenue frameworks, projected deficits, and sectoral priorities over a three-year period.
The Tide reports that approval by the National Assembly is a prerequisite for the executive to present the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
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