Opinion

2015: Whose Turn For Brick House?

Published

11 years ago

April 7, 2014

The question anybody reading this narrative might ask is:
“It is whose turnto do what?” The majority response in Rivers State of Nigeria is: It is the turn of the Greater Kalabari Kingdom of the Ijaw Tribe in the Riverine Part of the State to produce the next Executive Governor of Rivers State in the 2015 gubernatorial election.
In the remainder of this discussion, I will present the data and make the argument for the above strong. response, but a few words on our rich ethnic diversity that drives politics in the State is in order.
The six Major Ethnic kingdoms of Rivers State alphabetically are Andoni, Ibani, Ikwerre, Kalabari, Ogoni, and Okrika. From inception, the state has been divided into the riverine and upland region the major ethnic kingdoms of the riverine region are Andoni, Ibani,Kalabari and Okrika while those of the upland regions are, Ikwerre, and Ogoni kingdoms. These constitute the elephants in the room of this discussion, without ignoring all the minor ethnic kingdoms of the state like Ekpeye, Etche, Abua, Engenni, Eleme, Ogba, Nkoro, and Bille to mention but a few.
The genesis of the major ethnic kingdoms of Rivers State taking turns to produce the Executive Governor of the state was the desire for peace in our very ethnically diverse state. This. quest for peace and tranquility was first discussed and implemented in 1979 by the now defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) under the leadership of former Governor, late Chief Melford Okilo. Then in 1998-1999 during the inception of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, the party leadership decided to adopt the same political principles of rotating governorship among the major ethnic kingdoms of the State and senators among the major and minor Ethnic kingdoms that constitute the 7-8 local government areas of each senatorial districts for the same reasons. This was divulged to this writer by the former state party chairman, late Dr. Marshall Harry in December 2001 during a courtesy call at his hotel in Obuama, Degema Local Government Area.
Some may think Rivers State is now in the post-ethnic and tribal neutral times, why drum up these issues again? In reality, a careful review of the recent developmental constructs operationalized in the state. Totally ignored development of the state water-fronts and supports this riverine-upland dynamics. Rivers state is the most ethnically diverse state in Nigeria. The sooner we recognise, embrace, and celebrate our cultural diversity the stronger and unified this state will become. To try to ignore it and only bring it up when it serves our political strategic purpose, will sow the seeds of discord, neglect, and marginalisation in the minds of many ethnicities. If these statements do not still satisfy the skeptics, I will pose the following questions in all levels of our governments to make my point:
*The political regions of Nigeria, how are they partitioned? .. by ethnic borders.
*The local government areas, how were they created? .. for equitable Ethnic representation.
*The National and State Assembly Districts, how were they drawn? .. for equitable ethnic representation also.
*When political appointments are made at the state and federal levels, do we not try to find out if somebody from our ethnicity was included? let’s be honest.
*After the last election, a major organization that serves the interest of the Ikwere kingdom made the argument in a national daily that nobody from their kingdom had ever been appointed a Federal Minister. His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan responded by appointing one in his current administration (Hon. Nyesom Wike) to their deserve.
This author is trying to unite Rivers State by making sure our ethnic diversity that drive our politics is never politically exploited again to divide us but should be respected and celebrated for the unity of the state.
Coming back to the bone of contention, the common feeling of the greater Kalabari people since the creation of Rivers State in 1967 is that nobody from the kingdom has occupied the office of the Executive Governor of the State. The attempt here is not to cast blame, for there are plenty of them to go around, some of which could have been self-inflicted. The goal now is for all the major and minor ethnic kingdoms of the state to support the election of a Kalabari consensus candidate to become the next Executive Governor of Rivers state and they will in return support other major ethnicities like the Ogoni Kingdom to have their turn.
We must not forget in one of the previous political regimes of Nigeria, Chief Rufus Ada George, from the Okrika kingdom was elected Executive Governor and Dr. Peter Odili was his Deputy Governor.
In the present political dispensation, who fills the top two executive arm positions – The Executive Governor of Rivers State and the Deputy Governor- matters
The occupants of these offices from 1999-2007 were: Executive Governor, Dr Peter Odili (Upland Region) and Deputy Governor, Dr. Gabriel Tobi (lbani kingdom of riverine region).
From 2008 the occupants are Executive Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (lkwerre Kingdom of the upland region) and Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru (Andoni Kingdom of the riverine region).
A careful review of the above evidence supports the argument of the greater Kalabari Kingdom that in spite of their majority and contribution to the development of the state, they have been systematically denied the executive governorship and must not be deprived of the position in the next gubernatorial election. The other fact is, we as a people, have never occupied this executive post in the history of the state.
Consequently, this author calls on all greater Kalabari people first to unite, close ranks, bury their differences wake up from their complacency and work on two goals in the 2015 polls:
*To elect a consensus Kalabari candidate as the next Executive Governor of Rivers State.
·*Re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan to a second term at the national level.
The rallying “Town-Cry” for this endeavor will be a popular song by the great Kalabari son, late Rex Jim Lawson “Enebatea Kalabari Oweni Saki, translated,” The day is dawn Kalabari people, it is time to wake up”.
The project is: “The election of a Kalabari consensus candidate as the next Executive Governor of Rivers State.”
Second, we will later work together again to elect an indigene of the greater Ogoni Kingdom to follow the Kalabari ascension to the governorship, since the sons of Ibani and Andoni kingdoms just occupied the office of the Executive Deputy Governor in the Odili and Amaechi administrations respectively in the current political dispensation. The greater Okrika Kingdom should follow the greater Ogoni Kingdom ascension since former Governor Ada George’s tenure of the executive office was shortlived but was a genuine occupation of “Brick House” that produced results, put the State in the right direction we are still following today, and the last two governors were part of that administration.
The above proposed orderly and peaceful political transition in a state of ethnic diversity like ours is deserving of a broader calculus to involve more of this state’s citizenry .This author will also suggest “A Rivers People’s Constituent Conference” in the next administration akin to the current National Conference in Abuja for the state to try to work out the details of our rotational governorship and other politically appointed positions to avoid what political scientists will christen,”tyranny of the majority.”
We can do it Rivers people and the ball is in our court. Let us not allow anybody with political ambition and greed divide us in our goal of ethnic and cultural unity in Rivers State. The kalabari people must come together now more than ever before to seize this bull by the horn, and show the rest of the state that they are deserving of this honor to serve.
Prof Amonye-Obu writes from New York, United States.

Fons Amonye-Obu

Opinion

Why Reduce Cut-Off Mark for C.O.E ?

Published

2 days ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

Quote:”Although the idea of lowering the cut-off to below the pass mark of 200 does not sit well with many Nigerians. 35.5% in any examination anywhere in the world is a fail. And no candidate that scores below 200 should ideally be considered for admission into any tertiary institution in the country.”

Recently, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the tertiary education stakeholders approved 150 as the benchmark for admission into universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education for the 2025/2026 academic session. They, However, clarified that no tertiary institutions should admit students who score below the approved scores, but institutions can still fix higher cut-off marks for their applicants. This has remained the pattern over the years. Higher scores are required to go into universities while applicants with lower scores are welcomed in colleges of education and polytechnics. And the question is, why? At first glance, the disparity in the entry requirements into universities and colleges of education may appear to be a flexible, inclusive approach to higher education access. However, a deeper look reveals that pegging the college of education cut-off mark so low is not only problematic but a threat to the quality of education and the dignity of the teaching profession in Nigeria.

By setting the minimum entry score for Colleges of Education at just 100 out of 400, the message being sent is loud and clear: teaching is not a profession that demands excellence. It is a profession for the “Olodos” This undermines every effort claimed to be made by the government and stakeholders to reposition teaching as a noble, intellectual, and competitive career. The same country that wants to raise the standard of education cannot afford to lower the standard for training those who will educate future generations. Colleges of Education are responsible for preparing teachers for Nigeria’s basic education sector. These are the people who will teach children in their formative years—the foundation of any nation’s future. If we continue to accept candidates with very low academic abilities into these institutions, how can we expect them to produce competent, inspiring, and innovative educators?

Accepting candidates who score as low as 25% on the UTME is a recipe for mediocrity. It sends a message that anyone can be a teacher, regardless of their intellectual preparation. This will not only dilute the quality of teachers but worsen the already low public perception of the profession. There are many students with strong academic credentials who are genuinely passionate about becoming educators. Setting the cut-off at 100 trivializes their efforts and sacrifices. It lumps them together with individuals who may not have the intellectual or emotional readiness for teaching, leading to overcrowded classrooms, underwhelming graduates, and frustrated employers.While universities are expected to maintain a cut-off mark of 150, colleges of education are effectively reduced to a dumping ground for low-performing candidates. This dichotomy creates a sense of inequality and inferiority around education colleges, when in fact, the reverse should be the case.

If anything, those training to shape young minds should meet standards equal to or higher than university students, not lower.The effects of this policy may not be immediately visible, but in the long run, they will be devastating. We are likely to see: a further decline in basic education outcomes. Someone joked that as the cut-off mark keeps dwindling every academic year, by 2030, the cut-off for the universities will be 100 and that of colleges of education and polytechnics reduced to 70 or 50. Who is fooling who?The chances of having more poorly trained teachers entering the public school system is inevitable. An irritated teacher recently lamented how the public schools are flooded with so-called teachers who do not know their left from their right, compelling the old teachers to do the job of teaching and training them.The low entry requirements to colleges of education can lead to higher attrition rates in the teaching profession due to unprepared candidates; diminished respect and remuneration for teachers; greater educational inequality between rural and urban areas and lots more.

It is therefore advised that rather than lowering standards, those in-charge of the education should raise entry requirements for Colleges of Education to at least 140 or 150 to align with university expectations. Although the idea of lowering the cut-off to below the pass mark of 200 does not sit well with many Nigerians. 35.5% in any examination anywhere in the world is a fail. And no candidate that scores below 200 should ideally be considered for admission into any tertiary institution in the country. As earlier stated, our colleges of education are now painfully places for poor grade students. That should be concerning to those in authority and stakeholders in the education sector. And this can only be corrected when our leaders pay adequate attention to our colleges of education. There should be improved funding and facilities in these institutions to attract top-tier candidates.

Incentives such as scholarships, housing, or job security should be provided for those who perform well and commit to teaching. Some corporate organisations have done this over the years and one thinks it is high time both federal, state and local government areas get visibly and sincerely involved. All over the world, teaching is regarded as a noble and professional career and the case shouldn’t be different in Nigeria. If we are truly serious about fixing Nigeria’s education system, we must start by fixing how we train our teachers. Lowering the cut-off mark to 100 for Colleges of Education is a step backward and a stain on our national conscience. We must demand excellence from those who will one day stand before our children—not just in words, but in policy. After all, the quality of education in any nation will never rise above the quality of its teachers.

The reason usually adduced for lowering the cut-off mark is candidates’ poor performance at entrance exams. And one wonders how lowering the bar will lead to higher performance. How will that challenge students to harder? One thinks it high time those in-charge of the education sector, parents, and teachers think of solving the problems bedeviling the sector from the root instead of the usual method of treating the symptom rather than the disease. There is an urgent need to prioritize the welfare and quality of teachers if we must expect better results. It is also important that the authorities look into the speculations that the lower cut-off is a ploy by some universities to get maximum payment for Post UTME, knowing that no candidate with less than 200 will be given admission into any department in the institutions. This kind of extortion should not be allowed to continue.

What is even the reason for double entrance examinations for a single admission. If UTME is no longer enough to earn admission into higher institutions in Nigeria then JAMB should be scrapped and higher institutions given the authority to conduct their own entrance examinations.On the other hand, if JAMB is still found worthy of conducting credible entrance examinations into tertiary institutions in the country, then we should do away with post UTME examinations. Our education sector must be sanitized for us to get the best, desired result

Calista Ezeaku

Opinion

Welcome! Worthy Future For R/S

Published

2 days ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

Quote:”The June accord is not the end of the crisis. It is the beginning of responsibility.To Fubara: Lead with humility, but do not abandon your authority. To Wike: Let your legacy be one of vision, not vengeance. To the Assembly: Return to your true employers—the people. To President Tinubu: Guard this peace not just with federal might, but moral clarity.”

After months of bitter power tussle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged political godfather, Chief Nyesom Wike, months ago, Rivers has finally arrived at a moment that feels like the return of peace. Actually it should be the duty of all stakeholders to see that the peace so brokered between ‘father and son’ is sustained. Just two years ago, this conflict was unthinkable. Fubara, a career technocrat and former Accountant-General, was Wike’s trusted protégé handpicked and handed the reins of power after the 2023 elections. The baton was passed with confidence, perhaps even affection. The State House of Assembly dominated by Wike’s loyalists—moved to impeach him. Nine commissioners resigned. Government House fell eerily silent. Port Harcourt became a city of whispers.

What began as a brotherhood became brinkmanship. And by March 2025, it had spiraled so far that President Bola Tinubu was forced to impose emergency rule, suspending democratic processes and appointing an administrator to restore order. On June 26, in a closed-door meeting at Aso Rock, Wike and Fubara shook hands under the watchful eyes of President Tinubu. Also present were lawmakers, party leaders, and peacemakers from across the federation. “No more acrimony,” Wike declared. “I will do everything within my power to sustain peace,” Fubara assured. For the people, this truce comes as a welcome relief but not without skepticism.“Peace is good, but we’ve heard this story before,” some said “Let them not sign peace in Abuja and bring trouble back to Port Harcourt.”The memory of the failed December 2023 accord still stings—a deal that promised healing but delivered deeper wounds. This time, the public wants more than promises. They want accountability.

“This is not just a political dispute it is a leadership crisis that nearly destroyed the democratic soul of Rivers,” says Dr. Felix Chidiebere, a political scientist at the University of Port Harcourt. “Peace now must go beyond handshakes. It must show up in policy, in projects, in people’s lives.”Trust in the Assembly to legislate not legislate loyalty. Trust in the governor to govern with fairness, not fear. Trust in Wike to mentor, not manipulate. And above all, trust in the system to protect democracy. In the months of uncertainty, Rivers lost more than political direction it lost momentum.School roofs remain caved in. Youth empowerment programs are paused. Civil servants fear late salaries. Health centers sit idle. Foreign investors hover with hesitation.

Meanwhile, power brokers jostled for influence while ordinary lives were pushed to the margins. And yet, through it all, the people endured. They endured because they believed Rivers could be more than oil. More than politics. More than pain.

What the state needs at the moment is reconciliation, not revenge. The work ahead is not for politicians alone. Civil society, religious leaders, youth groups, and traditional rulers must now rise—not to pick sides, but to build bridges. There must be structure to this peace: community dialogue, legislative reform, perhaps even a truth and reconciliation commission. Peace, after all, is not a gift. It is a discipline. It must be protected, nourished, and enforced. As the National Youth Council of Nigeria rightly put it: “We want peace, but not at the cost of our constitution

The June accord is not the end of the crisis. It is the beginning of responsibility.To Fubara: Lead with humility, but do not abandon your authority. To Wike: Let your legacy be one of vision, not vengeance. To the Assembly: Return to your true employers—the people. To President Tinubu: Guard this peace not just with federal might, but moral clarity. Peace is the return of salaries. Peace is the sound of classrooms reopening. Peace is a contractor’s tools coming back to life. Peace is a young girl in Eleme daring to dream of becoming governor one day. Rivers doesn’t need perfect leaders. It needs present ones. Honest ones. Human ones.The ink has dried. The cameras are gone. Now begins the harder work—not of declaring peace, but of delivering it. Because in Rivers State, peace must not only be signed. It must be sustained. Yes, peace has come to stay. In my sincere thinking, I can put the current peace deal in the state as ‘No victor , no vanquish’…

King Onunwor

Opinion

Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance

Published

1 week ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Quote:”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”.

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