Opinion
Still On Jega’s Touch
Years ago, Dan Agbesi wrote in a piece he titled “Zapping the Unwanted” that in the reasoning of the military, there are only two sets of people – friend and foe. In the same vein, he said,in the military psyche there are only two colours – black and white, hence there is no room for grey.
So, if you fall within the category of a friend, you will be treated as one. On the other hand, if you are a perceived foe, God help you!
It is almost the same thing with the average Nigerian psyche. Call it an infestation of military reasoning, as a result of long years of military rule. The truth remains that the Nigerian mentality creates more sycophants of its citizenry than a pig churns out piglets.
This is why many reasonable Nigerians would prefer to keep mute when things are going wrong in the polity, even when it is happening under their nose.Not because they cannot do anything about it. It is rather more because things have gone so much at sixes and sevens that the ideal has widely been thrown into the dustbin, and reality has taken its stead.
This explains why the average Nigerian nearly always takes sides in vital issues, especially when it has to do with his well-being. How he portrays his position, though, to a large extent, will depend on the level of sycophancy he deems fit, or is exposed to, and hence willing to be influenced by.
Often times, when the Nigerian choses to see grey, or keep mute, it is for reasons not far from avoiding being fingered as a foe, or avoid playing silly buggers. Either way, the nation is worse off.And for whose benefit? A relatively selfish few amongst the over 170 million Nigerians.
It is in this wise that many a reasonable Nigerian have kept mute over what deserves to be called the Miders touch of Professor Attahiru Jega, the first chief electoral umpire under whom an incumbent President lost an election in Nigeria.
Jega may have had his faults, influenced by his own idiosyncrasies, but the fact remains that the level of transparency he sort to instil in the country’s electoral system is, to say the least, very unique. And it is one that can be built upon to provide Nigeria with a reliable system of choosing her leaders.
For obvious reasons, many people cannot come out openly to say that in the history of conduct of elections in Nigeria, no chief umpire had brought in as many innovations that are genuinely aimed at free and fair election as Jega.
This doesnot mean he was infallible. On the contrary, who can be without mistakes in a country in which only a few are reasonable enough to keep mute when they know that doing otherwise can only fetch them the wrath of the powers that be?
Jega may not be without blame. For instance, all that talk about blaming the postponement of the election from the initial February date to March for security reasons speaks volumes when one considers events that followed the test-running of the card readers in twelve states across the country. But this, as they say, is now history.
The point is that the innovativeness of Jega in coming up with such measures as the card reader alone, and the manner in which he reshuffled key electoral officers, giving election manipulators tough time to prognosticate his moves, as well as the vehemence with which he executed it, hardly leaves any unbiased mind in doubt as to the genuineness of the exercise in enhancing a free and fair election.
Here, of course, credit must also be given to the kind of person erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan was. Rightly or wrongly, depending on which side of the divide you are – black, white, or grey – Jega knows, in his heart of hearts, that it’s only a President Goodluck Jonathan that would have taken what other past leaders would easily have regarded as his excesses.
In other climes, given Jega’s creativity, many would easily call for him to continue to steer the wheel of the electoral body until he finally institutes a reliable system of picking leaders, even if it will be with some modifications.
After all, there is one man who is typically known as the “Father of the (American) Constitution”.That man is James Madison. He was the principal drafter of the Virginia Plan, which was the first major proposal at a constitutional convention which had other members. The final product of the convention had a great deal of influence on the finished document, which became the bedrock of the American constitution today.
Under the circumstance, Nigeria could not have had it better than what Jega has placed before us. It is a system that is fast tending towards e-voting, one which no one single person, or group of persons can have clear-cut control over.
The fact that campaigns were taken more seriously in the 2015 general elections only goes to buttress the scientific nature of the system. And every advancement-conscious person knows that there is hardly anything unscientific that has a place in modern development.
The least we can do for Nigeria is to develop from what Jega has offered. And, what better way to do it than to encourage him to totally download what he has to offer as an electoral egg-head?
What should stop Nigeria from getting the best from such an egg head as Jega?
Soibi Max-Alalibo
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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
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