Politics
Wike Constitutes Full State Executive Council
The Appeal Court judgement that came on Tuesday did
not in any way weaken the resolve of Governor Nyesom Wike who returned to the state on Wednesday amid mammoth crowd at the Port Harcourt International Airport.The Appeal Court judgement that came on Tuesday did not in any way weaken the resolve of Governor Nyesom Wike who returned to the state on Wednesday amid mammoth crowd at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
But before then, on Monday, the wife of the governor Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike had called on Rivers women to pray for her husband. According to her, the governor remained and wanted to deliver on the mandate given to him by Rivers people.
The governor’s wife had spoke while commemoration of Wike’s birthday which was marked on Sunday, 13th December. She sought for prayers to sustain the good health and rigour of the governor.
Shortly after, on the same Monday, Governor Nyesom-Wike had through his aide on Electronic Media Simeon Nwakandu congratulated the Dream Team VI for qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games in Brazil. It will be recalled that Rivers State had hosted most of the qualifiers and the team had won all their games in Port Harcourt.
On Tuesday the governor through his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo committed to the welfare of ex-servicemen (legionnaires) in the State.
Speaking at the Emblem Appeal Launch activities for the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations, the governor donated N5 million unbehalf of the people of Rivers State.
On Wednesday before the reception of Governor Wike at the airport, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo had hosted stakeholders on how to chart fresh course in tackling gender violence in the state. She explained at the interactive session on the need to check the menace, pointing out that, “the issue of gender based violence is huge and over-whelming”.
On arriving Port Harcourt International Airport, the governor, on Thursday, called on the PDP supporters not to be discouraged or their spirit dampened. Wike said the appeal court judgement were temporary setbacks. He however warned that Rivers people with resist any attempt to steal their mandate through force and manipulation.
The governor had before the reception at the airport on Thursday congratulated the new President and Country – Vice President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Inime Aguma. The former Commissioner for Social Welfare was elected last week.
The governor expressed confidence in the ability of Mrs Aguma to live up to expectations of her professional colleagues.
On Thursday shortly after the reception at the airport, the governor headed straight to unveil the new hall at the PDP – Secretarial at Aba Road in Port Harcourt. The new multipurpose hall was renovated and fitted with modern activities , the chairman of the party Bro. Felix Obuah said.
Speaking at the commissioning Governor Wike again reiterated his call for a free and fair-election in the state. He said, “we will use the National Assembly re-run elections to prove to the world that there unpopular politicians have been lying about Rivers State all this while”.
On Friday the governor swore-in new 22 Commissioners and Special Advisers. He expressed confidence with the quality of the fully constituted State Executive Council, describing the team as a “mix of politicians and technocrats women and men of good character and excellent experience in diverse endeavours”.
The governor advised them not to live ostentatives life styles but to serve the people and ensure that the vision to move the state forward was achieved.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Wike headed to the State House of Assembly Complex to present the 2016 budget tagged – “Budget of Consolidation”. The budget estimate of N307 billion is to achieve effective mobilization, equitable – allocation of public finance to transform the state.
On Saturday the governor with other state officials attended the first state organised Choral Nite for Christmas at Gen. Gown Stadium in Port Harcourt.
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.
