Politics
Wike Intervenes To Save ONELGA
Last week’s first Christmas Carol is still reverberating
across the nooks and crannies of the State after the State Government and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) staged the first State Government organised Carol. Governor Nyesom Wike with other top state officials attended at the Gen. Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.
Last Monday, Governor Wike felicitated with his Deputy Dr, Ipalibo Harry-Banigo on her birthday. The governor commended Dr Harry-Banigo for being a reliable partner in the transformation of Rivers State in line with the New Rivers Development Blueprint.
The governor further opined that the deputy has earned herself a place in the history of the State following her record of service in the civil service, health care sector and now as deputy governor of the State.
On Tuesday, the governor through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu announced the appointment of a new Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA). Mr Lawrence Macaulay Pepple was appointed to lead the agency after it was shut down last month. Mr Pepple’s appointment took effect from Monday 21st December, 2015.
On Wednesday, shortly after returning from an official trip to the Federal Capital Territory, the governor inaugurated two Caretaker Committee Chairmen for Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) and Etche Local Government Areas.
The governor submitted that the security reports in ONELGA indicated that the former chairman had relapsed while security deteriorated in the area. He noted that security reports indicated that there was need to intervene and enthrone rule of law in ONELGA.
He therefore directed the new CTC Chairman of ONELGA, Prince Isaac Umejere to make security a top priority and restore peace in the Omoku, Egi communities. “You have to collaborate with security agencies to fight crime and cultism in ONELGA.” Wike charged him.
On the same Wednesday, deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo honoured 10 staffers who retired after a meritorious service in Government House as part of a Christmas Carol, end of Year Party and Sendforth for staff and retirees and expressed appreciation to them following their dedication and sacrifice while serving the State in various capacities.
Ahead of the Christmas, celebration on December 25, Governor Wike on Thursday sent out a yuletide message to the people of the State. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, he urged Christians to remain committed to the worthy ideals demonstrated by God in the birth of Jesus Christ.
He also called on the people to pray for Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole. The governor assured that the state will continue to grow from strength to strength as his administration was rooted on God and the will of the people.
On Christmas day, the governor’s wife, Her Excellency Justice Eberechi Nyesom Wike celebrated with the less privileged in the society. She began the day with a visit to the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMH) where she gave gifts to babies born on Christmas Day.
Justice Nyesom Wike said, “I am happy that we have our Christmas babies. I am happy that the three mothers delivered their babies safely. These babies represent the future and God’s miracle to mankind.”
On Saturday, Governor Wike swore-in more 15 special Advisers in Government House. He said the new aides will be the last batch in the year as he called on them to join hands in the implementation of the development agenda of the administration.
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.
