Opinion
Before We Crucify Civil Servants…

Corruption was the crux of the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s speech at two very important events he attended, last week. At the inaugural Quarterly Civil Service Lecture held at Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, Prof Osinbajo attributed the problem being faced by the nation to the corrupt practices of some privileged civil servants who subvert the system for their personal gains at the expense of the poor.
He said the country was faced with what he termed a monumental tragedy because civil servants used opportunity of the position they hold for self enrichment, adding that as a result of such sharp practices, civil servants were sometimes referred to as ” evil servants.”
At another forum – the inauguration of Private Sector Advisory Group for Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, the Acting President blamed corruption in the country on the penchant for unnecessary wealth by both the political, religious and business elite. The elite, he said, have decided to view wealth as a measure of worth, hence the large scale corruption in the system.
One cannot agree less with Osinbajo’s assertion. Nigeria is in the current mess because of the actions and inactions of a few privileged individuals. Let’s take a look at all the ailing sectors of the economy- health, education, manufacturing, agriculture and others, they are all being manned by the elite. These people, exploit their positions for personal aggrandizement rather than the common good of the masses.
It is for that same reason that contractors who were given the jobs to provide basic amenities and needed infrastructures to various communities across the nation, divert greater percentage of the money meant for these projects to their private bank accounts. Nigeria continues to witness epileptic power supply despite the humongous amount invested in the power sector over the years because of the actions of some greedy and selfish privileged individuals.
In the area of religion, the religious elite have severally been accused of masterminding most religious crises witnessed in the country. The issue of Boko Haram has lingered for many years despite the efforts made by the authorities to stem it because the elite have been allegedly sponsoring the dreaded sect.
The same goes with politics. Many communities in the country are at war with each other today because of the political interests of a few politicians from those areas. These men and women do not care whether the whole people in their communities or even states perish as long as they achieve their goal.
That same selfishness and greed continue even when they get into power (whether by election or imposition). We are living witnesses to how law makers, both at the national and state levels are quick to make laws that would benefit them while the the ones in public interests take ages to come to light. They manipulate the electoral process to suit them. These elite at all tiers and arms of government continue to milk the nation and states dry with their excessive expenditures and outlandish lifestyle. A nobody today becomes a billionaire once elected or appointed into a position of trust.
Recently, the media, both conventional and on-line have been inundated with stories of recovered monies stolen from the public purse by well -placed individuals. Billions of Naira that would have been used to transform several communities are stashed in a few people’s homes and bank accounts.
One wonders how the civil servants will be expected to be saints, seeing and hearing all these. Of course, no one is trying to make excuses for the high rate of corruption in the civil service but perhaps the few bad eggs in the civil service are merely towing the line of their political heads. They may just be bringing into the civil service what obtains in the larger Nigerian society. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation , Mrs Winifred Oyo Ita, at the SDGs inauguration, noted that the service was possibly a victim of the overall malaise bedelvilling the entire Nigerian society. There is no better truth than that.
So before labeling civil servants as evil, we must acknowledge the fact that corruption has permeated all sections including the schools, spiritual houses, traditional institutions , the media and even markets. No section is exempted.
But beyond lamenting over the situation or preaching to our conscience as the Acting President tried to do, a lasting solution to the problem must be found. Apart from the long speeches we have heard over the years, what are the authority’s mechanisms against this act ?
In other countries, people are punished for corrupt and criminal activities . How often do we do that? How many people have been prosecuted and punished under the on-going anti corruption crusade? Or do we continue to reward and revere looters and criminals and expect our society to be better?
We are eagerly hoping that the Acting President who has been speaking passionately against corruption will employ the same passion in prosecuting the war against corruption . It should no longer be business as usual. Rather, the ruling class and all those in authority should shun corruption , embezzlement , ethnic and religious bias and other negative tendencies associated with Nigerian elite. Let the ‘evil’ civil servants be turned to angelic servants by the examples of their leaders.
Calista Ezeaku
Opinion
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
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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