Editorial
FG’s Insult To S’ South

The last few days witnessed a frosty relationship between the Federal Government and
stakeholders of the South-South geo-political zone as leaders of the region are demanding an immediate and unreserved apology from the Presidency for abruptly aborting a crucial stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Port Harcourt, Tuesday, 17 November, 2020.
The Presidency had fixed a meeting with the governors and other leaders of the region to discuss burning national issues encompassing the region and the effects of the #EndSARS protests. The federal government delegation was supposed to include all the ministers from the geopolitical zone and other persons.
According to reports, before the meeting was aborted, the time was adjusted twice from 11 am to 1pm on the excuse that President Muhammadu Buhari was having a meeting with the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector-General of Police, who was supposed to be part of the presidential delegation for the regional meeting.
The Presidency, however, had since reacted to the situation. In a statement, it expressed regrets for the failure of the presidential delegation to honour the scheduled meeting with the South-South leaders. It attributed the cancellation to the timing conflicting with an emergency National Security Council meeting, which held in the State House on that day.
But the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) firmly rejected the explanation from the Presidency and insisted on an apology to the zone, despite assurances by the Presidency in a statement by a presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, that the absence of the presidential delegation was not intentional.
It seems the federal government did not realise the import of the meeting it summoned with stakeholders of the South-South region. If that meeting was truly convened to address burning issues affecting the zone as we were made to believe, especially in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest, why was it revoked arbitrarily as if nothing was at stake and was never rescheduled immediately? Was there something the government was unwilling to discuss with the Niger Delta leaders?
The Tide is equally disappointed that the region could be treated with such revulsion. Indeed, Niger Deltans have been embarrassed, disgraced and disrespected by the federal government’s inadvertence, particularly given that the South-South geopolitical zone is a very substantial part of the nation and that the governors and the traditional rulers who had gathered for the meeting deserved to be revered.
We think that the very essence of the federal government’s action is to project the insignificance of the people from the region. It is awful and preposterous for anyone to imply that. If they can treat the region that has sustained the country for decades in this manner, it only explains the reason for our sordid state as a nation. For this reason, we demand immediate payment of compensation to all who were at the aborted meeting.
The Tide joins voices with the governors and stakeholders of the zone to summarily reject the feeble reason advanced by the federal government for botching such a critical meeting. It is an afterthought and a clear demonstration of contempt and disregard for the entire South-South zone. If the Presidency schedules a stakeholder meeting with the Sultan, for example, would it be called off at random without due regard?
How else can anyone interpret what transpired that day but to characterise it as utter disrespect, disregard, and contempt to the entire South-South zone? It is disturbing that similar meetings even held successfully in the other zones and there was no emergency security discussions summoned to stop them from attending those meetings. But when it was for the South-South zone, an exigency arose to scuttle the meeting.
Assuming there was a national security threatening situation to warrant the sudden abortion of the meeting, why was Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who should have represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the regional summit, not replaced? We also noticed that no minister or top government official was in Port Harcourt for the purpose. Why? Were they also part of the emergency security session at the Aso Rock Villa? Perhaps they knew about the plan to bungle the meeting.
We are, however, not overly surprised at all of these occurrences because they are clear manifestations of the prolonged disdain and contempt the Nigerian government has always demonstrated towards people of the region. The mutual exclusiveness, discriminations and injustices against the Niger Delta region by this administration for the past five years can no longer be concealed.
This latest development makes it apparent to everyone from the Niger Delta and the entire South-South zone the extent to which this Presidency can go in hurting the feelings of the region. That is why complete unity is required among the leaders and people of the region to make a significant difference for the ultimate good of present and future generations.
The Presidency should tender an unreserved public apology (not regrets) to the region, particularly our traditional rulers and the leaders in the zone, including religious and opinion leaders, women and youth groups, as well as governors of the region. This may not only open up exciting vistas for a possible reconvening of the meeting, it might ensure the restoration of mutual trust between the Presidency and the entire zone.
Editorial
Benue Killings: Beyond Tinubu’s Visit

The recent massacre in Yelewata, Benue State, ranks among Nigeria’s deadliest attacks of
2025. While official figures put the death toll at 59, media reports and Amnesty International estimate between 100 and 200 fatalities. This atrocity extends a decade-long pattern of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Beacon Security data records 1,043 deaths in Benue alone between May 2023 and May 2025.
President Tinubu’s visit on 18 June—four days after the 14 June attack—has drawn sharp criticism for its lateness. This delay echoes a history of inadequate responses, with Human Rights Watch documenting similar inaction in Plateau and Kaduna states since 2013, fuelling a culture of impunity. The attack lasted over two hours without meaningful security intervention, despite claims of swift action.
The violence bore hallmarks of genocide, with survivors recounting systematic house burnings and executions. More than 2.2 million people have been displaced in the region since 2019 due to comparable attacks. Data show Benue’s agricultural output falls by 0.21 per cent in crops and 0.31 per cent in livestock for every 1 per cent rise in violence.
Security forces continue to underperform. No arrests were made following the Easter attacks in April (56 killed) or May’s Gwer West massacre (42 killed). During his visit, Tinubu questioned publicly why no suspects had been detained four days after Yelewata, highlighting entrenched accountability failures.
The roots of the conflict are complex, with climate change pushing northern herders south and 77 per cent of Benue’s population reliant on agriculture. A Tiv community leader described the violence as “calculated land-grabbing” rather than mere clashes, with over 500 deaths recorded since 2019.
Government interventions have largely fallen short. The 2018 federal task force and 2025 Forest Guards initiative failed to curb violence. Tinubu’s newly announced committee of ex-governors and traditional rulers has been met with scepticism given the litany of past unkept promises.
The economic fallout is severe. Benue’s status as Nigeria’s “food basket” is crumbling as farms are destroyed and farmers displaced. This worsens the nation’s food crisis, with hunger surges in 2023-2024 directly linked to farming disruptions caused by insecurity.
Citizens demanding justice have been met with force; protesters faced police tear gas, and the State Assembly conceded total failure in safeguarding lives, admitting that the governor, deputy, and 32 lawmakers had all neglected their constitutional responsibilities.
The massacre has drawn international condemnation. Pope Leo XIV decried the “terrible massacre,” while the UN called for an investigation. The hashtag “200 Nigerians” trended worldwide on X, with many contrasting Nigeria’s slow response to India’s swift action following a plane crash with similar fatalities.
Nigeria’s centralised security system is clearly overwhelmed. A single police force is tasked with covering 36 states and 774 local government areas for a population exceeding 200 million. Between 2021 and 2023 alone, 29,828 killings and 15,404 kidnappings were recorded nationally. Proposals for state police, floated since January 2025, remain stalled.
Other populous nations offer alternative models. Canada’s provincial police, India’s state forces, and Indonesia’s municipal units demonstrate the effectiveness of decentralised policing. Nigeria’s centralised structure creates intelligence and response gaps, worsened by the distance—both physical and bureaucratic—from Abuja to affected communities.
The immediate aftermath is dire: 21 IDP camps in Benue are overwhelmed, and a humanitarian crisis is deepening. The State Assembly declared three days of mourning (18-20 June), but survivors lack sufficient medical aid. Tragically, many of those killed were already displaced by earlier violence.
A lasting solution requires a multi-pronged approach, including targeted security deployment, regulated grazing land, and full enforcement of Benue’s 2017 Anti-Open Grazing Law. The National Economic Council’s failure to prioritise state police in May 2025 represents a missed chance for reform.
Without decisive intervention, trends suggest conditions will worsen. More than 20,000 Nigerians have been killed and 13,000 kidnapped nationwide in 2025 alone. As Governor Hyacinth Alia stressed during Tinubu’s visit, state police may be the only viable path forward. All 36 states have submitted proposals supporting decentralisation—a crucial step towards breaking Nigeria’s vicious cycle of violence.
Editorial
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Editorial
Democracy Day: So Far…

Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 marked a watershed moment in the nation’s political history. After enduring nearly 16 years of successive military dictatorships, Nigerians embraced a new era of civil governance with the inauguration of President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999. Since then, the country has sustained a democratic system for 26 years. But, this democratic journey has been a complex mix of progress and persistent challenges.
The formal recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged a long-standing injustice. The annulment of the 1993 presidential election, Nigeria’s freest, betrayed the democratic aspirations of millions. That it took decades to honour this date reflects the nation’s complex relationship with its democratic memory.
One of the most momentous successes of Nigeria’s democracy has been the uninterrupted civilian rule over the last two and a half decades. The country has witnessed seven general elections, with power transferring peacefully among different political parties. This is particularly notable considering that prior to 1999, no civilian government had completed a full term without military intervention. The peaceful transitions in 2007, 2015, and 2023 are testaments to Nigeria’s evolving democratic maturity.
Electoral participation, while uneven, has also reflected a level of democratic engagement. In 2003, voter turnout stood at about 69 per cent, but this figure dropped to approximately 34.75 per cent in 2023, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Although the declining turnout raises concerns, it also highlights the increasing expectations of the electorate, who demand credible and transparent elections.
Another area of progress is the growth of a vibrant and free press. Nigerian media has played a crucial role in holding governments accountable and fostering public discourse. Investigative journalism and civil society activism have exposed corruption and human rights abuses. The rise of social media has further expanded the democratic space, enabling young Nigerians to mobilise and advocate for change, as evidenced by the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Judicial independence has seen mixed results. On one hand, the judiciary has occasionally demonstrated resilience, such as in landmark rulings that overturned fraudulent elections or curtailed executive excesses. On the other hand, allegations of political interference and corruption within the judiciary persist, undermining public confidence in the legal system’s impartiality.
Nigeria’s democracy has also facilitated the decentralisation of power through the federal system. State governments now wield some autonomy, allowing for experimentation in governance and service delivery. While this has led to innovative policies in some states, it has also entrenched patronage networks and uneven development across the federation.
Despite these successes, Nigeria’s democratic journey faces formidable problems. Electoral integrity remains a critical concern. Reports from election observers, including those from the European Union and ECOWAS, frequently highlight issues such as vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and violence. The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results in 2023 elections showed promise, but technical glitches and alleged manipulations dampened public trust.
Corruption continues to be a pervasive issue. Nigeria ranks 145th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 25/100. Democratic institutions meant to check graft—such as anti-corruption agencies and the legislature—often struggle due to political interference and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Security challenges have also strained Nigeria’s democracy. Insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West, separatist agitations in the South East, and herder-farmer conflicts across the Middle Belt have collectively resulted in thousands of deaths and displacements. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2024, Nigeria ranks as the eighth most impacted country by terrorism. The government’s difficulty in ensuring safety erodes public confidence in the state’s capacity and legitimacy.
The economy poses another critical remonstrance. Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita stands at approximately $2,400 as of 2024, with over 40 per cent of the population living below the national poverty line. High unemployment and inflation have fueled discontent and disillusionment with democratic governance, especially among youth. Without addressing economic grievances, the democratic dividend will remain elusive for many Nigerians.
Ethnic and religious divisions further complicate Nigeria’s democratic consolidation. Politicians often exploit identity politics for electoral gains, exacerbating social tensions. Although federal character principles aim to promote inclusiveness, they have also sometimes fostered a quota mentality rather than merit-based appointments.
Gender representation remains inadequate in Nigeria’s democratic institutions. Women occupy less than 10 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, one of the lowest rates globally. Efforts to pass gender parity bills have faced stiff resistance, highlighting deep-seated cultural and institutional barriers to female political participation.
Civil liberties, while constitutionally guaranteed, are under threat. Crackdowns on protesters, restrictions on press freedom, and surveillance of activists reveal an authoritarian streak within the democratic framework. The controversial Twitter ban in 2021 exemplified the country’s willingness to curb digital freedoms, prompting domestic and international criticism.
The political crisis in Rivers State embodies broader democratic struggles. Attempts to control the state through undemocratic means expose weaknesses in federal institutions and the rule of law. Immediate restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State is vital to preserving Nigeria’s democratic integrity and institutional credibility.
Local governments remain under the control of state governors, depriving citizens of grassroots democracy. Last year’s Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy is promising, but state-level resistance threatens its implementation. Genuine autonomy would bring governance closer to the people and foster democratic innovation.
As we mark Democracy Day, we must honour the sacrifices of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Femi Falana, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Pa Alfred Rewane, President Bola Tinubu, and countless others, who fought for Nigeria’s freedom. As democracy in Nigeria continues to evolve after 26 years, this day should inspire action toward its renewal. With despotism and state failure as real threats, both citizens and leaders must take responsibility—citizens by demanding more, and leaders by delivering. Excuses are no longer acceptable.
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