Opinion
Ibori’s Loot Controversy

The federal government has stirred up the hornet’s nest and it is being mercilessly attacked from all angles. Ordinarily, the planned return of £4.2 million (N2.4 billion) looted by the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, some of his friends, allies and family members by the United Kingdom government to Nigeria, calls for celebration, because it is no mean achievement by the current government. As stated by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, it is an indication of the current administration’s commitment in the fight against corruption in the nation.
However, the announcement by Malami that the recovered fund will be channeled into infrastructural projects in some parts of the country, including the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Road, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has pitched the government against some individuals and groups, particularly Delta State indigenes who feel that the money having been stolen from their state coffers, should be returned to Delta State. For instance, following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by all the lawmakers from Delta State, the House of Representatives, Wednesday asked the Federal Government to ensure that the loot is returned to Delta State.
Similarly, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, the chief press secretary to the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr. Olise Ifejika, and other notable sons and daughters of the state, including lawyers from both within and outside the state have frowned at the plan by the federal government to appropriate the fund, insisting that the money belongs to Delta State and to her shall the money be returned to.
But the Minister of Justice is unrelenting in explaining why the looted fund should be expended by the federal government when it is returned by the UK government in the next two weeks, going by the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Abuja and London last Tuesday. Speaking on national television, he said “At any rate, I think the major consideration relating to who is entitled to fraction or perhaps the money in its entity is a function of law and international diplomacy, among others. Function of the law in the sense that the law in contention that is alleged to have been bridged is a federal law.
“That is a starting point. And then secondly, in dealing with the international community, the parties are national and not sub-national governments that are involved… The federal government is the victim of crime and not sub-national.”
We wait to see how this bottleneck will be resolved before the return of the money even though one thinks that commonsensically; the source from where the money was stolen should have it back. Yes, the Delta State Government may have denied ab initio that no money was missing from the state, they may not have cooperated or played any role in the recovery of the looted fund, but the federal government owes it as a duty to Delta indigenes to return their money to them.
Alternatively, the money should be used to execute federal projects only in Delta State and no other part of the country. The government cannot tell us that without the recovered loot, the 2nd Niger Bridge and the other two federal projects wouldn’t be carried out in spite of several billions of naira already allocated for them. For several years money from different sources has been tied to the 2nd Niger Bridge, yet the project seems to be taking eternity to be completed. We have not forgotten the experiences of the recent past where a tranche of Abacha’s loot was said to have been channeled into Social Intervention Programmes – the N5000 conditional cash transfer and the likes, yet there is nothing to show for that. The whole thing is still shrouded in controversy.
But for the fact that Nigeria is a sovereign country, one would have subscribed to the view that the Brits should make Delta select one or two projects and directly fund these projects so that the people will directly benefit from it. Corruption is so endemic in the country that there is no assurance that the money if left in the hands of the federal or Delta State government will not be re-looted as has become a common practice in the country. Billions of naira have reportedly been recovered in the last few years yet the government is constantly complaining of lack of funds thereby laying credence to the assertion that the monies are not where they should be. Besides, it is a known fact that Ibori still has a great influence in Delta State, how are we sure that some of the cash will not be returned to him if given to the state government?
So, while we bask in the euphoria of the great feat and hoping that the issue of appropriation of the soon to be returned recovery is handled amicably so as to avoid any unnecessary legal battle between Delta State and the federal government, it is advised that The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other sister agencies, should take the struggle against corruption to a higher level by placing premium on prevention going forward. The great effort made in recovering the controversial loot will amount to action in futility if measures are not put in place to prevent such an act.
Over the years and even now, our monies are being syphoned out of the country to other countries that use them to enrich their system while the people that own the money keep getting impoverished. In 2020, Nigeria was worn the shameful crown as the poverty capital of the world, yet billions of naira that should have been used to provide the much-needed infrastructure and improve the general wellbeing of the citizens are stolen by a few. There are corrupt people in other countries no doubt,but the difference between Nigeria and some other advanced countries is that their systems are strong to prevent and deal with corruption adequately. Until we have a preventive mechanism in place to ensure that corruption becomes less attractive and that any corrupt person faces the consequences of his action irrespective of his status, political, religious or ethnic lining; until our anti-corruption agencies become independent, our desire to stem corruption in the country will remain a mirage.
By: 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.
-
Politics2 days ago
PDP Still Formidable Ahead 2027 – Nat’l Youth Leader
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
Commissioner Explains Oborevwori’s Retirement Age Extentoon For Associate Profs
-
Politics2 days ago
Civic Duty, Not Politics Necessitated My Engagement With Abacha – Obi
-
Sports2 days ago
Oyibu predicts success for Team Nigeria at Athletics Championships
-
Sports2 days ago
Former Champion Seeks Title Defence At Para Table Tennis Tourney
-
Rivers2 days ago
Don Sues For Leadership Assessment Centre In IAUE
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
Oborevwori Boosts Digitalisation With Ulesson 500 Tablets To Pupils, Students
-
Business2 days ago
Cassava Flour Initiative Revival Can Up Economy By ?255b – COMAFAS