Opinion
On N500m Donation To PAMO Varsity
Surely, a supportive gift given to promote a noble project which adds value to collective humanity and meant to encourage entrepreneurship is a noble deed. People who do so deserve great honour, especially in a society where niggardliness is more common than generosity. A generous state governor was once nicknamed Governor Donatus, “because, as a cheerful giver, he endeared himself to numerous admirers. In his honour, university staff usually made a toast at the close of activity in the Senior Staff Club, to: ‘Governor Donatus’”.
That the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, donated the sum of N500 million, as a grant to support PAMO University, was a news item in The Tide newspaper of Monday, May 24, 2021. In the Governor’s words, “We have decided to further support the growth and development of this university with yet another grant of N500 million only …” We were further told that “we instituted the special scholarship scheme to cater for not less than 100 indigenous students of this university yearly for five consecutive circle of admissions with effect from the very first set of students”.
It is to be expected that the kind gesture of the Governor towards PAMO University, on behalf of Rivers State, would not go down well with some people. There are talks about some civil servants and retirees being owed their entitlements, as well as other urgent needs calling for attention, which N500 million would have addressed.
John Cecile Rhodes (1833-1902), British-born South African gold-mine magnate; Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope Province, who annexed Mashonaland and Matabeleland, and named Rhodesia after himself, was a philanthropist. In his Will, he instituted scholarship award in support of students from countries of the British Commonwealth. Despite his generosity, a number of people here and there saw him as a typical gold digger and opportunist. One of Rhodes’ defenders said: “If you plunder to expand opportunities and benefits to a wider population, you are better than those who cheat with smiles and hoard their loots, while many die of hunger…”
An emerging philosophy in business studies puts emphasis on earthly possessions not being evil, if used judiciously to create more jobs and make life more meaningful for a larger number of people. Rather, what is reprehensible is a niggardly frame of mind whereby wealth blinds an individual to the plight of others and its acquisition becomes a propensity or vaulting ambition. Therefore, it is considered moral taking away wealth from where it is not adding value to life, and giving to those who can multiply its value and create opportunities.
This line of philosophy does not support plunder or usury and heartless exploitation of helpless people. A relevant law in development stipulates that any ability or possession which is not put to maximum use soon passes onto where it can be applied for greater human benefit. Neither can anyone sustain what he is not able to maintain and protect. This law is behind many marital failures. No woman wants to remain fallow!
We must not shy away from the fact that the Laws of Nature operate in inscrutable manners, irrespective of our sentiments, prejudices and ignorance. To say that “to those that have, more shall be given”, confirms the truth that assets that are not utilised effectively, pass onto better hands that can create more values. Similarly, those who ignore and place less value on what they have, but long for something else, soon find that they lose out altogether. An old philosopher once admonished that our business in life is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.
With regards to the principle of supportive donations, the idea is that the validity and justification must pass through some vital integrity tests, namely: the underlying motive, and cost-effective application of the donation. Governor Wike was quoted as saying that “such initiative by (Dr Peter) Odili and, indeed, any Rivers indigene was worthy of support from the state government”. The initiative in question is the entrepreneurial ability to establish a private medical university in Rivers State by an indigene. Does such noble project address a vital need? Yes!
A beer-parlour argument in support or against the N500 million grant would be as follows: Is it wrong to support such vital investment by an enterprising indigene in a state that has been short-changed for too long? No! On the other hand: Was there a prior consultation and approval by representatives of Rivers people before dolling out such donation with the people’s money? Are leaders not entitled to use their personal initiatives, discretion and good judgement at critical moments?
If 490 Rivers State students who are pursuing various medical courses in PAMO University since its inception are beneficiaries of scholarship, can anyone call such a gesture a misplaced priority? Such opportunity poses a challenge to parents and communities to strive diligently to encourage and support their children to avail themselves of opportunities that beckon for utilization. If each year the Rivers State Government gives not less than 100 indigenous students scholarship to study medicine in PAMO University, what legacy can be nobler than that? Invest loots in foreign land?
It is possible that non-beneficiaries of noble gestures would feel bitter and, perhaps, condemn what is noble, but that would not diminish the underlying motive of supportive donations. It is also possible that humans can abuse, distort and misjudge kind gestures, but that would not mean that it is wrong to be a cheerful giver. Public office holders had been known to buy exotic cars for friends and praise singers and such gifts had been known to end up in disasters. Does N500 million grant pander to base and lewd purposes? It’s social up-building!
There is one vital need left for the Governor to address. For humanitarian sake, some senior citizens who had worked hard and selflessly to build up Rivers State are currently bed-ridden and helpless. Professor J. G. Chinwah, who nursed up Rivers State College of Science and Technology to a University of Science and Technology, must not be allowed to die a dusty death, neither is he alone in this plight. Let the largesse go round!
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
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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