Politics
Rivers Assembly And 2009 Legislative Session
The success story of the state lawmakers in 2009 would be incomplete if mention is not made of how they condemned the seizure of two Hilux cars by the Ahoada East Local Government, resulting in the subsequent release of the vehicles.
The enthronement of democratic governance in May 29,1999 after several years of military intervention in the nation’s political history indeed set the tone for Nigeria’s ship to sail the water of democracy. The inauguration of the National Assembly and the various states Houses of Assembly across the country signaled the dawn of democratic experience.
Apart from its statutory function of making laws for the overall development of the people, the legislature carry out oversight functions on the works of the executive arm of the government as well as promote effectiveness in the good governance of a state or nation.
Since the inception of the 4th Republic, both the State and National Assemblies have performed creditably with the duty of making laws for the betterment of society.
Here in Rivers State, there is a track of legislative success that has contributed to the development and growth of the state since 1999 till date. Suffice to say that, the present 6th Assembly in Rivers State has risen up to its constitutional challenges in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.
The development and successes achieved by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration in the State can be attributed to the roburst performance of the state legislature within the year under review.
The Rivers State House of Assembly in 2009 passed over 15 laws, resolutions and motions that have impacted on the life of the people as well as assisted in the overall transformation of the state. Notable among such laws passed by the House in 2009 were the state Child Right Law, the Greater Port Harcourt City Law, the state Customary Court Amendment Law and the state Transport Regulatory Law. Others include the Amendment of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Law 2009, the state 2009 Appropriation Law, the state University of Education Law, and the state Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Law.
In 2009, the House also took some resolutions that helped the government to shape its development in the state. The success story of the state lawmakers in 2009 would be incomplete if mention is not made of how they condemned the seizure of two Hilux cars by the Ahoada East Local Government resulting in the subsequent release of the vehicles.
The Rivers Assembly legislative support to Governor Amaechi administration aided the implementation of waterfronts demolition exercise and the proactive manner the government tackled the issue of militancy in the state.
The lawmakers oversight functions, no doubt, facilitate legislative breakthrough in the state. The various House Committees carried their duties to the letter as the lawmakers visited some project sites within their jurisdiction to ascertain and monitor the level of projects embarked upon by the respective ministries and parastatals. But the work of the state House of Assembly however brought tears to two local governments. The lawmakers suspended two council chairmen and subsequently dissolved one of the LG councils for misappropriation of funds allocated to the councils.
Speaking on the performance of the House last year, the House Committee Chairman on Information and Training, Hon Onari Brown stated that the lawmakers fared very well in the discharged of their duties during the period under review, maintaining that it was a fruitful session.
According to the lawmaker, there was absolute peace, integration, unity and love in the House during the year, attributing such success to House leadership led by Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry.
He urged the people of the state not to renege in their support to the present administration in the state led by Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, assuring that the state legislature would continue to carry out its statutory responsibilities at all times.
Akujobi Amadi
Politics
Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar

A press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Mr Linus Obogo, disclosed that the Calabar Centre — designated as Centre B — will host representatives and stakeholders from Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
The public hearing is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Transcorp (Metropolitan) Hotel, Calabar.
The initiative, according to the statement, is designed to promote inclusive dialogue and capture the aspirations of Nigerians from all regions.
It aims to serve as a platform for citizens to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national efforts to refine and strengthen the country’s legal and institutional frameworks.
“Citizens, civil society groups, professional bodies, traditional rulers, and other interest blocs are invited to participate in this landmark engagement aimed at advancing a more just, equitable, and responsive Nigerian Constitution,” the statement read.
The hearing forms part of the broader review process of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and is seen as a strategic move toward fostering national unity and addressing structural legal issues within the federation.
Politics
Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF

For the first time since 2022, when then-presidential aspirant Alhaji Bola Tinubu declared he made former President Buhari Nigeria’s President in 2015, Mr Mustapha dismissed the claims, stressing that the merger only contributed about three million votes in addition to Buhari’s existing 12 million votes in the North.
He insisted that former President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to the breakthrough, not the three million votes from the merging parties, which he described as insignificant.
Speaking on the role of the merging parties, particularly President Tinubu, the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Mustapha, who was the keynote speaker at the launch of the book ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience’ authored by Mallam Garba Shehu, described the impact of the votes from other merging parties as very insignificant.
In attendance were former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, chair of the event; immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu; PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; former Chief of Staff to Buhari Ibrahim Gambari; elder statesman Babagana Kingibe; former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Raji Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); former ministers Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare; former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, and Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s spokesman, among others.
According to Mr Mustapha, “I do not intend to stir up any controversy. The merger in 2013 was midwifed to create a Buhari presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo-Buhari presidential contest where Buhari recorded 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, and it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.
“When we were conceptualising the merger, what would give us a headstart? Obviously, it was at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), though it had only one state, the ACN had six states, ANPP three states, and when you sum up the total votes that we had as the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million.
“So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was three million. Before turning to that presidency, it is important to recognise the former President’s role in reshaping Nigeria’s political trajectory.
“In early 2013, as the leader of the CPC, Buhari formally requested and supported the creation of a CPC merger committee, part of a broader coalition-building process that brought together the ACN, ANPP, APGA faction, and elements of the ruling party through the breakaway ‘new PDP’ group. His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the APC. That coalition-building paved the way for the first democratic defeat of an incumbent ruling party in Nigeria’s history.
“President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to that breakthrough. No account of President Buhari’s tenure would be complete without acknowledging the extended periods he spent on medical leave. These moments, while politically delicate, were also telling of his leadership philosophy and personality,” he said.
In his remarks, President Tinubu promised to build on the legacies of former President Buhari, stressing that “nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next.
“In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just, and inclusive Nigeria—a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens”.
Politics
Your Lies Chasing Investors From Nigeria, Omokri Slams Obi
Speaking during an appearance on live television on Wednesday, Mr Omokri alleged that Mr Obi’s statements were misleading and damaging to the country’s economic prospects.
Mr Omokri said some investors currently operating in Nigeria were considering exiting the market due to Mr Obi’s remarks.
“That is not true. He doesn’t rile me up. I rile him up. The reason why I came here is because I’m a patriot. Peter Obi lied. You know, foreign direct investors are watching your programme, who are making investment decisions not to come to Nigeria. There are foreign investors in Nigeria that are making investment decisions to leave Nigeria because of the lie he told.
“One of the lies he told is that President Tinubu has borrowed more than the administrations of Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari. That is a blatant lie”, Mr Omokri said.
To buttress his claims, Mr Omokri referenced figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), maintaining that President Tinubu had actually reduced Nigeria’s external debt burden since assuming office.
“I have here with me data from the Debt Management Office, and Nigerians who are watching can go to DMO.com and search Debt Management Office, Nigeria State of Indebtedness 2015.
“As of 2015, Nigeria was owing a total of $63 billion. When Buhari was leaving office, Nigeria was owing $113 billion. Today, from the DMO, our debt has gone from $113 billion to $97 billion, meaning that Tinubu has reduced our debt by over $14 billion.
“We should be appreciating this man. Yet Peter Obi came here and lied to the Nigerian people. He took the debts and translated them into naira to make it look like the debts have increased”, he said.
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