Opinion
That Amaechi’s Bail-out For LG Councils
The fundamental principle of the creation of the third tier government was essentially to bring development nearer to the rural populace.
What a lofty and laudable objective! But the snag is that most local government administrations have apparently failed to actualise this essence, several years after they were established.
The sordid picture of under and non-performance despite the whooping allocations from the federation Account, leaves much to be desired.
It is not to say a new thing that the litany of calls and propositions for the scrapping of Local Government Administration in the country is predicated on the failure of people who are saddled with the responsibility of piloting affairs of local, government councils not to live above board.
Though some local government councils in other states have hinged their inability to perform on non-statutory (illegal) deductions of their allocation from the Federal Allocation by some state governments.
The story, sad enough is so endemic and contagious that several chairmen, elected or appointed are poised to perpetuate the statute quo of corruptly enriching themselves to the detriment of the rural populace whose resources they are to hold in trust.
The abysmal performance of Local Government Council leaders has created a false sense that the Local government is a conduit for siphoning of the money meant for infrastructural development at the grassroots.
The recent report by Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam which gives a clean bill of health to only nine of the twenty-three local government areas of Rivers State is instructive and lends credibility to the despicable loss of focus and gross financial recklessness by most local government council Chairmen and managements.
The investigations and consequent removal from office chairmen of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni; Okrika and Andoni Local Government Councils for alleged financial impropriety by the Rivers State House of Assembly as part of its oversight functions, only substantiates Mrs Cookey-Gam’s Committee Report on the prevailing absurdities at the third tier level of governance.
It is pertinent to state that the sacked chairmen cannot be adjudged the worst in the state; because there are several council chairmen who have no tangible, people-oriented project to show for the several financial receipts from the Federal Allocation, even as the state government does not tamper with local government councils’ fund outside legitimate deductions.
Rather it is now that some chairmen are only pretending to be doing something in their areas to lull the state governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi into believing that at least they are not sadistic looters of the people’s treasury. But would such window – dressing projects be completed after the Governor Amaechi’s visit to local government areas for his Town Hall meeting? Only time will tell.
Since integrity means nothing to some local government council chairmen, they are not committed to leaving any legacy behind. In fact, their pre-occupation is to embezzle the money raw such that even payment of salaries and entitlements of staff and political appointees is an uphill task.
This is why the taking over of primary schools and primary health care institutions including payment of staff salaries by the state government which were hitherto within the ambit of the local government councils in the state, does not go down well with many people.
Though the action of the present administration is in the best interest of the rural populace, it increases the liability of the state government and leaves council chairmen with little or nothing to do.
Since local government councils have been divested of the responsibility of running the entire Primary Schools and Primary health systems in the state, what then is their responsibility?
It is not to gainsay the fact that the present administration is broad minded in improving the level of primary education and delivery of primary health Services, but it should be dispassionate and make council chairmen know that they are a statutory duty to the rural people whose resources they are charged with.
In fact, the state House of Assembly and the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs should not rest on their oars to probe activities of local government councils to make them imbibe the culture of accountability and transparency in governance.
The Local Government Councils are no gold mine for a privileged few. Every rural dweller is a stakeholder that must be given a sense of belonging.
The state government should prevail on chairmen of local government councils to provide an enabling and conducive environment for primary health with accommodation, supply of electricity. And should embark on routine checks to ensure that health workers are regular at their duty post.
A situation where staff, even medical doctors do not live in the place they are posted to serve, and close by 4.00pm as if they are core civil servants can not engender effective service delivery.
Our primary health centres and General Hospitals are ridden with avoidable deaths arising from absence of medical and health personnel during emergencies.
A significant success will be achieved if this gory trend is checked. Availability of drugs, facilities and infrastructure without dedicated staff is undoubtedly, counter-productive.
Igbiki Benibo
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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
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