Politics
Lawmaker Drums Support For Jonathan
A member of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon Otobo Noah Opusiri, wants all indigenes of the state from all walks of life, irrespective of ethnic and regional backgrounds, to rally round President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Timipre Sylva to consolidate the achievments they have made within the short period they have stayed in office.
“According to him, there is need for them to complete what they have started both at the federal and the state levels”.
The country’s independence was predicated on the banner of a strong and unified nation.
Hon. Opusiri, who is the House Committee Chairman on Anti-Corruption stated this while speaking to Assembly Correspondents. He described the successful celebration of Nigeria’s first fifty years of nationhood and fourteen years of the creation of Bay elsa, as homogeneous Ijaw state, as landmark achievements,
The lawmaker, who represents Nembe Constituency III, said the event provided unique opportunity for the youth who never experienced colonialism, adding that whatever the shortcomings of the first five decades may be, the greatest success remains that the nation still remains as one entity and that hope was not yet lost on the people.
He reiterated that the post-civil war slogan “No Victor, No Vanquished”, captured the adding imperative of post-conflict reconciliation among various tribes, unique that any call for a return to regional political agenda as establishing criteria for leadership in the country, would rather bring an ill-wind fall that would likely threaten stability of the country.
He contended that, in spite of the many challenges such as unemployment, corruption and economic woes, culminating in confusion and frustration among Nigerian youth, the fate of the nation still remains with them and advised that they should either aspire on how to build up the nation to their dream land instead of looking for an opportunity to destory it.
According to him, the task of building Nigeria should not be left in the hands of foreign nations, adding that it was not the responsibility of foreign powers to decide the destiny of Nigeria, reiterating that the fate of the nation lies in the youths, to create a positive and enduring legacy from the experience of the last fifty years.
He recalled that the independence struggle which commenced about three decades earlier, was pioneered by an Ijaw son, Ernest Ikoli, with other youths from all over the country. While stressing the imperative of peaceful co-existence, he reminded Nigerians how the country was able to overcome the temptation of secession at the time Independence was barely ten years old, when the Civil War began and ended, implying that forty years have passed, since the first major threat to our national unity was overcome.
He pointed out further that the national imperative of unity should be the core principle in seeking any elective office in the land, saying that Nigeria’s ability to resolve the civil war helped to keep the hope of the founding fathers.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.