Opinion
2014 Rivers Budget: What The People Say
The recent passage of the 2014 Rivers State Appro
priation Bill at the Government House by the state lawmakers raised a lot of dust. The various arguments were either for or against the passage of the budget outside the Hallowed chambers of the House of Assembly.
In the midst of claims and counterclaims as to the legality of the action, our assistant women, living and style Editor, Sogbeba Dokubo, went to town to find out what the people think of it. The followings are excerpts.
Dr Olomabo Gillis-Harry, Philosopher – Well, the budget was really timely. If you look at the doctrine of necessity, alongside what is being unfolded in the State, we know that what the law makers did was in consonance with the cry of the masses, the people of Rivers State.
This is because, without a direction, the year 2014 won’t be what we had expected it to be. Government has its duty to pay the salaries of workers and provide social amenities to the citizenry. When they delay, it will really lead to a situation whereby there will be lack of basic amenities. As I said earlier, the doctrine of necessity that was applied in this matter was really in order, and the place of the passing of the budget does not come in. The doctrine of necessity knows no law and cannot be subjected to law because it is the right thing to do, given the prevailing circumstance.
I believe the proceedings were taken and we know that before any budget is passed into law, there are processes and the due process was followed based on the prevailing circumstance. We really appreciate His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, for his fatherly role, not only in the State but Nigeria at large. If we have four or five of him in this country, we will see great change.
Mr. Barivule Akpo-Journalist- I believe that people should first think of knowing the administrative process of any organisation or government. I have never experienced situations where a State exists without a budget in any democratic system. Even in a State where emergency is being experienced or is the order of the day, there must be a budget.
Fundamentally, budget is a document that states the income, expenditure, projects and salaries of organisations and government. If the Assembly has been locked up and the legislative process has not been on for sometime, is it a good thing? It is definitely not what is expected of a State like Rivers where we are thinking of fast development, human capacity building, capital projects and the total welfare of the people, including civil servants.
You don’t spend from internally generated revenue. It is not legal anywhere to use internally generated revenue to pay workers’ salaries. The welfare of the entire civil servants of this State depends on the budget. So you can begin to imagine the fate of the civil servants if the budget is not passed. The budget, no doubt is an integral part of a government, if it must achieve anything meaningful.
It is, therefore, surprising for anyone to imagine that, because the budget was not passed in the assembly, it should be null and void.
Afterall, when renovation work started at the first House of Assembly, the Assembly was moved to the then Obi Wali Integrated Cultural Centre. In the same way, the Hallowed Chambers was under repair.
Also, during the passage of a bill, the essential things to note are whether key House officers are present and whether the procedure does not negate the constitution as well as the rules of the House.
Let me remind us that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria permits the governor to operate on the previous budget that has been passed by the House six months into the new fiscal year. But even in the present circumstance, the government deemed it necessary to call all stakeholders to come together in order for due process to be followed. Simply put, he the governor is only being magnanimous. When are we, as Rivers people, going to sit and think of how we should develop our State? When are we going to talk about peace? In a state of acrimony, development cannot thrive.
On the whole, I think there is no problem with the passage of the budget, for the sake of the development of the State.
Mr. Godwin Akpan, Public Servant-My opinion is that if the action of the governor is not against any section of the constitution, and for the interest of the State, I think I support the action of the presentation of the budget and the House of Assembly in giving it a speedy passage.
I think, as a lay man, once you g et 2/3 majority of members supporting an action, the action stands. If according to reports, those that received the Bill and passed the budget were 23 in number, it means they were even more than the required 2/3 majority, so it is carried.
Ralph Afangide, legal practitioner-As far as I know, the budget is a legal document, it is just an economic instrument and so the legal requirement must be satisfied before the budget is passed into law. As far as I know, there are stages, processes that must be satisfied, like public hearing, committee sections, first reading, second reading, the commissioners. coming to defend their own sector.
If for instance they budget N12 billion for monorail, the commissioner for transport will be required to come and justify why N12 billion will be spent on monorail. All these requirements were not satisfied in the passage of the recent 2014 budget. What was done was a rubber-stamp: the governor went to the make-shift assembly, presented the budget, and there and then, it was passed the same day by voice vote. Those of the members that were there were APC members who were dancing to the whims and caprices of the governor, the so called anti-Amaechi law makers were not there. I know they will say that they formed a quorum, but if they had genuine intentions of passing this budget, they could have called everybody together and inform everybody of their intention. I don’t know if they passed circular to the other people, I’m not privy to that. But be that as it may, there is a very critical question that we must address, and that is the venue of the meeting in which the budget was passed, which was not the Rivers State House of Assembly. It was a make-shift arrangement in Government House, which means there is now no separation of power between the executive and the legislature.
There is a supreme court judgementconcerning Oyo State, when the Governor of that state was impeached, and the impeachment took place in an hotel room. The supreme court said no, this impeachment cannot stand. You must carry out the impeachment, if the required number of members are there, in the Hallowed chambers. So the question of saying that the doctrine of necessity will not allow us to sit does not arise at all.
When a matter is pending in court, parties must maintain the status quo, and the status quo is that they should not have gone to sit in any place. When they asked the federal house to take over the functions of the state house, did they not think of the doctrine of necessity? That is the question. In any case, that doctrine does not apply in this case and what they have done is that they have opened a can of worms, because the other lawmakers, who were not present in that sitting can decide to go to an hotel or any other place and sit and pass resolutions that may be adverse to the present administration. So this is a very bad precedent that they have set.
The way forward is that they should retrace their steps. As far as I’m concerned, that budget is not a budget in the eyes of the law. I learnt that the PDP is going to court to challenge the legality or otherwise of that budget. If that is done, it would set the financial situation in the State backward. It will therefore mean that salaries will not be paid, as projects may not be embarked upon. But this is a situation that could have been averted in the first instance. So it is the government of the day that invited this problems to themselves. It is a consequent of their action, so they have to face such consequences. The best thing for them to do in the present circumstance is that the stakeholders should all come together, forget about party line, and work as a team.
Godson Owhoji, legal practitioner-Firstly, let me say that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. Yes there is need to pass the State budget to move the state forward. But it should be done in accordance with the constitution.
However, in this circumstance, what we call doctrine of necessity had not arisen for the House to begin to sit outside the Hallowed chambers.
The Appropriation Bill is one major law that is celebrated by the lawmakers. When such a bill is to be passed, it is usually done in a dignified manner.
For instance, when the Plateau State House of Assembly wanted to impeach their former Governor, the court was against the circumstance it was done and so did not support it and the impeachment could not hold. So in my personal view, the House sitting outside the legislative chambers to pass the appropriation bill amounting to about N485 billion in less than an hour amounts to a rape of democracy.
There are legislative procedures in the passage. I think we should condemn it. I am also of the opinion that the state should not be held to ransome. It will be better for the Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi to see how he can maintain peace.
If you think that he is working for the interest of Rivers people, there is need for the legislative arm of government to be functional.
Let me quickly also let you know. In Rivers today, the only arm of the government that is functional is the executive, and in all these crises within the judiciary and legislative arms, the executive arm is fingered. I think it is high time the executive governor began to look at the interest of Rivers State, knowing that the persons that have been accused have been working with him for years.
Under normal circumstance, there’s supposed to be checks and balances between the legislative and executive arms. But where this does not exist, and in a system where the legislative and the judiciary arms are paralysed, the Chief Executive can use his executive fiat to do what he likes, this is anti-democratic.
The executive governor as the chief security officer of the State has the responsibility to ensure peace in the state. In his first tenure, there was peace, but today, there is no chief judge, no House of Assembly, and no legislative arm. Now that the budget has been passed in Government House, will subsequent sittings hold in Government House? The Governor should invite all stakeholders and make peace. They can still come back. The executive governor should initiate this move.
The paramount thing is the interest of people living in the State and Rivers people.
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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