Politics

Now That Mbu Is Out …

Published

12 years ago

February 10, 2014

Last Thursday’s
redeployment of erstwhile Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to Abuja may have calmed some frayed nerves, but events that characterised his regime in the State are still fresh in some minds.
The reason for this is obvious. Never had Rivers State witnessed a situation in which a Commissioner of Police was at daggers drawn with a Governor of the State to the point of arrant impunity becoming the order of the day for almost one year.
While many have hailed Mbu’s redeployment in Abuja, some sections of the political class are not in a haste to say it is uhuru yet.
In the words of Hon. Victor Amadi, the legislator representing Etche Constituency I in the Rivers State House of Assembly, “it (Mbu’s redeployment) is a welcome development, and I can say it is in the spirit of democracy. But let me say that the Police is a professional institution.
“So, if Mbu goes, and the person that takes over from him does not play the script of his ‘paymasters’ in Abuja, and decides to be professional, it will be good for our democracy”.
In the same vein, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, also hailed the development, but added that unless the new Police boss decides to be guided by the Constitution, it will merely amount to putting a new wine in an old bottle.
Speaking through his Press Officer, Jim Opiki, Rt. Hon. Amachree said, “We feel that the Police authorities have finally listened to genuine complaint about its officers. We, therefore expect that the in-coming Commissioner of Police will operate in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
He recalled that one of the allegations against the former Commissioner of Police was that he was not operating in accordance with the Constitution.
“The law is not respecter of anybody; it should be fair to everybody, organization, etc, in the State.
“Don’t change the rules; apply the same rules to everybody. We also hope that the in-coming Commissioner will operate in accordance with the Constitution, in alliance with the government”.
As Ogunsakin resumes as the Commissioner of Police in the State, political pundits have reiterated the need for him to do away with what they prescribed as “Mbu’s diary of impunity”.
Mbu’s trouble started on April 15, 2013 when Justice Ishaq U. Bello gave the judgment that declared Felix Obuah as the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in place of Godspower U. Ake. The same day, Mbu sent five troopers and over 25 Policemen to seal the state PDP Secretariat in apparent anticipation of an onslaught from the opposition.
Four days later, Mbu, in an attempt to justify his action, told reporters, “We are supposed to obey the court’s judgment. We are here to enforce the law. For now, judgment has been given and we stand by that judgment until there is a contrary order. Anybody or group of persons that attempts to cause tension in the State will be dealt with ruthlessly”.
On the 22nd of the same month, the State House of Assembly suspended the Obio/Akpor Council Chairman and other council members based on petitions bordering on allegations of financial impropriety and other fraud-related allegations. The next day, a Caretaker Committee led by Mr. Chikodi Dike was constituted and sworn in.
On the 3rd of May, 2013, Mbu without recourse to Governor Amaechi sealed the Obio/Akpor Council Secretariat with riot policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), claiming there was a bomb scam. Nine days later, Hon. Justice H. A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, ordered the Police to vacate the barricade at the Obio/Akpor Council headquarters to allow the caretaker members and staff access into the council. But within 30 minutes of the withdrawal of the policemen, the power generating house at the council was set on fire. As soon as the fire started, documents were carted away. Shortly after, Police returned and sealed up the premises till date. This, was allegedly done under the guise of protecting the council, thus compelling the caretaker members to operate from outside.
On July 9, 2013, the infamous fracas in the hallowed chambers of the State House of Assembly which led to fatal injuries sustained by some members happened in the full glare of the Police. It took the intervention of the Police details attached to the Governor to check the havoc done that day.
The impunity by Mbu continued on September 9, 2013 when he unilaterally withdrew the Escort Commander and some security officers attached to the Governor on the allegation that the Escort Commander and affected officers refused to furnish him with prior notice of the governor’s itinerary.
Three days later, Mbu ordered the Police to prevent Governor Amaechi and his guests, who were members of the Conference of Speakers from having access to the Government House.
The disruption of a rally by the Rivers State Movement on January 12, 2014 by the police at Rumuola where Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers State-East Senatorial District, was allegedly shot by the police was another sad memory Mbu left behind in the State.
Political pundits, however, say Mbu’s redeployment and subsequent replacement by Ogunsakin is one of the ploys by the new National PDP Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, to ease frayed nerves in his quest to heal the wounds inflicted by erstwhile Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, on some key members, most of whom have defected to the opposition party, APC.
One impact that the whole imbroglio has made on the people is that Rivers people, and indeed Nigerians, have become more aware of the extent to which the Police can be compromised.
With the new man at the helm of the police affairs in the State, it is expected that the State will begin to experience peace and a crisis-free political landscape.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi And Joseph Mbu

Joseph Mbu And Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

Politics

Senate Urges Tinubu To Sack CAC Boss

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

The Senate yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to remove the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Magaji, over what lawmakers described as a persistent refusal to appear before its Committee on Finance.

The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a session where members of the President’s economic team were present for engagement with the committee.

Tension rose at the commencement of the meeting when agency heads were introduced and senators observed the absence of the CAC Registrar-General, who had been invited to account for the commission’s activities, particularly on revenue matters.

Moving the motion, Kalu expressed anger over what he termed repeated disregard for legislative oversight, accusing the CAC boss of consistently avoiding invitations to appear before the committee.

He said, “Since I came to the Senate, this CAC man has always given excuses that he is in the Villa or going to London. He is not above the law. This man is not coming to the Senate. Look at the ministers of finance and budget. They are both here. We summoned them and they came.

“But this man thinks he’s bigger than the Senate. We’re not going to take that rubbish again. He had refused on so many occasions to honour our invitation to appear before this committee. We have issues with the reconciliation of the revenue of CAC.

“I move a motion that the man should be reported to Mr President and ask for immediate removal because we cannot continue with him. Is that what we’re doing here? He should come and give us an account of what he had done.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, corroborated the concerns, pointing to unresolved discrepancies in the reconciliation of the commission’s revenues.

He noted that despite several invitations, the registrar-general had failed to show up to address the issues raised by senators.

“The registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission has refused on so many occasions to honour the calls, invitations or summons of this most important committee.

“There are only about three committees that are in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Committee of Finance is one of those committees. Sections 88, and 89 have given us these powers.

“And as registrar-general, we have issues with the reconciliation of their revenue. Anytime he is invited, he will give us one reason or another, and he will send junior officers to come and talk to the Senate. That cannot be accepted,” he said.

In a further show of frustration, Senator Adams Oshiomhole proposed that the Senate escalate the matter by withholding approval of the CAC’s 2026 budget pending the registrar-general’s personal appearance before the committee.

Oshiomhole also suggested that the commission be restrained from spending its internally generated revenue without prior approval of the national assembly.

“This senate should decline to appropriate anything in the 2026 budget until we are satisfied that he has accounted for previous money and spending properly.

“And should he spend money that is not appropriated, he should be heading to Kuje prison,” Oshiomhole said.

The motion urging the President to remove the CAC Registrar-General was subsequently put to a voice vote and adopted.

The development underscores renewed assertiveness by the Senate in exercising its constitutional oversight functions, particularly over revenue-generating agencies.

The Corporate Affairs Commission, which regulates companies and business registrations in Nigeria, is a key contributor to non-oil revenue, making accountability and transparency central to its operations.

News

Amend Constitution To Accommodate State Police, Tinubu Tells Senators

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to the leadership of the 10th Senate to amend the constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of State Police to tackle insecurity nationwide.

President Tinubu made the appeal during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

The president said that the creation of State Police has become urgent to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, strengthen grassroots policing, and enhance states’ capacity to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.

He noted that a decentralised policing structure would complement existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.

“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make a right response to this cause. What I will ask for tonight is for you (Senators) to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he said.

The president commended the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Senate, saying that unity is needed to defeat terrorism and banditry in the country.

“It is a good thing that we are working in harmony, we are looking forward to a country that evolves, a country that takes care of its citizens and protects all.

Tinubu thanked the Senate for its unflinching support towards achieving various economic reforms of his administration, especially the fuel subsidy removal and tax reform policy.

“I have a lot of credit for bold reforms. Without your collaboration and inspiration, those reforms would not be possible. We are reformists together. What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We don’t want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange.

You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you could see what Nigeria is today. You should be proud, and I am glad you are. What we are enjoying is a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us. We need to work hard, and this attendance means a lot to me,” the president said.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the president for hosting the leadership of the Senate to the Interfaith breaking of fast.

He commended President Tinubu for providing the visionary leadership the nation needs at this critical time, stating that the administration’s bold reforms have now brought more revenue to governors at the sub-national level for the development of critical infrastructure.

The Senate President prayed for the administration, and for the nation’s peace and prosperity.

Politics

FCT COUNCILS’ ELECTIONS: PDP WINS GWAGWALADA CHAIRMANSHIP AS APC SECURES AMAC, BWARI

Published

7 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.

Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.

Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.

“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.

“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.

Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.

According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.

He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.

Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.

“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.

According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.

The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.

INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.

According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.

A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.

In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.

In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.

In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.

In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.

In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.