Politics
Amaechi Inspects Ongoing Projects
Governor Chibuike Amaechi began last week with
unscheduled visits to various projects scattered in different parts of the state. He had within a space of two days visited the Rumuolumeni and Ogbogoro roads in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He had earlier visited the Dr. Peter Odili/Woji by-pass road to see the level of work on site. On Sunday, however, after unveiling the newly constructed Cathedral of the African Chruch on Aggrey Road, the governor in company of Chief Andrew Uchendu and Senator Magnus Abe inspected works at the new Stadium at Greater Port Harcourt City.
On Monday last week, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Ward Congress was held peacefully across the state. The ward congress had been described by APC chieftains as successful and without rancour.
Within the week, the state joined other states in the federation to commemorate the World Health Day. State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, said so far the state has recorded huge success in health delivery.
Since Amaechi administration came to power, he noted that diseases and other health related hazard have reduced following the construction and equipping of Primary Health Centres in all parts of the state. He also dismissed fears that the state was susceptible to Ebola Virus attack, assuring that modalities are in place to check possible attack of the killer virus.
On Thursday, a chieftain of the APC and son of popular opposition figure in the state, Inye Marshall Harry, addressed pressmen over governorship race in 2015.
Inye Harry, who affirmed that the governorship of the state is hinged on “political fairness and mutual understanding,” noted that going by the principle of rotation, the Ikwerres have been ruled out of the race.
At the conclusion of Governor Amaechi’s tenure next year, the Kalabari-born politician rooted for Rivers South East Senatorial District or Eastern Delta Ijaws to contest the guber race next year.
The governor returned to the state on Saturday, after attending the white wedding of the daughter of President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja. On arriving at Port Harcourt, he headed straight to Ogu, headquarters of Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area, where a reception and traditional title was bestowed on the chairperson of the Council, Dame Maureen Tamuno.
Amaechi praised Dame Tamuno for her hardwork, commitment and vision in transforming the Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area.
The Rivers State governor, who was visibly impressed by Dame Tamuno’s developmental strides donated N50 million to the council boss to aid her in rural electrification project. He urged her to ensure that all parts of the local government area were lit.
He, however, tasked her to ensure that the local government area is won by the APC in the upcoming election, while urging the people to join the new party, which he said will salvage them.
The governor also promised to complete and equip the new model school before October, this year.
The Senate yesterday received the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Bola Tinubu, marking the formal launch of the 2026 federal budget cycle.
In a letter addressed to the upper chamber, Tinubu said the submission complies with statutory requirements and sets out the fiscal parameters that will guide the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He explained that the MTEF/FSP outlines the macroeconomic assumptions, revenue projections, and spending priorities that will shape Nigeria’s fiscal direction over the next three years.
The letter was read during plenary by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the document.
“It is with pleasure that I forward the 2026 to 2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for the kind consideration and approval of the Senate.
“The 2026 to 2028 MTEF and FSP were approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of December 3, 2025, and the 2026 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions therein,” the President stated.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved the fiscal projections, pegging the oil benchmark price at $64.85 per barrel and adopting a budget exchange rate of ?1,512/$1 for 2026—figures expected to significantly shape revenue forecasts and expenditure planning.
After reading the President’s letter, Jibrin referred the document to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), with a directive to submit its report by Wednesday, December 17.
The Senate adjourned shortly after to allow committees to commence scrutiny of the fiscal framework and continue the ongoing screening of ambassadorial nominees.
Tinubu’s communication to the Senate came less than 24 hours after he transmitted the same MTEF/FSP documents to the leadership of the House of Representatives.
The letter was read on the House floor by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who also urged timely legislative action as required by law.
The MTEF and FSP are statutory instruments mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and serve as the blueprint for Nigeria’s annual budgets.
They outline the government’s fiscal stance, macroeconomic assumptions, revenue frameworks, projected deficits, and sectoral priorities over a three-year period.
The Tide reports that approval by the National Assembly is a prerequisite for the executive to present the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
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