Politics
Protests Greet Rivers Govt House
Last week, Rivers State Government House was
innundated with protests. As at the last count, not less than five groups visited the Brick House to register their grievances over issues of state and national concern.
Some of the groups include women, civil rights groups who registered their grievances over the abducted Chibok school girls in Borno State.
On Monday, last week, Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council, Hon. Augustine Ahiamadu addressed pressmen during which he accused Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike for sponsoring youths and a rebellion to remove him from office.
He alleged that the steps taken by Wike include the circulation of a letter from the Presidency authorizing the suspended community development committee and the youth body to take over the activities of the council.
On Tuesday, a group known as Egi Traditional Rulers Council protested against the closure of the conucil and for a new local government area.
They expressed worry that the crisis was a ploy to attack their son and chairman of the Council, Mr. Ahiamadu.
High Chief Shedrack Orikoha led the traditional rulers on the protest, alleging the attack and closure of the council by some hired thugs by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group was addressed by Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr. Fortune Oguru. He called on all parties, especially the youths to maintain peace, “follow peace and abhor violence”.
Returning to the state on Wednesday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi presided over the weekly Executive Council Meeting from where he proceeded to receive Senate Committee on Privatization led by its Chairman, Senator Olugbenga Obadara.
He used the visit to enumerate the State’s investments in power sector. He expressed dismay over the situation whereby the State generates power while the Federal Government collects the revenue and never remit any to the state.
He urged beneficiaries of the government privatized agencies to employ people as exemplified by Indorama Eleme Petrochemical to solve the problem of restiveness.
In the words of Governor Amaechi, “I believe that one solution to this insurgency is education and employment. The easiest employment is farming, because a large number of them are not educated and unskilled. I applied it here in Rivers State and it worked”.
On Thursday, the governor took time off to visit ongoing projects in the state. Someof the project visited include the Woji/Elelenwo Link Road currently being expanded. He also inspected the level of work at the Dr. Odili/Woji/Akpajo bypass.
On Friday, the governor conducted two swearing in sessions during which the judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Chairperson of the State Internal Revenue Board was inaugurated.
The Rivers State Chief Executive charged the new Revnue Board boss, Mrs Orila Obele-Oshoko thus, “we believe that in the two months, we should see substantial improvement. You don’t need to increase taxes.
If you plug all those loopholes where people are stealing money from and reduce the number of touts that hang around, you will see a substantial increase in the IGR. I think that there are still so many holes that you need to close up so that we can get more money”.
She said, “Don’t pay cash to anybody. It is very important, so even when you go to the bank, go to the bank, we have the pay direct, you get there, you tell them that you want to pay revenue to Rivers State Government, the banks will attend to you because this money that we are collecting … is going to government”.
Shortly after the searing-in ceremonies at the executive Chambers, the governor moved to the Banquet Hall to declare open the monthly Inter Government Forum.
From there he proceeded on project inspection at Tai Local Government Area in company of Shell Petroleum Development Company Managing Director, Mr. Mukiu Somonu and Commissioner for Envrionment, Dr. Nyema Wali.
After a tour of the State Waste to Wealth Plant the governor spoke to the press on the N3.2 billion recyclying plant.
On Saturday, the governor attended the birthday thanksgiving service of Venerable Jolly Ndubuisi at St. Barnabas Anglican Elekahia, Port Harcourt. He thanked God for the life of the Anglican priest who was among men of God who prophesied of him becoming the governor of Rivers State.
He later on proceeded to the new International Conference centre along Chief Ake By Pass for the 7th birthday of Former Minister of Sports, Alabo Tonye Graham – Douglas.
He said of the Kalabari Chief “He is a great man. The only Rivers man who has been minister four times. He has been a Commissioner and a Chief of the Kalabari Kingdom”.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has approved the release of N15.6 billion for the payment of outstanding severance gratuities, accommodation, and leave allowances owed to over N3,000 former councillors across the State’s 44 local government areas.
The approved payment covers councillors who served during the periods of 2014–2017, 2018–2020, and 2021–2024 under the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. The entitlements, which remained unpaid for years, will now be disbursed in three installments between April and June 2025.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information to the Governor, Ibrahim Adam, the administration described the move as a corrective measure to address the neglect of past leadership and fulfil a promise to ensure fairness to public office holders.
“The approval of N15.6 billion is in fulfilment of Governor Abba K. Yusuf’s commitment to ensuring that all outstanding entitlements owed to our dedicated public servants are fully paid. It is a matter of principle and justice to uphold the dignity of those who have served in elected positions”, Mr Adam said.
He noted that the financial intervention reflects the governor’s broader vision of governance rooted in fairness, accountability, and public trust.
“His Excellency recognises the sacrifices and dedication of these former councillors. This action is part of a larger effort to right the wrongs of the past and restore faith in public administration,” he added.
Local government officials and affected former councillors have welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue and a step toward healing the financial frustrations of many grassroots leaders.
Governor Yusuf’s administration, elected on a different political platform than his predecessor, continues to draw commendation for its proactive efforts to resolve inherited liabilities and improve the welfare of public servants.
As the payment schedule begins, it is expected that this intervention will offer financial relief to thousands and stimulate local economic activity across the state.
Politics
Gunmen Disrupt Political Rally In Bayelsa ….As Turnah, Others Emerge New Associates’Leaders
Scores of spectators and political faithful were hospitalised after a yet to be identified gunmen invaded a rally organised by a group loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Part of the activities scheduled to hold at the occasion was the inauguration ceremony of the Bayelsa State chapter of the ‘New Associates’, a pro-Wike political forum.
The Tide which monitored the event reports that trouble started just at the preparatory stages of the event, when the unidentified gunmen launched sporadic gunshots from a farm close to the venue of the event, injuring unsuspecting spectators and party faithful across party lines.
However, calm was restored after a swift intervention by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security formations which enabled the event to go on as planned.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after restoration of calm, factional South-South zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the State’s chapter of the party, Barrister George Turnah, commended security operatives for their timely response.
He noted that the plan of detractors had been defeated as forces loyal to certain individuals in the State never wanted the rally to hold as scheduled.
Turnah, who doubles as Convener of the ‘New Associates’ in the State, commended President Tinubu and Chief Wike for the appointment and facilitating the same for Ijaws across the Niger Delta region.
He said, but for the love of the duo for the Ijaw people of various extractions, the Presidency would not have given preferential political portfolios in the Federal Government’s Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to Ijaws even though the ethnic nationality produces bulk of the natural resources for the economic mainstay of the nation.
The PDP chieftain reiterated that the reason for the event which was attended across party lines was to say ‘thank you’ to the two political leaders, stressing that to ‘whom much is given, much was expected’.
“For me, I’m of the larger opposition party, PDP. But I’ve decided to support and work for President Tinubu for what he is doing for the Ijaw nation, Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general.
“President Tinubu has given Bayelsans and other Ijaws across the Niger Delta region several juicy political appointments. He appointed our brother and son, Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of Petroleum even though former President Muhammadu Buhari had previously appointed a Bayelsan as Petroleum Minister in his government.
“Apart from the Petroleum Minister, Tinubu has also appointed Ijaw sons, Chief Boma Iyaye as Executive- Director, Finance, and Dr Samuel Ogbuku as Managing-Director and CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“Though former President Buhari had appointed Ogbuku initially in Acting capacity, when President Tinubu came, even after sacking all board members of the Commission, he still kept our brother, the MD and upon the completion of his tenure in Acting capacity, the President again reappointed him as substantive MD/CEO.
“But there’s one man who has made all these appointments for Ijaws possible. He is the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Ijaw people, Bayelsans are we not enjoying these appointments?
“Has the NDDC not lit up the entire Niger Delta region? Are you not feeling the impact of the Ogbuku-led NDDC? So for me and all the members of the New Associates we’ve decided to support President Tinubu for a second tenure so that our state and region can benefit more from his government”, he said.
“We want Governor Douye Diri to tell us his stand on the forthcoming 2027 general election. He should tell us whether he is supporting the President or not. If he’s supporting the President, we’ll work with him. After all, Diri was the first Governor from the South-South zone that benefitted from the President’s magnanimity during the 2023 elections and even in terms of infrastructure projects and appointments of Bayelsans at the Federal level”, Barr Turnah added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, and leader, Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPCO), Senator George Sekibo, lauded President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for their love and friendship with the Ijaw people.
Represented by former Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Roland Sekibo, Senator Sekibo said the ‘New Associates’ political forum was to galvanize support for the President for his 2027 election.
He said while President Tinubu had performed well as Nigeria’s leader, the FCT Minister had continued to show leadership from the federal level after showing the same in Rivers State while serving as governor.
“I like to thank the convener of the ‘New Associates’ political forum in Bayelsa State, Barr. George Turnah (MON) and the Coordinators for standing firm in spite of threats from highly placed political leaders not to hold this event.
“Love is not theoretically, but must be expressed, which explains why they have gathered to celebrate their Excellencies, President Tinubu and Barr. Ezewon Nyesom Wike for the various roles they have played and have continued to play to ensure the appointment of Ijaw sons and daughters to positions of trust and authority at the federal level.
“The ‘New Associates’ is in synergy with President Tinubu and will continue to follow directives from the FCT Minister who has openly declared support for Mr. President”, he said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State, Mr Titus Odo, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Odo defected to the PDP on Wednesday alongside the former Commissioner for Chieftancy Affairs in the State, Emeka Mamah, who was the state Coordinator of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign in the 2023 presidential election.
The duo dumped the PDP during the 2023 general elections for the Labour Party.
Receiving the defectors at the party’s state secretariat, the state PDP Chairman, Martin Chukwunwike, expressed happiness over their decision to return to their former party.
He explained that Governor Peter Mbah gave them the directive to do everything possible to bring back aggrieved party members who left the party.
“We are happy to have them in our midst, and God has set this party on a good footing, as 2027 is already assured,” he said.
The PDP chairman, however, called for unity within the party to package themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during their presentation to the party state chairman, Mr Odo expressed joy for returning to his former party, revealing that Mr Mbah’s massive development in the State informed his decision.
“I am happy to tell you that I am back to my home. I came back because of the giant development strides of Governor Mbah and I say kudos to him.
“The second reason is the defection of my immediate boss, the LP governorship candidate for the 2023 election in Enugu State, Dr Chijioke Edeoga.
“Another reason is that the council chairman in Igboeze North, Mr Uchenna Ogara, is turning the council area into a township,” he said.
Mr Mamah also thanked the PDP leadership in Igboeze North, Enugu North Senatorial zone and the state chapter of the party for receiving him back to the party.
He extolled Mr Mbah for extending hands of fellowship to those who had left the party, saying, “Personally, I am pleased with the performances of our governor.”