Politics
RSG Alone Can’t Fix Security – Alabo-George
Alabo-George
He belongs to the young, up and mobile professional class. Ross Alabo-George is an Information Technology specialist with vast experience in providing services to the oil and gas industry and other government and non governmental organisations.
In this two-part interview with Opaka Dokubo, George shares his deep feelings about some contemporary political developments in Nigeria with a strong bias for the Niger Delta and Rivers State.
Excerpts:
How do you feel when you hear the phrase ‘Rivers of Blood?
I think that is a cliche
that’s being pushed by elements in the political arena who want to destabilise the state. You need to see the kind of impression people have about Rivers State when you travel to Abuja or Lagos. There is this impression that Rivers State is like a Boko Haram area. That notion has been pushed by certain individuals who may be, think that casting the state in such bad light will force the Federal government to declare a state of emergency.
The sad thing about this is that the people who are doing this are indeed Rivers people. I understand that there are security challenges but it is not enough to categorise Rivers State ‘Rivers of Blood’. I think Rivers State is still a largely peaceful state when compared to states like Kaduna State, Plateau State and some states in the East.
We have criminal incidences like kidnapping which indeed is very sad but I think that in past few weeks, we have witnessed a drop in some of those activities. But I think that the state government has to do more in terms of collaborating with the security agencies. I don’t think that there is sufficient sync, the interface is not wide enough. I think that the state government has enough resources to mobilise the needed security resources to deal with this.
In Kaduna State, the police declared a state of emergency and actually brought in more personnel, Rapid Response Squads from different states to address the issue and we saw a sharp drop in criminal activities once that was done. In Rivers State, in the last administration, that was achieved because the PDP controlled the state and the federal government. But I know that the way the federal government will respond to the state government will be different and that is also the problem with our politics.
This is a federal republic and that means that the state has complete and full right to the security infrastructure at the centre and it is not even at the behest of the president. It is something that has to be done and so, once the Rivers State governor demands, it behoves on the president to respond immediately. It is a complex issue and we need to address it in a pragmatic manner. It is not for the state government alone to address.
What do you make of the president’s threat to treat pipeline vandals like Boko Haram?
I think that one of the silliest things that General Gowon said in the days leading the Biafran war was to use the word ‘crush’. He said he would crush them. It didn’t sound like he was talking about his own citizens. It sounded he was talking about foreigners and I think that the international community took that statement very seriously. And I want to call on the international community to take this statement by President Buhari threatening to deal with pipeline vandals like Boko Haram equally seriously.
Book Haram is a terrorist organisation and we all know the carnage and pain Boko Haram has caused this nation. For us in the Niger Delta, it is sad that these people have caused this nation more than the lives they have destroyed in the north. The fallout of Boko Haram has affected economic activities because when you travel out of the region, everybody thinks that Boko Haram is within the country. But it’s not true. They don’t understand that Boko Haram is confined to the North-East.
We have seen terrorist attacks by Fulani herdsmen. These herdsmen have killed over five hundred people. In fact, an entire community was sacked and razed down. And as I speak to you today, the president has not said anything about it personally. It is therefore shocking that the same man will talk about pipeline vandals. So, are the pipeline more important than the people in Agatu? Certainly not.
I think the president has a communication issue and I think the entire government is not connecting with the people. There is a gap. What we need is a rapid feedback system that will carry the people along. The president is in China to borrow two billion dollars but he has not visited the Niger Delta that generates 60 billion dollars every year. He has never been to any oil producing state in the Niger Delta after he won the election. He has been very careless with some of his utterances. For example he said, “you don’t expect me to treat the people that gave me 97% the same as the people that gave me 5%.”
You categorise the people of the Niger Delta as 5% and then you threaten to attack the people of the Niger Delta…? How can you give them the Boko Haram treatment without sacking communities? And then we have seen this drama about the Calabar-Lagos railine project. I know that the contract for that project was signed in 2014. The name of that project really was Niger Delta Coastal Railine but in the wisdom of President Goodluck Jonathan, he decided to call it the Calabar-Lagos Railine to give it a national outlook. The drama we’re seeing around the project suggests that somebody somewhere does not want that project to come to light.
When you think about that project, it is the biggest project ever in this country. That project is about half of the entire national budget. It is worth about three trillion naira, about 11.76 billion dollars. That is China’s biggest infrastructural project ever outside China. That is the biggest infrastructural project in Africa. So, looking at it from that perspective, I think that some people who are concerned about the economic benefits may be worried.
The state chairman of the party, Dr Babandi Gumel, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to journalists on Saturday.
According to the statement, the Jigawa PDP received news of Alhaji Lamido’s suspension with “profound shock and disappointment”.
The statement added that the suspension, which was reportedly based on allegations that Alhaji Lamido attended meetings capable of undermining party unity, amounts to an affront to justice, internal democracy and the reconciliation efforts recently championed by the PDP leadership.
The party stressed that the exercise of legal and constitutional rights within the party should not be interpreted as an act of disunity. It recalled that Alhaji Lamido approached the court after he was allegedly denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form to contest the position of National Chairman of the PDP.
The statement further noted that the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, ruled in Alhaji Lamido’s favour by restraining the PDP from proceeding with its national convention until his right to contest was determined.
The Jigawa PDP argued that the suspension appeared to be a punitive action against Alhaji Lamido for seeking judicial redress over an issue on which the court had already found merit.
The party also faulted the decision of the BoT for contradicting recent public statements by its chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, who had emphasised reconciliation within the party, admitted past mistakes and appealed to aggrieved members to return fully to the PDP fold.
However, it maintained that suspending a founding member who sought justice through legal means runs contrary to the spirit of reconciliation and healing publicly advocated by the party leadership.
The chairman said the suspension was premature and prejudicial, as the matter remains before the courts. He also described Alhaji Lamido as one of the few founding fathers of the PDP who has remained loyal to the party without defecting, warning that punishing such loyalty sends a negative signal to other committed members.
The party further argued that the action undermines party unity at a time when the PDP requires cohesion to effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It also insisted that there is no provision in the PDP constitution that allows for the suspension of a “life member”.
The party called on the BoT to immediately and unconditionally withdraw the suspension of Alhaji Lamido.
It also demanded that the BoT publicly affirm the right of all party members to aspire to leadership positions in line with the party’s constitution and the laws of the country, without fear of victimisation.
It further urged the BoT to retrace its steps, align its actions with its reconciliation agenda, and tender an apology to Alhaji Lamido.
The Jigawa PDP reaffirmed its commitment to a united, democratic and law-abiding Party.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC warned that if proven, such actions would amount to a serious breach of constitutional order, legislative integrity, and public trust.
The organisation noted that Nigeria’s law-making process is clearly defined by the Constitution, stressing that any alteration of a bill after parliamentary passage undermines democratic governance and the principle of separation of powers.
CISLAC further emphasised that taxation has direct implications for citizens, businesses, sub-national governments, and the overall economy. It stated that uncertainty or a lack of transparency in tax legislation could erode investor confidence and raise concerns about accountability and the possible abuse of executive power.
The organisation described the situation as particularly troubling given the rare inclusive, and thorough public consultation that shaped the law’s final provisions prior to its passage.
“This process brought together taxpayers, civil society groups, professional organisations, the private sector, labour unions, local governments, and technical experts, ensuring that diverse viewpoints were considered and carefully balanced.
“Any unilateral changes to these agreed-upon provisions, made outside the established legislative process and without renewed public engagement, not only breach public trust but also violate the fundamental tax principle of representation, which holds that citizens must have a meaningful voice in shaping the laws that govern how they are taxed. Such actions undermine democratic accountability, weaken the legitimacy of the tax system, and risk eroding public confidence”, it noted.
CISLAC expressed particular concern that uncertainty surrounding the authenticity of the tax law, coming at a time when a new tax regime is expected to take effect, could exacerbate the economic hardship already faced by many Nigerians.
It observed that citizens are contending with rising living costs, inflationary pressures, declining purchasing power, and reduced access to basic services, warning that implementing a disputed tax framework under such conditions, risks deepening inequality, discouraging compliance, and fuelling public resentment.
The organisation stressed that tax reforms must be anchored in clarity, legality, fairness, and social sensitivity, cautioning that any tax system introduced without full transparency, adequate public communication, and legislative certainty undermines voluntary compliance and weakens the social contract between the state and its citizens.
As part of its recommendations, CISLAC called on the Presidency to urgently publish the exact version of the tax law assented to, alongside the authenticated copy passed by the National Assembly, to allow for public and institutional verification.
It also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to promptly exercise its oversight powers to determine whether the assented law reflects the will of the legislature, including a review of the enrolled bill process.
The organisation maintained that any discrepancy discovered should be treated as unconstitutional and addressed through lawful means, such as the re-transmission of the correct bill or judicial interpretation where necessary. It further called for an independent review of the process by relevant institutions, including the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and, where required, the judiciary, to establish the facts and assign responsibility.
CISLAC noted that the controversy highlights the urgent need to strengthen safeguards at the legislative and executive interface. It recommended measures such as digital tracking of bills, public access to enrolled legislation, and more transparent assent procedures.
CISLAC emphasised that the issue is not about partisan politics but about safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. It warned that allowing any arm of government to unilaterally alter laws passed by another sets a dangerous precedent and weakens constitutional democracy.
The organisation urged all parties involved to act with restraint, openness, and fidelity to the Constitution, noting that Nigerians deserve laws that reflect due process, the public interest, and the collective decisions of their elected representatives.
CISLAC added that it will continue to monitor developments and engage relevant stakeholders to promote accountability, transparency, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s governance processes.
-
News4 days agoRSIPA Outlines Plans To Boost Investors’ Confidence …China Applauds Fubara As Listening Gov
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
Oborevwori Condoles Diri, Family, Bayelsans Over Passing Ewhrudjakpo’s Passing
-
Politics2 days ago
Alleged Tax Law Changes Risk Eroding Public Trust — CISLAC
-
Politics2 days ago
DEFECTION: FUBARA HAS ENDED SPECULATIONS ABOUT POLITICAL FUTURE — NWOGU
-
Maritime2 days agoImo Category C Victory: NIMASA Staff Host Executive Management Party
-
Politics2 days ago
HILDA DOKUBO ASSUMES CHAIRMANSHIP, DENIES FACTIONS IN RIVERS LP
-
Rivers2 days ago
Group Urges LGA Chairmen To Prioritise Accountability, People-Centred Governance
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
We Stalled Projects Inauguration To Honour Ewhrudjakpo – Ogbuku … As Oil Minster, PANDEF Eulogize Late D’Gov
