Politics
Wike, Ekweremadu, Akpabio Eulogise Sekibo
Last week’s curtain raiser was Mothering Sunday. Wife of the State Governor, Justice Suzette Nyesom-Wike and the Deputy Governor were at Upper Room Anglican Church, Eligbolo in Eliozu Evo Diocese to celebrate with other mothers.
Justice Nyesom-Wike, represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri advocated for improved welfare for the womenfolk. She said time has come for women to be given chance to show their leadership qualities. A woman can manage a home, a state and a country “, she stressed.
In a special message to mark this year’s Mother’s Day, the Rivers State Governor’s wife observed that society would have been significantly smaller, cooler and ill-mannered without contributions of mothers.
According to her, Mother’s Day is a celebration of the bond of love and affection between a mother and her child, noting that it’s a day when the society recognises the significant roles of mothers.
Last Monday, the state Governor Chief Nyesom Wike, through his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, flagged off the first round of the immunisation plus days (IPDs) at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Churchill Rod, Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike emphasised the importance of routine immunisation exercise for children and expressed the commitment of the government to ensure that children and mothers are in good health.
Last Tuesday, the deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo made award presentations to some youths, as a way of encouraging excellence. One Dr Nkiruka Vivian Ogmuegbu got the award following her performance as one of the best students in the University of Port Harcourt College of Health Sciences.
Last Wednesday, the deputy governor felicitated with Senator George Thompson Sekibo on his 60th birthday anniversary.
In the words of Dr Harry-Banigo, “Sekibo has distinguished himself as a serving senator, a prover leader, selfless and hardworking”, she pointed out that the Ogu born Senator has displayed effective representation of his people at the National Assembly. She wished him a purposeful diamond jubilee birthday.
Last Thursday, wife of the State Governor attended the 29th Convocation Lecture of Rivers State University of Science and Technology.
She noted that the University’s faculty of law has contributed to quality manpower in legal practice in the country.
Justice Nyesom-Wike stated that the university was undergoing tremendous development in infrastructure, especially under Chief Nyesom-Wike for instance, under the present administration the faculty of law building was completed.
Chief Wike, last Saturday, in company of top state dignitaries, attended the 29th convocation ceremony of the Rivers State University.
At the convocation, Wike announced that the university has seized to bear the name of Science and Technology, and therefore urged the school management to finetune their academic blueprint to reflect global standard.
The governor while pledging to ensure that programmes of the university get 100 percent accreditation, however frowned at some of the ongoing projects and called for speedy work toward the newly established. College of Health Sciences.
From the university convocation, the governor proceeded to the 60th birthday celebrations and book launch of Senator Thompson Sekibo at Presidential Hotel. He praised the intellectual enterprise of the Senator and pledged government support. Deputy Senate President Mr Ekweremadu, Senator Godwill Akpabio, Senator Lawan and other dignitaries graced the occasion and wished Sekibo more years.
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.
