Politics
Wike Harps On Unity
Two events last week in Government House took the lead in the media. The Sallah visit of the governor with some state leaders to Sokoto State. The visit was to underscore the unity amongst the various parts of the federation which Chief Nyesom Wike has been championing over the years. The governor also attended Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide confab in the United States of America.
Last Sunday, at St. Martins Anglican Church Ogu in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, the governor explained the dissolution of the state executive council. He stated that the action was to re-organise the machinery of government and move the state forward.
The church’s thanksgiving at Ogu was in honour of the majority whip of the state House of Assembly, Hon Evans Bipi. He particularly lauded Bipi for his unwavering loyalty, since from the beginning of the struggle for the enthronement of a NEW Rivers State.
Last Monday, the governor played host to the Muslim community, as a way of celebrating Eid el fitri. The governor assured them, that he would continue to sponsor them for hajj, as his administration believed in the spiritual development on the people.
He used the event to condemn the recent call by some youths in the North asking Ibos to quit the area. He said, “Nigeria must be one. All of us will live together. All of us are free to do business anywhere in the country. Whether you are from the North, you are free to stay here and do business”.
But before the governor hosted the Muslim community, he had visited the site of the deteriorated portions of the Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway and ordered that repair works should commence, so that commuters playing the route will not face difficulty.
Two days later Chief of Staff, Chief Emeka Woke explained why the governor had taken up the challenge even though the road is federal’s. He blamed some federal parastatals for failing to meet their own end of the agreement, as they failed to pay their contributions.
Last Tuesday, Chief Nyesom Wike alongside some prominent traditional rulers and political leaders paid a sallah visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III. At the palace, Wike declared that the people of Rivers State believed in the unity of the country, noting that they will work for the country to stay united.
Last Wednesday, the Ogonis rose in agreement to endorse Chief Wike for a second term. The Ogonis namely under the PDP umbrella and led by Senator Lee Maeba said Wike had worked and performed beyond expectation to get a second term.
The Wife of the State Governor, Justice Suzette Nyesom Wike played host to Nigerian Army officers Wives Association (NAOWA) last Friday in Government House.
She called for the setting up of a trust fund that would cater for the welfare of armed forces personnel families. She pointed out that the administration of Chief, Wike remained committed to the welfare of security personnel serving in the state.
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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