Politics
Wike Flags Off More Projects
Last week, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike rolled out more projects across the state.
Wike stormed Etche Local Government Area on Wednesday to flag off Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road and said the 23.3 kilometers road will link rural communities in Etche and expand economic opportunities of the people.
Noting that the road was the fifth major road project in Etche by his administration, Wike said: “This is to show that politics must not be deceitful. If you make promise, you are under obligation to fulfil the promise”.
He said the project was in fulfilment of the promise he made to Etche people, describing Etche as key and important to Rivers State.
Wike regretted that Etche was relegated by past administrations and promised the commitment of his administration to reposition the area.
The governor also flagged-off the reconstruction of Eleme-Oyigbo Road in Alesa-Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area last Thursday.
According to the State Commissioner for Works, Mr Dum Dekor, the 11:5 kilometer road which could provide 540 direct employment opportunities has nine months to be completed.
Wike who commended the people of the area for their mandate and strong support to his administration, said the project was the dividend of their electoral mandate and promised to visit the area with more projects.
He charged Nigerians to hold elected and appointed political leaders accountable to them and refuse to accept excuses for failure.
He said: “My charge to Nigerians is that they must hold all public officials accountable. In 2019, before anyone campaigns, he must first show what he has done with his present office.
“Gone are the days when people listened to flimsy excuses. This is not the time for empty promises”.
The governor equally flagged off the reconstruction of Oyigbo Market Road in Oyigbo Local Government Area on Friday.
He also kick-started the construction of TAP to Iriebe Road and declared that time has come for the people of the area to witness the full transformational power of his administration.
Governor Wike stated that “aside these two road projects being flagged off, today, the Mbano Camp to Iriebe Road is nearing completion”.
In continuation of his project rollout across the state, Governor Wike was in Omuma Local Government Area, Saturday to flag-off the reconstruction of Umueze-Umuogba- Umuokpurukpu-Umueke-Umunju-Umuellechi-Eberi Road project.
The governor who had on some occasions stated that Omuma was one of the few local government areas that needed to benefit from projects said Omuma would continue to benefit because of their contribution to his administration.
He remarked that his administration had linked the area to the National Grid and commended the member representing Omuma in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Kelechi Nwogu for his contribution and commitment to his administration.
Governor Wike last Tuesday told journalists that he will never betray the trust of Rivers people. He stated this while inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of Tourist Beach, the cultural centre, Captain Amangala Street, Produce House and Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty projects.
He said; “The love of the people who gave me their mandate is enough motivation for me to work hard”.
Another major event, last week in government house, Port Harcourt was the hosting of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni women who had paid the Brick House Landlord a thank you visit in appreciation of his restoration of peace in the area.
The group lauded Governor Wike for his superlative performance in the state and pleaded with the governor to seek re-election.
Caretaker Committee Chairmen of some local government areas were also sworn in by governor Wike last week in Government House.
Chris Oluoh
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.
