Opinion
Nigerian Politicians Must Hear This
The greatest problem Nigeria is facing today is leadership.
The future of any country depends largely on the quality of governance it has at the local, state and national levels. The quality of governance its determined by both the specific individuals that are in government any particular time, and also the political system and processes through which they govern.
All the economic impediments Nigeria faces today stem from the way political power has been exercised and monopolized by a narrow or minute elite. Nigeria’s problems are man-made and must be solved by man as no problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.
It is an irony of fate that a country endowed with human and natural resources with the potential for massive industrialization as Nigeria can have its people so pauperized. In 2015, Nigerians elected a leader who was tested and proven incapable of ruling the country under a military regime. As if blind-folded, the same Nigerians have re-elected one who, for four years in office, had nothing to offer in terms of progress, economically and socially.
Nigeria requires a new deal that must start with a fresh examination of the leadership question in the country. Our founding fathers toiled to have Nigeria as an independent country and did so with very high expectations for greater opportunities and prosperity for our people. They had hoped that the latitude of liberty which comes with independence and democracy would herald socio-economic growth, limitless opportunities and all-round development and prosperity for the masses.
Their shared hopes of better life for the people was, however, actualized during pioneering administrations as their patriotism and focused leadership laid a solid foundation that brought about significant successes that launched the country into the status of the giant of Africa with economic prosperity and social well-being through which lots of foreign and local investments were established all over the country. The initiatives to prepare potential leaders and the electorate by our founding fathers could not be properly articulated by successive leaders who are unable to realize our immense national leadership potentials.
The potential leadership of Nigeria began to upend when the political process provided incentives for government officials and political office holders to be corrupt, which has brought about wide-spread corruption in government. Efforts by subsequent leaders, including the current ones, have failed due to the falling standards of governance and public ethics, which is as a result of lack of proper investment in the art of politics and potential leadership. The Nigeria of today is yet to get people who are prepared to lead and those prepared to make informed choices of leadership.
Many Nigerians are concerned and worried about the moral drift and degeneration in our society. There are tragic consequences of increased crime rates, the horror of violence, terrorism and wide-spread corruption in and out of government. Other topical issues of the day which are on the front burner are those that deal with the quality of leadership, democracy, electoral reforms, rule of law, respect for constitutional provisions, unemployment and good governance. All these are the bane of economic and socio-political growth of the country, and until the leadership addresses them squarely, any attempt or effort to realize our aspirations will be in futility.
In fact, the current state of affairs in Nigeria is a shadow of its glorious past. From being the giant of Africa, it has become the debased cornerstone of Africa-an undependable ally. From being the employers’ hub, Nigeria is now the unemployment capital of Africa and the world at large just as the country which used to be the most hospitable for investors is now a hot bed marred by insecurity, impunity and outright disrespect for the people by the political class.
Because of poor leadership, many people have been killed in Nigeria since 2002 while several companies have either closed down or moved out of the country to better governed and peaceful countries, and the rate of unemployment has risen astronomically between 2015 and 2018. Of every 10 persons in the streets of Nigeria, over six are underfed while some have no food at all to eat. Some established reports have rated the country as one with the poorest citizens in the world, all because of bad leadership and governance. Sea ports such as Port Harcourt, Onne and Calabar ports have been rendered useless with only Lagos port functioning.
It is amazing that the annual budget of the country has been on the increase without corresponding fiscal policies and development projects that impact on the citizenry. From the return of democracy in Nigeria, after years of military rule, the country has recorded the saddest testimonial in the past four years and has lost self-esteem economically, politically and socially. The happiness and wellbeing of Nigerian citizens have taken the back seat as most people are poor and homeless, the elderly are abandoned, youths are jobless while many children are out of school.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria has lost its rightful status in the comity of nations. It is a country that is abundantly rich in human and natural resources but a victim of leaders who have their eyes high up that they cannot see the ordinary people, the consequence of which has been traumatic on the people, as many are beginning to pick crumbs from the table of the few rich. The current leaderships’ downward trajectory has to change if we must recover our lost grounds.
President Muhammadu Buhari should put in place a people-oriented government that is anchored on the egalitarian principles of justice equity, peace and equal opportunities where no one is oppressed. We must uphold the Nigerian value of being our brothers’ keepers and the present second term of Buhari must get governance right, get the economy right and usher in a new era of prosperity and progress for our people as well as eradicate poverty, guarantee good health and education of the people and children. The government should also build critical infrastructure, ensure peace, security and justice in a safe environment, create employment and bring solution to the human problems plaguing our people for the past four years. The federal government should build a wealthy, prosperous, economically strong, politically democratic and socially secure nation where those who work hard succeed and the weak and old are protected and cared for.
The Buhari-led government must optimally utilize our God-given resources and huge labour force to create enormous wealth and learn to play politics of inclusion and tolerate one another with compassion. The government should have a vision that will improve governance with the goal to create a knowledge-based economy that will transform the country as well as make the nation the destination of choice to live, work, do business and promote tourism. Nigerians need to be empowered to decide the right direction of development and deployment of the nation’s resources.
Shedie Okpara
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.