Opinion
This Is Not Who We Are
Several times, people had drawn attention to the enormous rot in the country both within and outside the government, but they were castigated by those at the corridors of power and their cronies who see every criticism, no matter how constructive, as undermining the government or a pull-him-down syndrome. But the events of the last few days have shown that truly, Nigeria is in a big mess and in dire need of help.
Here we have a country whose leaders, the political class, the elites who, through policy decisions, actions and inactions continue to ruin the nation. The ongoing massive looting of government and private properties in many states, condemnable as it is, can be traced to these groups and individuals. Yes, we denounce the wanton destruction, pillaging of government and private property but have we taken time to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the shameful act?
Let us cast our minds back to October 8, 2020, a day the youths of the country started a peaceful protest against years of police brutality by the now disbanded unit of the police – Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), impunity and bad government. They made some demands that would make the Nigerian nation a better place and the citizens happy. The protest, widely acclaimed as peaceful and well organised, was painfully hijacked by bad elements, allegedly sponsored by government and politicians and left in its wake, arson, looting and destruction. And with the shooting at Lekki toll plaza, Lagos, which claimed some lives, things went bizarre. Points are, had the sponsored thugs not attacked the legitimate protesters; had the Lekki shooting not occurred, the nation wouldn’t be in the present quagmire.
Similarly, had state governors distributed the Covid-19 palliatives as and when due, there wouldn’t be any palliative items to be looted and warehouses and property of private individuals would have been spared. The governors can go ahead and deny hoarding the materials, the blame game between the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs over the looted palliatives can continue, the Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) can carry on with their belated information on the procurement and distribution of the palliatives, but the fact remains that since they were unable to do the distribution from April to October, the vulnerable citizens, who the items were meant for, had helped them in doing so.
However, that does not justify the plundering of public and private property that is seen across the states. How can we raid and destroy infrastructure meant for our general benefit just to get back at government or in the name of poverty and hunger? Why wreck our fellow citizens and cause pain and agony to many families? When did plasma televisions, generators, building materials, goats and other items looted from public and private facilities become Covid-19 palliatives? Is this who we really are? I don’t think so. We are better than this. That our leaders milk the country dry shouldn’t make us behave likewise. Two wrongs can never make a right.
The saddest thing is that we do not think of the effect of these crimes on us, particularly the poor and the nation. Last Tuesday, we saw pictures of a large number of stranded commuters at various bus stops in Lagos because there was scarcity of buses owing to the burning of several Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses by hoodlums who hijacked the EndSARS protest in the area. Some of the BRT bus drivers interviewed lamented that the dastardly act of the hoodlums might cost them their jobs. Many other people will surely lose their jobs. That will lead to increased poverty rate and hunger in the land. The nation’s fragile economy will be badly hit.
The ethnic and religious dimension to the quagmire should also be of great concern to any well-meaning Nigerian. There is a need for individuals and leaders of various ethnic groups in the country to be cautious when making comments about current events in the country so as not to cause more harm. There is no gain compounding the problem by unguarded utterances. President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed for peace and brotherhood and that should be the campaign of traditional and religious leaders, opinion leaders and everyone who means well for the country this time.
Parents, let us talk to our children and wards to calm down and desist from criminal acts. Let us all join hands to quench this fire before it consumes all of us because, whether you like it or not, we are all vulnerable now. By the time they finish looting warehouses and shops, they will come after us. If you live in a good house or ride a good car, you will be a target. The time to act is now.
Likewise, it’s high time we had purposeful, sincere, transparent, accountable, people-oriented leadership at all levels in the country. We cannot continue with the age-long cosmetic approach to the problems of the country, especially poverty alleviation, job creation, education and youth engagement if we do not want a more devastating rage of the poor in future. Public universities have been shut for over seven months due to face-off between the lecturers and the federal government. Time has come for their differences to be resolved so that these young ones can go back to school and carry on with their lives.
There must be deliberate effort to tackle the problem of out-of-school children in the nation. It is troubling that even though primary education is officially free and compulsory; 10.5 million children are out of school. This portends danger.
Most importantly, the EndSARS protest may have ended abruptly but the demands of the protesters must not be shoved aside. As many observers have pointed out, it goes beyond the disbanding of SARS. It includes a comprehensive reform of the police, correcting the nation’s structural imbalance, among other measures that will make Nigeria our dream country. Restructuring of our mind on the way we think and act is also key to building a better society. We may be professing whatever religion we like but as long as we don’t live it out, a peaceful, secured, united nation, will remain a mirage.
Calista Ezeaku
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
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
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
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.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
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.
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