Opinion
HURIWA And Gates’ Prediction
The Tide newspaper of Monday December 7, 2020, carried on its back page, a significant alert which must not be swept aside: “High Rate of Child Poverty. Result of Govts’ Failure, HURIWA Laments”.
HURIWA is an abbreviation for Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria. The issue is not just “the rise in the number of children as young as four who roam around traffic lights and supermarkets in Enugu, Owerri and Aba”.
Issues of mass poverty, hunger, destitution, child labour and abuses etc, are lamentable plight common not only in Igbo-speaking areas, but a national blight.
According to HURIWA, “We have observed the sudden upsurge in the presence of huge number of children looking obviously malnourished, abused dehumanized and criminally exploited, who are usually seen around traffic lights and are constantly running after motorists to beg for money, alms and food to eat”.
Is there any Nigerian who has not seen destitute children and adults in urban towns all over Nigeria? Would our politicians, lawmakers and defenders of the establishment claim to be ignorant of increasing destitution in Nigeria?
Street begging is common in many countries across the globe and the issue of poverty or destitution is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. Rather, it is needful that a responsible and people-oriented governance should rise up to such social plight and take steps to reduce rather than promote or ignore dehumanizing social plight. Responsibility or greatness shows its character in the degree of attention given to the less-privileged.
It may be true to say that no form of government owes all citizens of any nation a living. Rather, it is true to say that the difference between responsible and irresponsible governance lies in the policies, programmes and exemplary leadership that a government is able to put in place and maintain. Responsible governance builds on strong and corruption-free institutions and policies, rather than a buccaneer operational mechanism where individuals matter.
What HURIWA called “mathematical fraud” is an example of how bad governance can use false or distorted population statistics for purposes of revenue allocation. One of such fraud portrays that “there are more poor children in the North than anywhere else”. The result of such distorted statistics reflects in the dispensing of recovered “Abacha loots” to the poorest of the poor, and the feeding of school children at the cost of over N700 million each day. This is why HURIWA lamented that the high rate of child poverty is a result of government’s failure. Failure of credibility! Of deep concern!
Without putting all the blames on government alone, it can rightly be said that the issue of procreation is a personal responsibility. Natural urge to “multiply and replenish the earth” has been carried too far, resulting in producing more children than couples can cater for. Therefore, the issue of birth control and reduction of world population become ethical, such that sentiment should not distort such necessity. For example, in view of the prevailing economic reality, does it make any sense for couples to have more children than they can cater for adequately?
Apart from reproduction through legitimate unions, there are several irresponsible ways that the Earth gets over-populated. Apart from rape and other forms of abuses, the status of women, especially in Africa, is an issue which accounts for an influx of inferior souls, born as babies who increase the number of destitute children on the streets. Many women, as a result of economic circumstances, fall prey to various temptations and abuses, such that abandonment and sale of babies become common experiences. There are legal, ethical and other issues and questions involved in this plight.
It is right to say that some men and women are more responsible than others in the uses and abuses of the procreative and generative power. But the issue is that mass enlightenment is called for now, so that some check should be placed on the amative appetite.
Some countries take organized steps through appropriate policies to ensure that couples do not raise more children than they can take adequate care of. Through family planning jingles and clinical advice there can be some enlightenment on this issue. But there is a need for some more articulate programmes in the regime of birth control and population reduction.
There had been suspicions across the globe about the use of genetic modification techniques to enforce reduction of unwanted pregnancies. There has also been the suspicion that the Black race is targeted for global population reduction programmes. What is considered reprehensible and unacceptable is the secrecy involved in such experiments in genetic engineering. Moreover, to mix genetic research with health delivery programmes can create suspicion.
Some time ago, Bill Gates of America and his wife, Melinda, were seen as among persons who seek to enforce the reduction of world population through philanthropic means. Even the HIV/AIDS scourge was seen in some quarters as being a deliberately designed genetic enigma intended to facilitate a global population reduction programme. But not everybody would buy the idea that human population should be reduced or controlled, be it through approval of abortion law or war.
There are two major issues involved in the controversy about human population. The first issue is that quality is better than quantity, meaning that the living standard and quality of humans would be better than populating a nation with inferior people. There are lots of ethical and moral issues involved, with regards to who and what determines superior and inferior human beings. Then the second issue has to do with a nation’s political economy. It is a true fact that the affairs of a nation can be so handled and manipulated that less than 10% of the population can control and enjoy 90% of the resources of the nation, while 90% of the population scramble over 10% of the resources.
We live in a world where money, power and cunning can talk with swagger and act with impunity, whereas those who lack such commodities can be described as inferior humans. Those who know the dynamics of life would say that all humans are meant to experience all facets of life’s conditions to be able to have a balanced maturity and perspectives of earth-life. This reflects in the cliché that no condition is permanent. Rich and powerful people also lament!
Dr. Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
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.
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