Politics
Sultan Of Sokoto Hails Gov Wike
After the marathon inauguration of people-oriented projects in the state for the past three weeks, Government House Port Harcourt recorded low activities last week.
However, as commendations continue to pour in over Governor Nyesom Wike’s good governance, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, last week praised the governor for his developmental strides in the state.
According to the Caliphate, the massive infrastructure of the Governor’s administration is an eloquent justification of the ‘ Mr Project ‘ title given to Wike by Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo.
Abubakar made the commendation, Wednesday, when the Rivers State Governor visited Sokoto State to commiserate with his Sokoto State counterpart, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal over the unfortunate fire that gutted Sokoto Central Market.
Governor Wike took advantage of the consolidatory visit to also visit the palace of the Sultan to commiserate with him over the demise of his younger brother, Hon Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar, who was Sokoto State Commissioner for Home Affairs.
The Sultan said: “ I commend you and congratulate you for all what you have been doing for Rivers State in particular, because we have seen a lot of infrastructure being put in place and that is why they call you Mr Project in Rivers.
“ You have just some few more years, please do much more, so that nobody will beat you when he takes over from you”.
He described Governor Wike’s consolidatory visit and pledge to support Sokoto State over the unfortunate fire that gutted the market as a demonstration of what Nigeria is and should be.
The Sultan who acknowledged the age-long relationship between Sokoto and Rivers State, lauded Governor Wike for his wisdom in sustaining it.
The Rivers State Governor, after being conducted round the destroyed market, said he was saddened by the devastating fire that razed over 60 per cent of the shops there.
Governor Wike said: “ When I got the information last night, I was touched and I said, as brothers what affects you affects us. What affects Sokoto, affects Rivers State”.
He pledged that the governmen of Rivers State will support Sokoto State with the sum of N500 million to rebuild the market and ameliorate the plight of the traders.
Governor Tambuwal commended Governor Wike for his show of love and thanked the people of Rivers State for their kind gesture.
In a bid to check the current increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, in the second wave of the pandemic, Governor Wike, last week, directed all civil servants on salary Grade Level 01 to 13 , except those on essential duties, to stay away from duty with effect from last Wednesday, 20th January, 2021 till further notice.
Officers from grade level 14 and above were by this notice, directed to be on duty and assume full responsibilities, for their offices till further notice.
According to the directive, all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of extra ministerial offices were expected to ensure compliance with the directive and observe strictly all COVID-19 protocols.
Also last week, Governor Wike commiserated with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom over the death of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd) and the state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) , Udo Ekpenyong.
Governor Wike who described the death of both the PDP Chairman in the state and the PANDEF chairman as painful, urged the Governor and People of Akwa Ibom State to take solace in God.
By: 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.
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