Opinion
Is The North Bleeding?
The common news in town currently is that the North is bleeding, which is not a cheering situation, because the unity and oneness of life mean that an injury to one is an injury to all. It was pathetic to hear the voice of a distraught woman, on a radio, confess to regretting voting for “Baba”. It is in the nature of humans to be carried away by sentiments, such that wrong decisions and choices can be made, whose consequence becomes irreparable. It is also in the character of humans that present realities are rarely appreciated until when they are past and gone.
It is futile to argue whether one regime was better or worse than the other, or make comparative analysis when the situation at hand demands a total paradigm shift. Even the alleged statement of a former President that the present one has nothing better to offer than what we have already had, represents what is common with humans. Dancers rarely see their back while they are on stage, neither would praise singers stop giving accolades while the dancer is still dancing. Rather, we see and assess performances better usually when the show is over and actors off the stage.
Obviously, the current situation in Nigeria did not start with the current regime; rather, what is sad is any “would-be-saviour” coming on stage without a proper grasp of the reality on ground, before taking on such task. Those who know how creation is ordered and regulated do know that every situation or effect has an underlying cause, nor can wine be squeezed out of rock or stone. Apart from some known errors made by departing colonial masters, first batch of Nigerian politicians had different world views, orientations, aspirations and affiliations, exposed in 1966.
The cry of “araba” or separation by some lynching mob in 1966 was quickly suppressed by those who knew what would be missed if such agendum was pursued. The idea of wanting to eat our cake and still try to have it, what we call corruption. That faulty mindset is expressed in the current assertion that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable. Yes, unity is an ideal state to cherish, but where such professed unity becomes a cover for injustices and other malpractices, then such marriage of convenience and lechery would rarely endure. Protests would arise!
Specifically, a second or revenge military coup of July 1966, brought to light a number of issues which many Nigerians would not want to be brought to light. Before the event of July 1966, one had the opportunity of being assigned to some foreign intelligence officers and one priest from Cyprus, on a tour of some towns in Northern Nigeria. One sad experience which the team witnessed was the action of a lynching mob in Kaduna, where a baby was ripped out of the womb of a pregnant woman. Before dying, the woman placed curses on the perpetrators of the act and the region which they represented.
The orgy was so barbaric that those who sought to help were in danger of being lynched as well. The curses and dying declarations of the woman killed in labour, made in Igbo language, did obviously not go in vain. Why did some highly placed Nigerians insist that no public enquiry must be made of what took place in Northern Nigeria between July 1966 and March 1967? Neither was any individual or group spared that tried to keep or preserve any record or picture of what took place in various parts of the North. Such sad events account partly for what we experience now.
It was suggested long ago that those who have a practice of hiring and inviting diviners and marabout from Sudan to do some exorcism as an official engagement, should also do a similar thing to pacify the soul of the woman lynched in labour in 1966. There were certainly many such acts of barbarism across the entire Northern Nigeria, which gave rise to Easterners declaring a state of Biafra which failed to stand. It cannot be that Nigerians have forgotten that ugly episode of our history so quickly, neither should a flashback on that episode be seen as a hate speech. The idea is to stress that we are usually visited by our past.
The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) provided opportunity not only for a lopsided representation, but also for placing certain parts of the country in a position of gross disadvantage. Without talking about a war indemnity, it became obvious that the oil and gas resources of the Niger Delta region of the country quelled some vexation. From a revelation by Senator Ita Enang and records of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), it became known that over 83 per cent of the ownership of Nigeria’s oil blocks are in the hands of Northerners. It is also factual that the gang-up against Goodluck Jonathan’s second-term presidency was based on possible reversal of oil blocks allocation, which is shrouded in secrecy.
There is no quarrel between different ethnic groups in Nigeria, but some disadvantaged Nigerians have serious quarrels with the Nigerian political economy. Many Nigerians rarely know the parasitic and predatory nature of the nation’s political economy, and, the few who know, fear being intimidated by various strategies. But now as the true nature of Nigeria’s political economy begins to bite her citizens there is a growing awareness; South and North!
Hardly is any crime perfect, no matter how perfectly and craftily it may be planned and executed. Nigerians became suspicious when political parties were formed and 1999 election held without anyone knowing or seeing the constitution crafted by the military but because of the desire to get rid of the military, no issue was raised. Now the truth has come to light that the Nigerian political economy must be restructured if the survival of the nation can be guaranteed. But those who have everything to hide with regards to secret deals in oil block allocations, would stand against restructuring, as they earlier ganged up against Jonathan.
While over 80 per cent of Nigerians are poor, hungry and jobless, why are Nigerian lawmakers taking millions of Naira every month as remunerations? Why are protesters visited with utmost venom by law enforcement agents? Can the custodians of the toxic political economy be the appropriate agents to restructure the predatory system being operated in Nigeria? There is a limit to the survival of an oligopoly which is a system of political economy in which 80 per cent of a nation’s resources are controlled and enjoyed by less than 20 per cent of the citizens. It breeds protests!
There is also a limit to the suppression of legitimate protests arising from mass hunger and disappointment with an unimpressive management of affairs that touch the lives of millions of citizens. Despite the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), it cannot be said that the shenanigans of the oil and gas resources of the Niger Delta communities have been resolved. Where justice and transparency reign, neither the North nor the South of Nigeria would bleed. The Nigerian situation calls for immediate, appropriate action, using the language of Justice!
By: Bright Amirize
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.