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Wike As Pragmatic, Charismatic Leader

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When Nigeria Biafra War ended in the year 1970, it gave the ethnic minority groups in the southern Nigeria the opportunity to excel in their various fields of endeavour. I had the opportunity as a young school leaver to teach in the Primary School at St. John’s Primary School, Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Master Ezenwo Nyesom Wike was among the first set of the pupils I taught in the junior primaries of that school. He was so robust that he fell in love with me. He was also intelligent and articulate in his class work. His interaction was full of brilliant ideas. I remember in one of my classroom interactions with my pupils, I told them that I would raise them up to be responsible citizens in Nigeria but that none of them should splash water on me if he/she saw me trekking on the road. I can remember that it was Master Ezebunwo who retorted immediately that he would stop and give me a lifting help if he saw me trekking on the road. No wonder when he became the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council after his university degree programme, the first thing he did was to invite all who had been his classroom teachers from primary school to university education to visit him in the office. Though I did not go, we heard that he empowered almost everyone who honoured the invitation.
He reasoned that it was the teachers that taught him to be whatever thing he was. Governor Wike holds teachers in high esteem. He believes that teachers are more important than any other professionals in Nigeria. So, he lends a positive attitude with the teachers.
I became intentionally interested in him when I noticed that he had running nose. My lecturer in a higher school (Dr. Mummuni) told me that any child between the ages of five and 12 that has a running noise must be a very intelligent child. Such a child must be pragmatic, charismatic, brave and optimistic in character. They are fast thinkers in their reasoning. They appear to be erratic or dogmatic in their behaviour. And if they grow up to adulthood, they would begin to show that they are wonderfully created.
Wike studied Political and Administrative Studies in the University of Port Harcourt in his first degree before he entered the University of Science and Technology to study Law. His primary political party in his life is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .
When the political wave was very uncomfortable because of turbulence in the polity, many even those who started the party with him jumped out of the boat thinking that the boat would sink. But Wike singlehandedly mended the boat, so when those politicians who abandoned him began to rear up their ugly heads in order to compete the presidential seat with him, he would not allow them but spoke with authority that such politicians were not fit for the contest. He boasted that they should not reap from where they did not sow.
In his first administrative job as the Obio/Akpor Local Government Chairman, he was elected the Chairman of all the Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria. The edifice he put up at Rumuodomaya, headquarters of Obio/Akpor Local Government was second to none in Nigeria. It was akin to what King Alfred Diete-Spiff did as the first Governor of old Rivers State in Port Harcourt.
Wike as a charismatic leader is a digital and ebullient achiever. He calculates events before he ventures into them. He is a team manager. His powerful personal influence earned him the position of Chief of Staff in Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s administration. He performed very well in that administration that he became a perfect material for Ministerial position in Nigeria for four years. Many politicians in Nigeria had sought to go back to their states to be elected as Governor but it was not easy for them. Wike was swift to clinch the position of Rivers State Governor in 2015. The position which he enjoys till today. He was equally eyeing the presidency in Nigeria and many have thought that he had failed the primary election that would have offered him the position of Nigeria’s President come 2023.
But this writer believes that Wike did not fail and believes that political events are prone to unfold repeatedly as expectations will not be over until they are over. In politics, electoral process is wrought with surprises and shocks of which anticipated results will not be over until it is over. Remember what happened in Imo State; how the present incumbent Governor, came to office. Remember the case of Bayelsa State and so on. Shocks and bewilderment are the main menu of Nigerian politics.
Wike is always optimistic in all his endeavours. He weighs the two sides of a coin before he takes a decision. So nothing is unexpected to him as he has no regrets for any action he takes. In his administration as the Governor, he is aware that the three major projects in Nigeria as a third world country are road, light and water. Among the three projects, road appears to be paramount, because good road network will bring about development.
Economic activities will thrive. Farmers and industries will spread. Wike reasons that if he carries all the three projects at a time, his effort would be insignificant. And that is where all the past administrations failed. You want to impress everybody and become Jack of all trade and master of none. Wike believes in doing one thing and doing it well. He believes that Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt are the two major local government areas that link Rivers State to other states. So, he vowed to give them a facelift that will liken them to Lagos and Abuja. All the bridges and roads that he concentrated in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt have actually raised the status of Rivers State. And he did not stop there, he has also extended his road network to all the 23 local government areas in the state. All the communities, even the homes of his opponents have benefitted from his administration. So, any incoming governor should take a cue from what Wike has done. Take one project at a time, either light or water. Concentrate on one and make sure your community has a perfect light or water infrastructure in the first tenure. Then, begin to spread out to other parts of the state because nobody will do it for you. The administration of Wike is for social welfare as he said. Then, employment, workers’ welfare and other stomach infrastructure will follow. He did the important things first which he did not expect any governor to do for him in his community.
Wike is an optimistic politician as nothing is unexpected to him in the game of politics. He monitors every step taken by his opponents particularly in rigging elections. He must have learnt from his mentor, Late Senator Obi Wali that the first major factor in politics a man should learn is how to be immuned from shock. Nothing gives Wike a shock. He strives in the midst of political turbulence. Wike believes that if his brothers from the South-South did what the Northern delegates did, he would have floored Abubakar Atiku mercilessly at the PDP presidential primary. Should Wike contest this anomaly in court he would have won the case in court, but he allowed the peace to reign because that action would have derailed the transition process.
That is why he returned home unruffled and instructed his followers to rally round PDP against the fight in 2023. Wike is so optimistic that PDP will win the 2023 election, because merging his force with that of the Northern delegates from the Atiku camp will give PDP a resounding victory at the poll. He has promised to throw his weigh behind the party.

By: Fidelis Ikechi Jahka

Dr Jahka writes from Oduoha, Ogbakiri.

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Opinion

Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance 

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Quote:”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”.

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

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Opinion

Checking Herdsmen Rampage

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Quote:”
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?”
According to reports,   suspected Fulani herdsmen on June 25, 2025 invaded Ueken, the ancestral home of the Tai Kingdom, in the Ogoni Ethnic Nationality of Rivers State and murdered one  Goodluck Dimkpa, a father of one. The attack has reportedly caused panic and led to residents fleeing the community. It also generated coordinated protests from aggrieved Ogoni youths.
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.

On June 13-14, 2025, about 200 adults and children were reported to have been gruesomely murdered and burnt in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, by suspected herdsmen who stormed the community, attacked the innocent people, and wreaked  havoc described as one the deadliest attacks in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, in recent times.Two days before the Yelewata senseless massacre, precisely on June 11, 2025, about 25 people were killed in Makurdi still by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
Plateau State, Southern Kaduna and other Middle Belt States have their own tales of woe from the unprovoked attacks by the Fulani herdsmen leading to loss of lives and properties.
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.

In my considered view the Fulani herdsmen whom life means nothing to, have gone too far. The right to life and property are fundamental but the  herdsmen’s invasions violate such inalienable rights of the people.Already Nigeria seems to exist on a precipice with the majority of her about 200 million people groaning in the quagmire of unpopular economic policies, reprehensible democratic practices translating to a gale of decampment to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which is a tell-tale sign of an imminent one party State, looting of public funds with impunity and barefaced corruption in all sectors of the nation.
Nigerians, therefore, cannot afford to live with the debilitating consequences that the activities of the Fulani herdsmen portend in the face of the trending precarious socio-political and economic challenges. In fact, in all the States like Benue, Borno, Plateau, where incessant herdsmen attacks are frequent, residents live in petrified fear because of the disregard and disrespect for the sanctity of human lives. This fear leads to gross lack of development.
The governors of those States though Chief security officers, seem to be incapacitated, to carry out the primary responsibility of protection of lives and property of their citizens as enshrined in the grand norm. The mayhem caused by herdsmen in many states of Nigeria has left indelible pains in some families and communities, sufficient enough to make the government to control the activities of the herdsmen.
Some of these men who claim to ply their occupation are seen carrying lethal weapons. Which law in Nigeria gives people right to illegally possess weapons? How could the herders publicly carry lethal weapons without security operatives’ arresting and questioning them? The Fulani herdsmen, it’s not out of place to say,  are above the law. Because of their possession of weapons, the herdsmen are licensed to destroy lives, property and crops-the source of livelihood of others, thereby increasing food insecurity, poverty, hunger,  hostility and lack of development.
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? Such nonsense must be made to stop, no matter whose ox is gored. Security operatives should be proactive to check  attempts of Fulani herdsmen to breach the peace. They should arrest and prosecute culprits because Fulani herdsmen who perpetrate  the heinous  acts have always been allowed to go  non reprimanded.
There is need to enhance vigilance and community coordination while residents should be alert,  take necessary precautions and work with traditional rulers, chiefs, youth leaders and local vigilante to stem the ugly trend.
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.
Igbiki Benibo
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Opinion

Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?

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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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