Politics
Wike Hosts More Nigerian Political Leaders
For several weeks now, there has been a steady stream of Nigeria’s top political leaders paying consultative visits to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt.
The most recent was the visit to his country home in Rumueprikom, ObioApor Local Government Area, on Saturday by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Bachir Lawal, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the closed door meeting, Rt. Hon. Dogara said the visit was in the quest for building an all inclusive Nigeria.
He described Governor Wike as an indispensable political leader who has contributed immensely to the political development of the country and whose input to national development can not be ignored.
On his part, the former SGF, BachirLawal said they were in Rivers State on a brotherly visit to Governor Wike, adding that such rapport was needed to foster national cohesion and integration.
It could be recalled that the Rivers State Governor had previously played host to prominent Nigerians such as the former governor of Zamfara State, AbdulazizYari, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Kastina State, Sen Yakubu Danmark Lado, the governorship candidate of PDP in Kano State, Mohammed Abacha.
Others include the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ekiti and Ondo States counterparts, Kayode Fayemi and Rotimi Akeredolu, etc.
Meanwhile, Governor Wike has faulted the comments of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, while appearing on Arise TV interview programme, recently.
The Rivers State Chief Executive also condemned what he described as the “unguarded” utterances of some associates of the PDP presidential candidate and some favour seeker against his person, stating that he would not tolerate such disparagement of his personality.
Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday, shortly after his return from Spain, Governor Wike pointed out that the PDP Presidential Candidate, AtitkuAbubakar and the National Chairman of the Party, Sen Iyorchia Ayu, had not reached out to him after the presidential primary election in which he keenly contested and emerged second position.
Rather, Governor Wike said Atiku’s men had resorted to casting aspersions on him but he had maintained a dignified silence, adding that he was not aware of any committee set up by Atiku or the PDP to reach out to him.
The Rivers State Governor who emphasized that he had not been a vacillating political character but a consistent, staunch party faithful and stakeholder, cautioned against the antics of “ favour seekers and scavengers” in the PDP, and disclosed that for the sake of posterity and to put the records straight, he would respond to the emerging issues appropriately after the next phase of commissioning of projects in the state.
Governor Wike also condemned a viral report alleging that the Rivers State Government has set up a Marriage Monitoring Task Force in the state, and made it mandatory for a prospective husband to have the sum of N5 million or property worth the amount.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Kelvin Ebri said the Rivers State Government will not hesitate to take necessary legal action against the peddlers of the “ fake news”, if they do not desist from the morally reprehensible act.
By: Beemene Tanee
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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