Politics

Fynebone And The Rambling Of A Sinking Man

Published

3 years ago

August 12, 2022

Last Sunday, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State made a State-wide broadcast wherein he revealed moves by some frustrasted and disgruntled “political leaders” in the state to recruit cultists and ex-convicts as thugs to cause mayhem in the state during the 2023 general elections.
The Governor in the broadcast also advised harbingers of such clandestine and evil plot to desist or have themselves to blame.
Sadly enough, and regrettably too, one cannot understand why this general warning, which was not directed at any particular political party, should elicit the kind of reaction it did from Chris Fynebone, the Publicity Secretary of the ever depleting All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State.
As the saying goes, ‘when dry bones are mentioned in any conversation, the old woman is always uneasy’. This is exactly the scenario in which Chris Fynebone and his pitiable and insignificant APC members found themselves.
Come to think of it, is it only the APC that exists in Rivers state. Is it true that remnants of the fast disintegrating and scattering Special Purpose vehicle were actually planning to cause chaos in the state during the elections? If not why must Chris Fynebone be this swift in reacting to the advice given to Rivers politicians by Governor Nyesom Wike to avoid acts that could cause confusion during the 2023 Elections? It is only someone that is trying to plan evil that can react the way Chris Fynebone did. But suffice to remind Chris that if they were planning to threaten the 2023 election, they should better reconsider their plans because it can never work in Rivers State.
Another particular point of interest to me in Chief Fynebone’s response is the reference to the PDP, a very formidable party that is daily receiving people who are leaving the tattered APC in droves, as ‘crumbling”. To call the PDP that is receiving decampees from the APC from all over Rivers state crumbling is to conclude that Chief Fynebone does not know what is happening to his party or pretending all is well with it or at best does not understand the meaning of the word “Crumbling”.
But if Chris must know, only on Saturday last week over 500 members of the APC in Tai Local Government Area dumped the party for the PDP – the party he regarded as “crumbling”.
The decampees include the representative of Tai in the APC’s Elders Council, Chief (Hon) Peter Gwezia, who was also the first PDP Chairman in Tai before he was deceived to leave the PDP.
In Khana the APC has totally collapsed as all those that malter in the party have since left for the PDP. Who would I mention and who would I leave out? Is it Hon Emma Deeyah, former House of Representatives member, Gregory Nwidam former two times Council Chairman, Friday Nke-ee, former Commissioner and House of Assembly member, Marvin Yobana, former NYCN President or is it Chairman of the party in the area, Hon Celestine Akpobari with many still on their way out?
Just the other day, former Commissioner for Transport and ally of former Transportation Minister, George Tolofari parted ways with the APC. Another chieftain of the APC in Oyigbo, Hon. Bright Jacob, along with many of his supporters, left the confused party too.
In Etche, another Chieftain, Ogbonna Nwuke has since left, former Governorship candidates, Prince Tonye Princewill and Dr. Dawari George, two allies of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi had since left the APC in the Kalabari axis.
All over the state members are leaving the APC in droves, yet Fynebone has the temerity to call PDP a crumbling party. I take it as lack of appropriate terminology, may be he wanted to say ever “growing party”. Fynebone is obviously showing his shamelessness to the public by refusing to acknowledge the bitter fact that his APC is the one that is sinking fast and soon he will be the only one remaining in the sinking ship.
Concerning the revelation made by Governor Wike over plots by some unscrupulous and evil minded politicians to cause crisis in the state during the 2023 election, the APC Spokesperson by his reaction has indeed accepted that his party was hatching such devilish plans.
However, let it be known to him that Rivers people, just as they did in 2019, will resist every attempt to make their votes not to count in the 2023 Elections. APC’s clandestine moves would be futile and the peoples’ Will must prevail.
Governor Wike’s warning should be taken seriously because there must be free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in Rivers State come 2023.
Deeyah, former Director News, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation and Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers

By: Paul Deeyah

State Chairman of PDP, writes from Port Harcourt.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

News

Oji Clears Air On Appointment Of 15 Special Advisers By Fubara

Published

1 week ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

The Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Darlington Oji, has disclosed that about 15 Special Advisers to the governor were duly approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly before the current political crisis in the State.

Oji made the disclosure in a Television programme in Port Harcourt, recently, while reacting to issues surrounding appointments, the impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy, and allegations of financial mismanagement.

He clarified that the appointment of Special Advisers was carried out in strict compliance with constitutional provisions, and received the approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, before the crisis began.

According to the Special Adviser, the appointments did not require any further screening, countering claims that the governor violated due process in constituting his advisory team.

On the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, Oji described the process as unfounded and lacking constitutional backing.

He said that several lawmakers who initially supported the impeachment move were now reconsidering their stance after discovering that the process had no legal basis.

Oji also attributed the impeachment plot to personal and political ambitions, saying it is not motivated by the interest or welfare of the people of Rivers State.

Speaking on the financial position of the State after the Emergency Rule, the Special Adviser disclosed that the governor met about ?600 billion in the state’s coffers upon assumption of office.

He explained that the availability of funds enabled the administration to continue governance smoothly without the need for a supplementary budget.

The governor’s aide also refuted allegations of financial mismanagement against the governor, and stressed that all allocations to lawmakers and constituency projects were transparently handled.

He maintained that the Fubara administration remained focused on development, stability, and good governance despite the political distractions in the State.

Oji expressed confidence that the impeachment moves would eventually be abandoned as legislators and the public become more informed, adding that the governor’s leadership has continued to reassure citizens and sustain political stability in the State.

King Onunwor

Politics

Rivers Political Crisis: PANDEF Urges Restraint, Mutual Forbearance

Published

3 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called for restraint and mutual forbearance over the recent political development in Rivers State.

The Forum has also set up a high level Reconciliation Committee chaired by a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).

This is contained in a press statement released in Abuja on Saturday.

The statement was jointly signed by PANDEF’s Board of Trustees Co-Chairmen, Chief Alfred Diete-Spiff, and Obong Victor Attah (a former governor of Akwa Ibom State), as well as PANDEF’s National Chairman, Chief Godknows Igali.

Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.

“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.

“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.

“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.

The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.

“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.

“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.

PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.