Politics
Projects Delivery: Our Record Is Unparalleled … Wike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that there is no iota of doubt or contradiction over the superlative performance of his administration in the delivery of infrastructural projects and dispensing of the dividends of democracy in Rivers State.
Governor Wike said such uncommon commitment by his administration towards the development of critical infrastructure in the state was unparalleled in the country at large and exemplified the true essence of good governance.
Governor Wike made the declaration while inaugurating the Rukpokwu-Rumuapu-Izo-Ogbodo-Igwuruta Link Road, which took place in Rumuapu community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, last Tuesday.
The governor said Rivers people were impressed about the performance of his administration and desirous to reciprocate the gesture by voting for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The governor, however, stated that Rivers votes for the presidential candidate would be decided at the appropriate time.
He said: “For the presidential candidate, I will come and tell you where we will vote. These ones (Governorship, Senatorial, Reps and State Assembly candidates) I mentioned now, make sure you come and vote for them. Very soon, we’ll meet in our houses and take a decision where we are going to.”
Governor Wike said that governorship candidates of other political parties in the State were desperate to acquire political power without any followership or grassroots support, and charged Rivers electorate to vote the party that had come to their aid, supported and made them happy while also sustaining the peace in the State
On the issue of security, the governor said with the inauguration of the Police Intelligence and Surveillance Centre in Port Harcourt by the Inspector General of Police last Monday, criminals involved in kidnapping would be easily arrested for prosecution.
In a similar vein, the Rivers State governor, on Thursday and Friday, inaugurated the 13.86km Rumuodogo 1 and 2 Road in Oluua – Rumuodogo community in Emohua Local Government Area and the Mgbuoshimini internal roads respectively.
Governor Wike had also last Wednesday inaugurated the Renal/Dialysis Centre and House Officers Quarters delivered by his administration at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt.
The inauguration of the Mgbuoshimini internal roads which was performed by the Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, was the climax of the three weeks intensive project commissioning in the state as Governor Wike declared that the flag-off of new projects in the state would commence today, Monday, December 5.
The Rivers State governor also, last Saturday, performed a major state function by conferring state awards on distinguished personalities who have made immense contributions to the development of the state through their respective disciplines. Also honored were some state governors and other high profile personalities from other parts of Nigeria.
Delivering his welcome address at the event, the Chairman Awards Committee, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, said the recipients of the various categories of awards were selected strictly on merit.
The special guests were thrilled to a lavish rendition of cultural displays at the awards night which held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt.
By: Taneh Beemene
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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