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Opinion

The Good Old Christmas

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3 years ago

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Can anyone remember when governors mostly from then South-Eastern states used to compete over who would send the highest number of luxury buses to different parts of the country to convey their people home for Christmas? From the beginning of December and sometimes earlier, announcements would be made on various radio and television stations when buses would be sent to Borno, Adamawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger and other Northern states to convey Igbos resident in those states to their home states for the Christmas and New Year celebrations. You can call it the good old days, if you think it fits into such a description. But the fact is that people from that region were encouraged to return home at least during the yuletide season to celebrate with their families, reconnect with their family members, friends and others. It is a known truth that many Igbos hardly celebrate the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ and the New Year outside Igboland. At this time of the year, Igbos both within and outside the country would be trooping to their villages for the celebrations. The yuletide season is significant to the South-Easterners not just because of Christmas and New year celebrations, it was a period of re-union. Major cultural, traditional, religious and family events are slated for the yuletide season which is around December 15 to January 15. Meetings and other engagements aimed at the development of the communities are held at this period. Marriages, funeral ceremonies, house warming and many other social activities are usually planned for this period, knowing that virtually everybody will be home.
It is also a period when the children who probably have not gone home throughout the year, some even since they were born have the opportunity of travelling to their villages, meeting their kith and kin and getting educated about their cultures and traditions. Virtually everybody from the South-East looked forward to the yuletide season.Today, the story is no longer the same because of the heightened insecurity situation in the region. South-Easterners now find it nightmarish travelling to their hometowns because of the killings, kidnappings, maiming and all manner of crime going on in the region. Of course, some people will still travel home, believing that their lives are in God’s hands and that God will protect them. Some will tell you that they cannot run away from their ancestral homes because of the fear of unknown gunmen or whatever they call the criminals. But the fact remains that many people from the South-East who have the means to travel this season are afraid of doing so. The continuous killing in the South-Eastern part of the country and the seeming inability of both the governors of the region and the federal government to tackle the ugly situation is heart-wrenching. In recent times, no day passes without the report of killings in different parts of the region. South-East, which used to be very peaceful, where the people went about their businesses without fear has become the epicentre of insecurity in the country and the people remain in perpetual tension. If it is not the killing of poor rural dwellers in Ehamufu and sacking them from their ancestral homes by herders, it is the murdering of innocent citizens by some unknown gunmen. If it is not the invasion of some communities by uniformed men to fish out some members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), who the authority claims to be the perpetrators of several crime in the zone, it is the killings as a result of cult clashes and all that. The continued senseless burning of INEC offices, attack on Police stations is still there. Not to mention the perennial Mondays sit-at-home IPOB order and the resultant effects.
This South-East region cannot continue like this. People cannot continue to live in fear. The governors from the region have been laid back for so long. They have for so long failed in their duties of protecting their people and providing responsive and responsible leadership that cater for the welfare of their people. In a recent article, the writer, Ndubisi Francis, traced the root of the current crisis between herders and the indigenes to the 2016, ‘Nimbo Massacre’ where over 40 inhabitants of Nimbo, in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, were reportedly slaughtered in cold blood, with many others maimed, while a Catholic church and dozens of houses were razed down by the rampaging attackers. The writer contended that the failure of the government to deal decisively with the case, gave rise to such attacks almost becoming routine in several communities across the South-East with daily clashes over farmlands that were turned into grazing areas by pastoralists. Can this be disputed? No doubt, insecurity happens in other parts of the country but the difference is that in some other states like Rivers, Benue and some South-Western States, their governors are seen taking decisive action and speaking up in the face of injustice against their people and challenging the security agencies and the federal government who controls all the security apparatus in the country to play their own role in securing their people.
Unfortunately, the South-Eastern governors, probably because of some selfish reasons, prefer to look the other way and appear helpless while their people are being killed and chased out of their ancestral homes by some herdsmen. Many indigenes of Eha Amufu, Enugu State are today refugees in many homes. My neighbour from that town currently has four elderly members of his family taking refuge in his home and it is not easy for him at all. What happened to the Ebubeagu security outfit set up by the South-East governors over a year ago to curtail the insecurity in the region just like Amotekun is doing in the South-Western region? How have the governors jointly supported the outfit to carry out its responsibility? We know that the federal government’s control of the Police and other security apparatus could be a clog in the wheel of the governors’ effort in fighting insecurity in their domain but there is still a lot they can do to secure their people and they know it. Governors of the South-East Zone should please do more to fight insecurity in the region. Political, religious and traditional leaders, youth, women groups and other leaders from the zone must join hands in fighting this menace. They cannot continue to fold their hands and watch their states and communities being overrun by criminals. Some of these criminals belong to known families. The self-appointed sectional leader of ESN, Simon Ekpa, who continues to issue destructive orders from his peaceful abode in Finland has family and friends back here in Nigeria. Can not they be used to reach him to stop the harm he is causing to the region and the people? Many times, we have heard the spokesperson for IPOB, Emma Powerful, debunk the accusation that the group is responsible for the mayhem going on in the zone, saying that other people, some non-Igbos, masquerading as IPOB are taking advantage of the situation in the zone. IPOB should not stop at the disclaimer. They and other youths from the zone should join hands with the government to reveal the identities of the criminals and uproot them from the zone and the country at large.
It is also high time IPOB and ESN took a look at their strategy for their agitation for secession. If the whole thing is causing untold hardship and pain to the region and the people you claim to be fighting for, why continue with it? It is also important that the federal government and other states of the federation do not sit aloof and watch the South-East destroyed. All hands must be on deck to arrest the situation. Together we must stand.

By: Calista Ezeaku

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Opinion

Kudos  Gov Fubara

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6 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Please permit me to use this medium to appreciate our able governor, Siminalayi Fubara for the inauguration of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road in Ahoada-East Local Government Area.  This inauguration marks a significant milestone in the history of our communities and deserves commendation. We, the people of Ozochi, are particularly happy because this project has brought long-awaited relief after years of isolation and hardship.
The expression of our traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Prince Ike Ehie, JP, during the inauguration captured the joy of our people.  He said, “our isolation is over.”  That reflects the profound impact of this road on daily life, economic activities, and social integration of the people of Ozochi and other neighbouring communities. The road will no doubt ease transportation, improve access to markets and healthcare, and strengthen links between Ahoada, Omoku, and other parts of Rivers State.
The people of Ahoada, Omoku, and indeed Rivers State as a whole are grateful to our dear governor for this laudable achievement and wish him many more successful years in office. We pray that God endows him with more wisdom and strength to continue to pilot the affairs of the state for the benefit of all. As citizens, we should rally behind the governor and support his development agenda. Our politicians and stakeholders should embrace peace and cooperation, as no meaningful progress can be achieved in an atmosphere of conflict. Sustainable development in the state can only thrive where peace prevails.
Samuel Ebiye
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Opinion

… And It Came To Pass

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6 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Quote:“Leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation.”
Tell it  in Rivers State, publish it  in the streets of Port Harcourt, so  the daughters of the State could rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph and know that Fubara is not vindictive”. And it came to pass that Rivers State emerged from one of the most delicate chapters in its political journey, the period of emergency rule that spanned from March 18 to September 18, 2025. It was a season that tested institutions, strained loyalties, and exposed the fragile balance between power and principle. During that time, the suspended Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara DSSRS, was widely believed to have suffered not only political setbacks but personal betrayal, allegedly from some top civil servants within the state apparatus. These were individuals expected to uphold neutrality and professionalism, yet were accused in public opinion of taking sides against the very government they served.
As the emergency rule ended and Governor Fubara resumed office, expectations were shaped less by policy and more by emotion. Many assumed that revenge would quietly find expression through governance. The loudest suspicion centered on the 2025 Christmas bonus of ?100,000 traditionally paid to each worker. The thinking was simple and cynical: a wounded governor would surely withhold goodwill. Some voices even mocked workers  openly hoping that the governor would refuse to pay the bonus. To them, denial of the bonus would serve as proof of political strength and justified retaliation. In reality, such thinking revealed a troubling desire to see governance reduced to personal vendetta. Yet,  it came to pass, the governor chose a path that confounded suspicion. Against all expectations, the 2025 Christmas bonus was paid.
That single decision quietly but firmly reframed the narrative. It showed a leader focused on governance rather than grudges, on institutional continuity rather than emotional satisfaction. The payment was not a favor, nor was it a concession; it was a statement that public administration must rise above personal injury. By honoring the bonus, Governor Fubara demonstrated that leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation. He made it clear that workers’ welfare would not become collateral damage in political disagreements. This action also served as a moral rebuke to those who celebrated division and hoped for punishment. Governance is not validated by the suffering of workers, nor is leadership strengthened by withholding entitlements. At the same time, the issue of alleged sycophancy and betrayal within the civil service cannot be brushed aside. If proven, such conduct deserves firm, lawful, and institutional correction. Civil servants are bound by duty to the state, not to political conspiracies or shifting loyalties.
However, justice must never be confused with revenge. The strength of governance lies in correcting wrongs without destroying the system itself. Governor Fubara’s restraint suggested an understanding that the future of Rivers State mattered more than settling scores. For workers, this moment carried an important lesson. Celebration should be rooted in good governance, not in the expectation of another’s downfall. Rejoicing in rumors of denial or punishment undermines the very stability that protects workers’ welfare. Public service thrives where professionalism, mutual respect, and accountability are upheld. Pettiness, gossip, and political scheming only weaken institutions and erode trust. History often remembers leaders not for the crises they inherit, but for the character they display in response. In paying the 2025 Christmas bonus, Governor Fubara chose legacy over impulse, maturity over malice.
And so, it came to pass that focus defeated revenge, governance triumphed over bitterness, and Rivers State was reminded that true leadership is proven when restraint is expected least but delivered most. Beyond the symbolism of the Christmas bonus lies a deeper question about the kind of political culture Rivers State intends to cultivate in the years ahead. Periods of emergency rule, anywhere in the world, often leave behind residues of suspicion, fear, and silent realignments. Institutions do not emerge untouched; individuals recalibrate loyalties, some out of conviction, others out of self-preservation. What distinguishes stable democracies from fragile ones is not the absence of such moments, but the discipline with which leadership manages their aftermath. River.
King Onunwor
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Opinion

That Withdrawal of Police   Orderlies  From VIPs

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6 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Quote:”Balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk in a country where the majority of citizens are still under-protected.”
The Presidential announcement on the removal of police orderlies from persons in authority and their relations  ( Very Important Persons ) last month came as a relief to many Nigerians who felt deprived    of one major  role of government ; security of lives and property.The higher  population of Nigerians  missed needed security because the VIPs and the VVIPs kept  retinue of Police Officers  totalling over 100 ,000 to  themselves and their family members as if they are all that matter  while some  communities under attack of terrorists  have no single unit of  police station located there in. While many hailed the announcement , some said perhaps the government has just woken up to her major responsibility of securing the lives and property of all  citizens while many expressed indifference on the note that it may be one of those pronouncements which come only in words but no action .Many keep their fingers crossed watching how it will play out , how Mr President  will  go about the implementation of the seemingly dicey  policy .
Benjamin Franklin  said “well said is better than well done ”  It is sufficient today to say that many Nigerians including me are still waiting and watching to see  how well  and how long this  return  of the Police service to the ordinary people will go . Wishing hopes will not be crashed ,  It  is note worthy, that  the recent complaints by the VIPs of being exposed to attacks  may in a way affect the action on implementation. Recently, at Senate plenary , another worrisome  angle came up as Senator Abdul Ningi  coming through a motion    disclosed that he had only one police officer attached to him ( his office ) and that  the officer was recalled the week before following  Mr President’s directive  . Senator Ningi said the withdrawal exposed him to high risks but underscored the angle that while his orderly  was recalled , many other politicians , men  and women in authority, business concerns   foreigners  and even children of some  VIPs are still enjoying retinue of police protection ( officially attached to them ).
 It’s note  worthy also that the Deputy Senate President , Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau,  who presided  over  the session revealed that the  leadership of both chambers are already in discussion with President Tinubu on the need  to exempt  the law makers  from the new policy .  Senator Ningi may not be  wrong . After all he emphasized he is okay  provided that the removal of the Police Orderlies be done across board . Senator Barau noted that talks are on  over the issue of law makers’    in line with international practice . Further details from the Presidency  noted  that   Presiding officers  will retain their  police officers ,  others would have Civil Defense  officers ( NSCDC) as orderlies while  any other VIP who feels he or she deserves personal police protection should get clearance from  his office . In the midst of all  issues weighing in on the proper implementation , it becomes necessary  to bear in mind that  the decision  hinges on  the realization that Nigeria has peculiar security issues (of kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism.) and that  majority of Nigerians   are under protected.
More so, that if well  implemented, Police officers will focus on core duties; even as 30,000 new police officers are to  recruited to enhance security .That implementation  must be made in a  way that leaves no room.for selective  treatment loss of confidence  and  controversies.  Looking at previous attempts of  implementation  of this policy  gives faint hope  as several  attempts consistently failed . Former  IGPs like Tafa Balogun (2003), Ogbonnaya Onovo (2009), and Ibrahim Idris (2018) tried  the policy but all  failed due to political resistance from various angles. All the failed attempts  were tied to lack of political will  mostly due to the fact that the directives came from police chiefs, not the president. Selective Enforcement was another killer to the policy  as  partial implementation  met  resistance   and   later  reversal . Egbetokun (2023) and Adamu (2020) saw minimal impact.
Further more entrenched corruption in the system saw  Politicians and VIPs quietly regain police escorts due to ‘transactional economics”and pressure. Worse still the mindset of the  police officers  withdrawn didn’t help the policy Underpaid police prioritize VIP duties for extra benefits. Many wish President Tinubu’s move can  break this cycle.  As at today, he  still  insists the move is non-negotiable while stressing collaboration with states to upgrade training facilities. As citizens look forward to  success of the policy  without undue exposure of both sides, balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk. Talk fades ; action echoes.  How the Presidency  implements this policy.  has  much to tell on the governments stand on national / community  security , choice of priority and the ability to   stand uncomprised . The known  goal is clear:  The outcome is  not yet certain.  Fingers crossed , we await . Definitely , time will tell.
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi.
s State stood at such a crossroads in September 2025. The temptation to rule with a long memory and a heavy hand was real. Yet, the choice made signaled a preference for healing over hardening. Leadership after crisis demands more than administrative competence; it requires moral clarity.
 Governor Fubara’s decision reminded the state that authority is not best exercised through silent punishment or selective generosity. Rather, it is strengthened when rules remain rules, irrespective of personal injury. By keeping faith with workers, the government preserved an essential firewall between politics and public service. That firewall, once breached, turns governance into a battlefield where livelihoods become weapons. Rivers State narrowly avoided that descent. In doing so, it affirmed that institutions must outlive tempers, and governance must not mirror the bitterness of political seasons. This moment also invites sober introspection within the civil service itself. Allegations of partisanship, if left unresolved, corrode professionalism and weaken public confidence. A civil service that drifts into political camps loses its moral authority and operational effectiveness.
Therefore, reform, where necessary, should be guided by due process, transparency, and institutional review—not whispers, witch-hunts, or mob verdicts. Accountability strengthens systems when it is fair; it destroys them when it is arbitrary. The restraint shown by the executive places a corresponding burden on administrative leadership to restore discipline, neutrality, and pride in public service. For the wider political class and the commentariat, the episode serves as a caution against normalizing cruelty as strategy. The eagerness with which some anticipated workers’ suffering revealed a dangerous appetite for scorched-earth politics. When governance becomes a spectator sport where pain is cheered and deprivation is weaponized, society inches toward moral exhaustion. Rivers State has seen enough turbulence to know that stability is not sustained by triumphalism, but by restraint.
The lesson is simple yet profound: power is fleeting, but institutions endure; leaders pass, but precedents remain. In the end, the payment of the 2025 Christmas bonus was more than a fiscal act—it was a civic statement. It told workers they were not expendable. It told political actors that revenge would not be policy. And it told the state that maturity in leadership is not weakness, but strength under control. In a climate where many expected fire, restraint prevailed; where bitterness was predicted, balance emerged. Thus, Rivers State was offered a rare reminder that governance, at its best, is an act of discipline, and leadership, at its highest, is the courage to rise above provocation.
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