Opinion
That Demand For Sacrifice
Recently, a video clip of Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, rejecting a proposal to buy cars worth $1.8 million for his entourage, after he won the election in August 2021, trended on the social media. In the short video, the president was seen questioning the rationale behind the purchase of pricey vehicles for political office holders when there are other important needs of the people to be addressed with such a huge amount. “Why are you using money to buy a VX for the Mayor? Why do you want a car costing $200,000? That VX for the Mayor can put toilets in all the markets in your constituency. A Mayor can still drive a nice car but it does not have to be a VX …, whose money are you using? he asked. Back here in Nigeria, the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, a few days ago declared that he will not collect his salary for the next four years. “The speaker reminded me that I have not taken a salary for four months, and I will not take it for four years. I have only one wife and three children, and we can take care of ourselves”, he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, in the face of the current economic hardship in the country, when citizens are finding it difficult to survive on a daily meal, some people are milking the country dry just because they were fortunate to have been elected to represent the people at the national assembly. If they are not receiving “tokens” in their bank accounts to enjoy unearned vacations while other Nigerians are struggling to survive, they are being given brand new 2023 Land Cruiser SUVs said to be valued at N160 million to N200 million each, procured with foreign loans or enjoying other largesse. The spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, was quick to tell newsmen that the vehicles soon to be distributed to the 360 members are official vehicles and not for personal use and that they are assigned to members during their tenure and must be returned after their term ends. As if all of us are not in Nigeria and know not what happens to such vehicles at the end of the day.
It is also not peculiar to the Legislature, as unelected government officials in the Executive arm of government from the Assistant Director level and above, in most cases, have official vehicles attached to their office.”
That may not be far from the truth. Certain things are still being done in the country as if we are still in the oil boom days when we know that the nation’s purse is very lean and that the nation’s debt profile has been on a steady rise in recent years. What is most difficult to understand is the economic sense in the government’s penchant for securing foreign loans to be used to maintain such opulent lifestyles and to be shared to some citizens to feed. It is no news that the Federal Government recently approached the World Bank for a fresh loan of $400 million for the conditional cash transfer to 15 million households as one of the measures to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians. The government had earlier borrowed $800 million from the same source for the same purpose. That is, a $1.2 billion loan within five months in office.
At the launch of the “Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer” for 15 million vulnerable Nigerian households on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, said it was in fulfilment of his Independence Day broadcast to Nigerians on October 1, where he announced the cash transfer programme which would target vulnerable citizens. The question now is, how can you alleviate poverty and suffering in the land by taking foreign loans to share to the citizens to feed – N75,000 in three months? What can N25,000 do for a household in the present-day Nigeria and what happens to these families after the stipulated three months? What are the criteria in selecting the 15 million households and what is the assurance that the money will get to them at the end of the day? It is high time Nigerian leaders came down from their high horses and face the challenges in the country sincerely and committedly.
They must start by cutting the over bloated cost of governance and showing leadership by example through moderate expenditure of the taxpayers’ money like Hichilema. A good number of the federal legislators have been in the corridors of power either as governors, deputy governors, ministers, law makers, heads of agencies and what have you. So, they can afford to toe Governor Otti’s line by foregoing certain pleasures and acquisitions for the benefit of the poor people who elected them. This goes across party lines. Reducing the cost of governance is a crucial step in improving economic efficiency and freeing up resources for developmental projects in the country. The government must assess and possibly reduce the salaries and allowances of public officials, including political officeholders, to align them with economic realities.
Of course, this goes with the consolidation of Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Instead of appointing 50 ministers and numerous personal assistants, advisers with their own legion of assistants, the government was expected to have merged or consolidated overlapping ministries, departments, and agencies to eliminate duplication of functions. Government structures should have been streamlined to make them more efficient as recommended in Steve Oronsaye’s report. People have always said that those in authority know what to do to make Nigeria better and that is the truth. The president boasts of having prepared for the office for over thirty years. And within these years he had held several key positions both in the public and private sectors. He is said to be one of the richest persons in Nigeria.Can he then keep his selfish interest, tribal, political and other sentiments behind and give the country the much-needed leadership?
Can the government be deliberate and committed towards enforcing fiscal responsibility laws and hold public officials accountable for financial mismanagement and also implement measures to curb corruption and ensure that public funds are used judiciously? New heads of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have just been appointed by Tinubu. Will they be given the freedom to carry out their duties unbiasedly or will they be required to do the bidding of the person who put them in those positions and that of the ruling political party, thereby being selective as was seen in the past? Practical steps towards poverty alleviation in the country are needed. Government should encourage the growth of industries and small businesses to create more job opportunities; bring the nation’s refineries back to life and possibly build new ones; support entrepreneurship through training, access to credit, and business development services; fight insecurity so that people can go back to their farms and ensure adequate food production for the country.
Nigerians have seen and appreciated Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda which encompass critical areas like food security, ending poverty, economic growth, job creation, access to capital, improved security, a fair playing field, rule of law, and the fight against corruption but people want to urgent see these agenda reflect on the quality of lives of the citizens. As an analyst said, the time for campaign is over, let there be more actions than words. Let the leaders compliment the sacrifices of the masses towards making Nigeria great again.
By: Calista Ezeaku
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
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?”
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.
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.
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.
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.