Opinion

Rule Of Law Versus Presidential Directive

Published

2 years ago

January 10, 2024

The former Editor of Manchester Guardian, Charles Prestwich Scott (20th October 1864 to first January 1932), is widely quoted as saying, “Comment is free but facts are Sacred”.This maxim is not only realistic but also in tandem with the remarks of Jesus Christ when He, said, It is written, in Matthew Chapter 4, verse 4 in the story of temptation as written in the Bible. As if that is not enough, Pan Africanist and Ghanaian Leader, Kwame Nkrumah, is quoted as saying, “A principle is either wholly kept or wholly abandoned and that any slightest compromise means the total abandonment of the principle. From the fore going, the remarks of Jesus Christ, Charles Prestwich Scott, and Kwame Nkrumah are all needed to build an egalitarian society, including operating constitutional democracy and Rule of Law.
It is for this reason a textual analysis of the recent Presidential Directive is needed to evaluate the order by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu with regard to recent political crisis in Rivers State. President Tinubu not long ago summoned a meeting in the Presidential Villa to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders comprising the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, defected former Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, Chief Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief Adokiye Amesimaka, David Briggs, among others.The truce emanating from the all-important meeting states an 8-point guidelines and they are as follows: All matters instituted in the courts by warring parties should be withdrawn immediately, all impeachment proceedings initiated against Governor Fubara by Rivers State House of Assembly be dropped immediately, to recognise the leadership of Martin Amaewhule of the Rivers State House of Assembly and not that of Edison Ehie and by implication recognise the 26 Legislators who had voluntarily defected to the APC.
The resolution include payment of the remuneration and benefits of all 26 legislators and their staff must be re-instated and Governor Fubara henceforth should not interfere with the full funding of the state Legislature while the Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit, the Governor of Rivers State shall re-present the state budget proposal to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.

The names of all commissioners of the state executive council who had resigned their appointments should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval and lastly there should not be a caretaker committee for the LGAs in the state. It is worthy of note that the political crisis in Rivers State deepened when the Martin Amaewhule-led faction launched impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, suspended the majority leader, Edison Ehie, after which the hallowed chamber was burnt, accompanied by defection of 26 members to APC and demolition of the whole Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.
A scatting evaluation of the 8-point truce suggests a lopsided or one-sided truce in favour of former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for which Governor Siminalayi Fubara just signed. It is on record that the lopsided truce has attracted mixed reactions, outright and widespread condemnations for about two weeks..Ijaw Leader and Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, Former Commissioner for Works, Rivers State, David Briggs, Ann Ann-kio Briggs, Amabipi Martin and some environmentalists in Ogoni tribe have all condemned the one-sided truce. Besides, the 8-point truce has opened up serious legal and constitutional matters in Nigerian polity few months after legal tussles that characterised Election Petitions Appeal that ended in the Supreme Court as well as off season elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States.
It remains a puzzle that the 26 State Legislators who resigned were asked to return to their seats with full financial benefits and remunerations to be indemnified, but nothing was said to them to return to their former party, the PDP. Worse still, Governor Fubara was also asked to re-present 2024 budget proposal to the House of Assembly and the Commissioners who voluntarily resigned should be reconsidered by Governor Fubara to be re-represented to the Rivers State House of Assembly. At this juncture, one may ask, is Nigeria running a constitution democracy based on Rule of Law or Rule of Man or Presidential Directive as exhibited by the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The recent development of President Tinubu has called to memory the song of legendry singer, Sunny Oko-Sun, when he sang “which way Nigeria”This is because president Tinubu on the day of swearing in or inauguration swore an oath to govern, and rule by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For instance, section 109 sub section 1 (g) states that:(1) A member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if-(g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected:Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.Truly, comment is free but facts are sacred.
It is also on record that the Edison Ehie-led group obtained an exparte order restraining Martin Amaewhule and Dumle Maol as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively while Amaewhule and Moal on the other hand went to another High Court of same jurisdiction to obtain another exparte order when the court orders have not been vacated.This is where the lamentation of American Essayists, Sylvia Pratt, who wrote in the famous poem, “Conversation Among the Ruined,” comes to mind, “which such blight wrought on our bankrupt estate, what ceremony of words can patch the havoc”. It is in-fact, appauling that Nigeria is declining from bad election, to courtocracy and rule of man in place of constitutional democracy.
The attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be drawn to the fact that he is not only taciturn but also evasive on Rale of Law but to build a virile society where the political class and leadership should not trivialise constitutional orders.I am glad that senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had drawn the attention of President Tinubu to this fact. Surprisingly, the PDP has not been vocal enough.The fact that Independent National Electoral Commission should go ahead and conduct election into the Vacant 26 seats of Rivers State House of Assembly is not strong enough but to test the efficacy of the constitution in court. No PDP Governor has visited Governor Fubara; whereas opposition party.Former Vice President Atiku Abubaka has also not visited and identified with Governor Fubara even as Governor Fubara has not opened-up enough to meet his party–the PDP.
The gap in the truce brokered by President Tinubu has left many with the mindset that the drama gives an impression that the scenario is tending towards forcing Governor Fubara and the entire State to be APC State before 2027 elections. It is therefore pertinent to appeal to well-meaning individuals, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to intervene more than ever, now that the political impasse has not resulted in bloodbath. One thing is necessary; Rivers People should not gravitate towards ethnic lines but avoid ethnic bias. It may be necessary for the FCT Minister and his supporters to remember that crisis does no’ one any good but people,.no one, be it President Tinubu or FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike should not constitute themselves as an appellate court while Governor Fubara must talk out so that Rivers people can know their prayer points to present to God. It is welcoming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has indicated to pay any price for peace even as both sides need to sacrifice pride and personal aggrandisement to engender peaceful co-existence.
Sika is a social/political analyst

Opinion

Kudos Gov Fubara

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

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

Opinion

… And It Came To Pass

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

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

Opinion

That Withdrawal of Police Orderlies From VIPs

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

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.