Politics
Fubara, Diri, Odili, Others Pay Tributes To Late Adeline Jaja
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; his
Bayelsa State colleague, Senator. Douye Diri; Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu; former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, his wife, Justice Mary Odili were among several other dignitaries from far and near who thronged Opobo Town last Saturday to pay their last respects to late Madam Adeline Jaja, mother in-law to the Rivers State Chief Executive.
Speaking at the funeral service held at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town, Governor Fubara described his late mother in-law as a woman who lived a good life and made positive impact on the society.
The Governor, who declared that his administration is premised on the foundation of God, urged the living to borrow a cue from Mama’s life.
“We are here this afternoon to say bye-bye to Mama. I want us to take home something: how do we live our lives? Can we live in a way that when we’re no more, our name can open doors for our children? Mama lived a good life that opened doors for many”, he said.
In his remarks, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen Douye Diri, extended the deepest condolences of the government and people of Bayelsa State to the Rivers first family.
Governor Diri, who described life as transient, said humans should live a life of modesty and note that life is temporary and ultimate powers belong to God.
Delivering his sermon, the Bishop of Niger Delta Diocese, Rt Rev Oko Jaja, said Mama was a devout Christian of the Anglican faith who did her best before her passage from earthly existence, noting that death in Christ was a guarantee for eternity. Rt Rev Oko Jaja also expressed the condolences of the church to the bereaved family.
Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara read the only lesson at the funeral service which anchored on divine atonement and respite for those in grief.
The biography of the late matriarch, also read by Lady Fubara, was a testimony of a courageous leader who rose from a humble beginning and disciplined parentage to success, with a career in the Nigeria Police Force that spanned years of active service till her retirement in 1997.
The funeral ceremony was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life, including politics, business, traditional leadership, clergy, captains of industry, government ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals.
Earlier on Friday, a service of songs in honour of the late mother in-law to the number one citizen of Rivers State was held at St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
In a related development, Governor Fubara, on Wednesday, declared that a major policy of his administration is to channel resources to the development of the educational sector.
Governor Fubara, who disclosed this during the inauguration of the newly constituted Governing Councils of the state-owned universities: Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic at Government House Port Harcourt, charged the council members to review the educational curriculum to address the deficits in our educational system to enhance the acquisition and application of functional skills.
The Rivers State Governor also approved the recommencement of the suspended Ignatius Ajuru University employment and cautioned against compromise in the employment process.
Governor Fubara flayed the critics of his administration over their warped sense of judgment, stating that he remained focused and determined to dispense good governance and democratic dividends in the state.
“There’s a lot of noise everywhere that we aren’t focused, that we are without direction, but I want to tell the world that if our energy is channeled to education, not just education but purposeful education that is creative and give you independence.
“We’ve left the world we’re we speak too much grammar, we are in a world were education is what you can do with your hand. I want you to bring back our academic programmes to ensure that at the end of study, you don’t need a job, you create a job and become employer of labour. Let’s add something different to the system, I want us to be remembered for standards, I believe that’s the only way we can overcome our challenges”, he said.
By: Beemene Taneh
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.
