Opinion
When A Noble Idea Fails
In the pre-election year of 2018, former governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Simon Lalong, listed a very promising package among projects to be commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was on State visit – the roll-out of 400 tractors to be distributed to farmers as a boost to agriculture in the state. It was an event publicised with so much fanfare and applauded by farmers who anticipated reliefs that would revolutionise their labourious methods of farming to transit from manual farming into mechanisation, while at the same time achieve greater outputs and profits. Commissioned precisely on March 8, 2018, the tractorisation initiative was aimed at enabling farmers own tractors for farming in Plateau State.
As at then the state’s Agricultural Services training centre and Marketing Ltd (ASTC & M Ltd) had only 300 tractors which it had managed and hired out to farmers since its establishment, but that number was not enough given the enormous demand. Plateau state, with its expanse of fertile lands, geographic location and topography, is one of Nigeria’s food baskets, but massive production is hampered by manual farming. It was therefore cheery news when it filtered out that farmers would be assisted to own tractors to ease their labour, while achieving greater production.
According to sources, Hakar Engineering Nigeria Limited had in 2016 proposed a tripartite, Public, Private Partnership initiative involving themselves, the plateau state Government and the State farmers through Plateau State All-Farmers Multi-Purpose Co-operative Limited, with regard to a co-funding arrangement that would enable farmers in the state acquire tractors. The state and local governments were to subsidise the tractors with 30 per cer and 10 per cent payments respectively, while participating farmers were to pay the remaining 60 per cent. With an initial down payment of 10 per cent, a farmer was to take delivery of a tractor, while payment of the 50 per cent balance would be spread over a three-year period as farmers make proceeds from improved agro outputs. The scheme was also packaged with trainings for would-be tractor operators, while services and repair workshops were to be established across the three geo-political zones of the state.
However, on the day of commissioning, only 40 out of the publicised 400 tractors were displayed. Mr Lalong reportedly explained that government house premises, venue for the commissioning exercise, was too small to contain all 400 tractors, hence the reason for displaying only 40, implying that all 400 tractors had already been supplied. Mr Lalong went further to claim that the state government procured the 400 tractors for farmers at the cost of N5.6 billion, at N14 million per set. Regrettably, with very few of the participating farmers having received tractors years after commissioning of the scheme, controversy now rages as to the whereabouts of the 400 tractors, as well as the actual financial stake of Plateau State Government. This is as the N5.6 billion claimed to have been the cost by Mr Lalong far out-weighs the state government’s 30 per cent counterpart funding of N1.68 billion, if the whole 400 tractors were supplied.
Media investigations reveal that while the number of tractors actually supplied was less than 100 in the first and only batch made, data from Plateau state shows that 400 tractors and farm implements were procured in 2019 at a total cost of N5.6 billion. But for a project that was to involve the state Ministry of Agriculture and State Bureau of Public Procurement, both organisations according to PREMIUM TIMES have denied involvement in, or knowledgement of, any such transactions. Also, farmers complain of getting an unfamiliar brand that is alien to their experience, as against the promised Massey Ferguson brand that has spare parts and service technicians locally available, and also complain of incomplete accessories and no accompanying spare parts as promised, while service centres were not made available. This sad experience in Plateau state mirrows the wider national scenerios where the wrong implementation of noble ideas kills bigger dreams and denies the nation of intended benefits.
It is a typical example of cases in which public officials sometimes alter the design contents of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed for mutual benefits. According to PREMIUM TIMES, an official of Hakar Engineering Nigeria Limited confided anonymously that what the company proposed to Plateau State Government in 2016 was a partnership MoU that was intended to help farming businesses in the state while promoting government’s agricultural programmes, hence did not go through the bureau of public procurement, but it was surprising to see it presented to the public in 2018 as a N5.6 billion contract with the state government. To whom then was N5.6 billion paid or was Mr Lalong carried away by a zeal to impress the public being that 2018 was pre-election year, or was it a case of avarice? The claim by the state’s ministry of agriculture that they are investigating the whole affair adds more complexity and suspicion to the entire saga.
No matter how politically connected the proponents of the partnership were the ministry of agriculture, who should own such a scheme, should have been the originating department where the proposal was presented, with MoU drafted on behalf of the state government, and should have been the government’s department to administer the processes, take delivery of tractors, keep custody, make allocations to farmers and detail any feed-backs, and not the Plateau State Government House. On the other hand, if Hakar Engineering Nigeria Limited truly had the requisite financial capacity, technical support and managerial skills to implement such tractorisation programme for farmers, they should have executed the partnership directly with farmers and handle the execution processes as a business entity without seeking political connections.
Unfortunately, while left with broken tractors with no available spare parts and experienced technicians, farmers trapped in the failed scheme now live in regrets for believing and investing in a public programme. Yes, while those farmers bemourn their failed investments and faith in a scheme, it is the wider Nigerian populace that take the implicit heat as food scarcities continue to push many into poverty and hunger. 400 tractors rightly introduced in 2018 into the hard-working hands of astute farmers in Plateau state could have been a game changer for Nigeria, by encouraging the partners to replicate such across other states, long before the COVID 19 era, long before Russia’s escapades in Ukraine and Hammas’attack on Isreal, all three major factors that disrupted the international supply chains Nigeria had relied upon out of sheer complacency.
By: Joseph Nwankwo
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.