Rivers
NCSU Urges Tinubu To Caution Wike, IGP, Okocha
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed concern over the silence of President Bola Tinubu in the political crisis currently rocking Rivers State, following the expiration of the tenure of former chairmen and councillors of the 23 local government councils of the State, and called on the President to caution the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief NyesomWike; the Inspector General of Police; and the representative of Rivers State in the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Mr Tony Okocha on their roles in the lingering crisis.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the call while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, said it is shocking that President Tinubu has maintained studied silence over the crisis, and urged him, without further delay to call the trio to order, over their various roles in the political crisis rocking the State.
According to him, the Inspector General of Police, in particular is supposed to play a neutral and mediating role over the matter, instead of allegedly taking sides, saying, he is supposed to have withdrawn by now the police officers who have barricaded the secretariats of local government councils in the State for over one week now.
He noted that Rivers State is not the only State in the country where caretaker committees are appointed to run the affairs of local government councils, and wondered why the case of the State is different.
While affirming that Governor Fubara is totally loyal to the President, Osumah said what is currently playing out in the State is not only negatively affecting the people of the State but also the image and credibility of the Tinubu administration.
According to him, going by the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, people outside the State and Nigeria see President Tinubu as weak and incompetent, since he is unable to call to order those working under his government.
He contended that there is no iota of doubt that Wike and Okocha, who claims to be the leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Rivers State are the ones stoking the flames in the State with their loyalists and supporters.
Osumah indicated that a situation where Wike’s supporters march through the streets holding his portraits, and being nudged on by Okocha, as if they are holding campaign rallies, when there is no election in the air, is taking political desperation too far, and urged President Tinubu to quickly call to order the Minister and his supporters.
He reiterated that it is not only in Rivers State that caretaker committees are in place at the local government councils, and wondered why the police should be allowed to barricade council secretariats in the State, instead of allowing council workers and other residents to have access to the councils to carry out their legitimate businesses unmolested and unhindered.
The labour leader said the continuous barricade of the councils is taking a heavy toll on the economy of the State and the businesses of several persons who depend on the councils for their daily survival.
Osumah also noted that there is absolute peace and tranquility in the State, as the people of the State are going about their businesses unmolested, contrary to insinuations by those who are calling for a state of emergency to be declared in the State, stressing that such calls by people in government also portray the Tinubu administration in bad light.
Osumah equally expressed worry over the recent lamentation of Governor Fubara, concerning the shoddy manner the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is handling the political crisis in the State, saying, the inability of the party to assert its authority on the issue, by taking firm and appropriate actions against Wike is a strong indication that it is highly compromised.
He enjoined the Nigeria Governors’ Forum(NGF) to rally round Governor Fubara and always give him the necessary support.
Kevin Nengia
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament says it will adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance informed deliberation, optimised legislation, and strengthen parliamentary oversight.
The regional bloc made the remark recently at the Second 2025 Extraordinary Session which held in Port Harcourt.
The theme of the session was, “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region.”
Fourth Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Mr Billay Tunkara, while closing the session on AI efficiency, said lawmakers would deploy appropriate tools to strengthen internal regulations.
He said the AI revolution was irreversible and had become a paradigm shift, redefining the region’s economies, societies and governance.
According to him, AI had moved from the realm of science fiction to a powerful global force driving major advances across sectors.
“Therefore, the use of AI in the ECOWQS Parliament will result to informed deliberation, optimised legislation and strengthened oversight.
“It offers us the means to make our work more efficient, transparent and closer to citizens’ expectations.
“So, it is up to us, parliamentarians to appropriate these tools, to train our collaborators and to adapt our internal regulations to accommodate this new intelligence”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, HRM King Ateke Tom, has pledged support for government efforts to sustain peace in the Niger Delta.
He gave the assurance when he received a delegation of the ECOWAS Parliament, led by its Speaker, Mrs. Hadja Ibrahima, at his palace in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area.
Tom, a former Niger Delta agitator, said he once took up arms to draw government’s attention to the plight of people in the oil-rich region.
“The agitation brought the Federal Government’s focus to our challenges.
“It was the agitation that created the opportunity for our people to be remembered, and for Goodluck Jonathan to become President”, he said.
He stated the struggle highlighted environmental degradation, poverty, and hardship endured by the Niger Delta people despite oil profits from the land.
The traditional ruler added that he later played a key role in disarming agitators and facilitating peace in the region.
“Today, the benefit of that peace is becoming evident”, he noted.
Tom urged the ECOWAS Parliament to use its platform to advocate for the development of the Niger Delta region.
The President-Genera (PG)l of Ogoni Youth Federation, Mr. Legborsi Yamaabana, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the effort to resolve the dispute that stalled oil exploration and production in Ogoni land.
The Tide’s source recalls that oil exploration and production were suspended in Ogoniland in the early 1990s with Shell forced out by 1993 due to persistent unrest by the locals’ spear-headed by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP).
The source further notes that the dispute involved the Federal Government, oil multinationals and Ogoni people.
Yamaabana in a statement issued to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Hycienth Ana, in Port Harcourt, said Tinubu’s government had been able to resolve the dispute.
He described the ongoing peace process as sincere, timely, and commendable.
Yamaabana noted that the resolutions reached hold great promise for addressing the longstanding challenges of poverty and unemployment in Ogoniland.
The PG, a former Federal House of Representatives aspirant for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, used the medium to commend Tinubu for the national honours to the “Ogoni four.”
“President Tinubu’s extension of recognition to these Ogoni thirteen is a long-awaited gesture of justice and inclusivity”, he said.
He further applauded the President for bestowing a national honour on renowned Ogoni rights activist, Mr. Ledum Mitee, describing the recognition as a befitting tribute to his contributions to the struggle for justice and equity.
Yamaabana said resuming oil operations in Ogoniland with fairness and environmental responsibility would be a landmark achievement for Tinubu’s government in Nigeria’s socio-economic history.
He also commended the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Ogoni Dialogue Committee led by Prof. Don Baridam, for their roles in facilitating the dialogue.
The Ogoni youth leader reaffirmed commitment to supporting the federal government’s initiatives for economic growth and sustainable development in the area.
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, has been declared the state winner of the ongoing National Campus Debate 2025.
Following this victory, IAUE will represent Rivers State at the zonal face-to-face debate competition, scheduled to take place from September 15 to 22, 2025.
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, congratulated IAUE on its achievement and wished the university continued brilliance in the next phase of the competition.
A statement from the institution’s Public Relations Office said the debate competition, which focuses on the topic “Unity in Diversity: Designing National Identity in Nigeria’s Multicultural Society”, aims to strengthen youth engagement, promote education, and foster national values and dialogue among students.
The competition offers significant rewards, with the national winner set to receive ?50 million, while the first and second runners-up will take home ?30 million and ?20 million respectively.
According to the statement, the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako, and the Coordinator of IAUE Debate Council, who is also the Director, Ideas, Creativity, and Innovation, Professor Samuel Amaele, trained the team that made the University proud.
It furrher stated that the university’s achievement reflects its commitment to intellectual excellence, civic engagement, and nation-building.
By: Sogbeba Dokubo
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