Politics
Allow States To Pay Royalty To FG – Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called for a new reform that would enable the states and local government areas to take charge of mining of solid minerals in their domain and then pay royalty to the Federal Government.
The governor made the call last Monday when the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uchechukwu Ogah, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House Port Harcourt
He said: “The Federal Government is carrying so much load that they are not supposed to carry. Allow states to develop their minerals and pay royalty to the Federal Government. That’s the way it’s supposed to be”,
He stressed the need for the Federal Government to concentrate on policy formulations that would improve the welfare of the people.
He accused the Federal Government of failing to translate mineral wealth into overall economic development and regrtted that the Ajaokuta Steel Company that ought to be creating jobs and generating huge revenue, had become a failed dream.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uchechukwu Ogah, had told the Governor that he was in the state to share with him the vision and policy focus of Federal Government for the development of the nation’s solid minerals resources.
Ogah solicited the support and partnership of Rivers State in the exploitation of huge deposit of silica sand and clay in the state for construction and glass manufacture.
The minister commended Governor Wike for the massive infrastructure provided by his administration to the people of Rivers State.
Also last week, the Rivers State Governor hosted the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and other top military officers who were in Government House Port Harcourt , last Friday, on a courtesy visit to him.
Governor Wike charged the Chief of Defence Staff to take steps towards reducing insurgency, noting that terrorism has become one of the biggest threats to the country. He assured the Chief of Defence Staff of the continuous support of Rivers State Government to the army and other security agencies in the state to ensure security of lives and property.
Governor Wike further promised to liaise with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to support the release of more money for procurement of arms and other equipment for the military to end Insurgency.
The Chief of Defence Staff , General Lucky Irabor said they were in the state to assess various operational activities of the Armed Forces and to also meet with the personnel.
He commended Governor Wike for supporting the army and other security agencies in the state and urged of Rivers people and Niger Delta to sustain the peace so that economic activities would thrive in the area.
Another major event in Brick House last week , was the Thank You visit by the newly elected 23 local government council chairmen to Governor Wike, last Tuesday.
Speaking on behalf of the newly elected chairmen, the Mayor-elect of Port Harcourt, Allwell Ihunda, expressed gratitude to the party and the governor for their support which contributed to their victory.
He assured the governor that they would be committed to good governance and ensure high performance.
Governor Wike charged them to use the opportunity to contribute their quota, make impact and improve the welfare of their people who gave them the mandate and never to abuse the opportunity.
“ It is a shame that you will serve for three or six years and you don’t have any projects executed. You may claim you pay salary, you pay salary of course. But also be concerned about what legacy to leave behind and what you can be remembered for.
Also within the week under review the Rivers State Chief Executive attended the Public presentation of two books in honour of the former Chief Justice, Paul Galumje, last Wednesday in Abuja.
Wike who was the Chief Presenter, described the former Supreme Court Justice as a man of impeccable integrity who served the nation meritoriously.
By: Chris Oluoh
Alhaji Abubakar, who is also the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressed that Chief Obasanjo’s latest public outburst against him is yet another failed attempt to rewrite history.
Alhaji Abubakar specifically said that if the true history of Chief Obasanjo’s political journey is ever written—free from selective recollection and personal bitterness, he (Atiku) would feature prominently as one of those whom God used to change the course of his (Obasanjo) life and political career.
These were contained in a statement the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the former Vice President, Mr Phrank Shaibu, released in which Atiku said he watched the former President’s interview with profound sadness, but not anger, because it reflected the disposition of a man who has allowed personal resentment to cloud historical truth.
Alhaji Abubakar said the genesis of Chief Obasanjo’s hostility towards him is well known to Nigerians, stressing that he is proud that he stood against the third-term agenda and stood by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the words of Alhaji Abubakar: “I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition. If Chief Obasanjo’s bitterness stems from my refusal to support an unconstitutional third term, then I wear that resentment as a badge of honour.
“No individual, regardless of his status or accomplishments, is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution is supreme, and I chose Nigeria over personal loyalty”.
Alhaji Abubakar noted that the struggle against the third-term agenda was never about two individuals, but about preserving Nigeria’s constitutional democracy for future generations.
He said: “The Nigerian people won that battle. Democracy won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict. It Is therefore unfortunate that the same man whose unconstitutional ambition was resisted now seeks to sit in judgment over those who defended the Constitution”.
The ADC Presidential candidate said it was particularly instructive that barely twenty-four hours before Chief Obasanjo’s latest outburst, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, publicly paid glowing tribute to the economic management team he led, describing it as “the best Nigeria has ever had”.
“Whether or not the timing is merely coincidental is for Nigerians to judge. What is beyond dispute, however, is that while distinguished Nigerians who served at the highest levels continue to acknowledge my contributions to one of Nigeria’s most successful periods of economic management, Chief Obasanjo appears determined to diminish them.
“Chief Obasanjo may choose not to appreciate my role in building one of Nigeria’s most prosperous economic eras, but history has been far kinder. The record speaks for itself, and so do the testimonies of those who worked closely with that administration,” he said.
Alhaji Abubakar further stated that Nigerians also deserve to remember the other side of history which Chief Obasanjo conveniently omits, saying: “History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom”.
He further said: “When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing.
“Beyond that, I mobilised political structures, built alliances and made enormous personal and political sacrifices that culminated in his emergence as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Alhaji Abubakar, however, said he harbours no regrets over any of those acts.
According to him: “Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. When God gives you the opportunity to lift another human being, you do so without expecting repayment. Acts of kindness are matters of conscience, not commercial transactions”.
He added, however, that gratitude should never be replaced with revisionism.
Alhaji Abubakar particularly expressed disappointment that, at a time when Nigeria is battling economic hardship, mass unemployment, insecurity and widespread despair, a former President would devote so much energy to recycling old grudges instead of contributing solutions to the country’s challenges.
In the words of Atiku: “The 2027 election should be about rebuilding Nigeria, restoring security, reviving the economy and giving hope to the next generation—not reopening old political wounds”.
The former Vice President said he had deliberately maintained restraint over the years out of respect for the office Chief Obasanjo once occupied and in deference to the relationship they once shared.
He said: “That restraint should never be mistaken for weakness or docility. There comes a point when silence in the face of repeated distortions of history ceases to be a virtue. While I have no desire to engage in a public quarrel with a man I once stood beside in his most difficult moments, neither will I permit falsehoods, half-truths and calculated attempts to rewrite history to go unanswered.
“Chief Obasanjo is entitled to his opinions. He is entitled to his personal grievances. What he is not entitled to, are his own facts,” Alhaji Abubakar insisted.
The ADC presidential candidate reaffirmed that his attention remains firmly fixed on Nigeria’s future.
According to him; “I have chosen the path of service over resentment, vision over vendetta and national renewal over personal recrimination. Those who mistake my civility for capitulation, or my restraint for weakness, make a grave mistake.
“History is stubborn. It cannot be rewritten by bitterness, nor erased by repeated falsehoods. In the end, history will render its verdict—and so will the Nigerian people,” he stated.
According to the electoral umpire, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, and end on January 15, 2027, exactly 24 hours before the elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
INEC also announced that campaigns for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will begin on September 9, 2026, and conclude on February 5, 2027, ahead of the polls slated for February 6, 2027.
The commission explained that the campaign schedule complies with the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that electioneering activities must not begin earlier than 150 days before an election and must end at least 24 hours before voting.
INEC urged political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to strictly adhere to the approved timetable and conduct their campaigns in accordance with the law, while encouraging the public to obtain electoral information only from its official communication channels to avoid misinformation.