Politics
Agenda For Niger Delta Governors
In 1957 oil was discovered in commercial quantities by shell in Oloibiri in the old Rivers State, now Bayelsa State. Subsequently it spread to our creeks, lakes, swamps, forests, farmlands and backyards into nine states that constitute the Niger Delta region.
From 1960s to 1970s, there was enormous increase in our revenue generation to an extent, the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowan announced to the whole world that there was surplus money in Nigeria, and that money was not Nigeria’s problem, but the problem was how to spend it.
Thereafter the surplus money was pumped into Lagos, the then capital city of Nigeria, that is from 1960 to 1970s. The sky crappers, Network of roads and other infrastructure, including the overhead bridges and mainland bridge, the longest bridge in West Africa sub-region was built with oil money from the Niger Delta region.
In 1980s to date, since Abuja was chosen and proclaimed as the nation’s new capital city, the oil and gas money from the region has transformed Abuja, a virgin land to one of the best modern and expensive cities in Africa within the shortest period of time.
Right now, infrastructural development of all kinds, including building of bridges where there is no river is going on in Abuja. Besides, oil and gas wealth in the Niger Delta has made Nigeria a leading giant in Africa and a strong voice in the world affairs. Many Nigerians have emerged multibillionaires through acquisition of oil blocks and in engagement in oil and gas business.
Today, if oil dries up and in the events of disintegration of Nigeria as Boko Haram is threatening, Eastern region or Niger Delta region will be the greatest loser. Western region will go with Lagos, Northern region will go with Abuja, Eastern region or Niger Delta region where oil and gas wealth is extracted will go with the hazards and the ruins of years of oil and gas operations and explorations, such as environmental degradation and bastardisation of our natural resources and air.
As you are already aware, the rivers, lakes, creeks, streams, swamps, forests, farmlands and backyards have been degraded and polluted as a result of constant oil spillages and leakages. Also, acid rains occasioned by the regular gas flaring have corroded our buildings and polluted our air. Owning to it, our people suffer from different kinds of diseases, such as lungs, skin disease, asthma, hypertension among others.
Before the discovery of oil, our people were in better health condition, our lands were fertile and all manner of crops thrived without fertilizers. It was similar story with our seas, rivers, lakes, streams etc. They were full of fishes and other sea foods.’ But today all that are now history as our fishermen and farmers return home from fishing and farming with empty hands.
Recall also, the massacre of the Ogonis, the Umuechem in Etche, the sacking of Odi community and the destruction of Gbaramatu kingdom all in Niger Delta region, simply because they asked to be part of the benefit of the oil and gas extracted from their soil. It then means that oil and gas substance which God deposited beneath our ground which was supposed to be a blessing and source of joy to the people of the region, turned out to be curse and source of sorrow to the people but a blessing and source of joy to Nigerians that suffer no hazards of oil and gas operation.
By the way, how many Niger Delta indigenes have oil blocs and are into oil and gas business? How many are working in oil and gas companies? While many other Nigerians work in oil and gas companies, live a happy and decent life, train their children in good schools, the people wallowed in abject poverty. Take employment statistics of the oil and gas companies, especially Shell and NLNG etc one will discover that Niger Delta indigenes are nowhere.
Today God has seen the afflictions, pains, sorrow, tears and blood and has deliberately placed Nigeria, its affairs, its wealth and leadership under Niger Delta through our son, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to see how to utilise this great opportunity to better the lots of Niger Delta people, especially at this time of local content regime. Nigerians and indeed the rest of the world are watching also.
It now becomes imperative for the Governors of the Niger Delta States to rise up and seize this God-given opportunity of Dr. Jonathan’s Presidency to redress the years of imbalance, denials and deprivations by assisting and involving Niger Delta people in business, training and recruitment in oil and gas sector
First, the government should push for the release of the reports of Barr. Ledum Mitee led Technical Committee On Niger Delta. Nigerians need to know the recommendations of the committee. Secondly, the government should put pressure on the president and the minister of petroleum to order the relocation of the corporate headquarters of the oil and gas companies to Niger Delta, its operational base.
There was plan to relocate those headquarters in the past before it was put on hold due to crisis in the Niger Delta. Now that peace and normalcy had returned to the region, it behoves on the officials of these companies to fulfill their promise.
The governors of Niger Delta should promote and encourage joint investments in oil and gas business by establishing Niger Delta Refinery and Niger Delta oil and gas company. They should build the world first class and state of the Arts University of oil and gas to be known as University of Petrogas to be specific in oil and gas related courses sited in Oloibiri where oil was first discovered as an appreciation or in Ogoni as an appreciation to the sacrifice of the people. It should be joint venture with Federal Government through ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the oil and gas companies with a great edifice to be called OIL HOUSE, as an oil and gas memorial, just as the Western region have cocoa house in Ibadan.
Apart from oil and gas wealth of the region, Niger Delta is also the maritime base of Nigeria. But it is regrettable that the political leaders had failed to utilise these great commercial blessings of the region for the benefit of the people. Had they participated in the taping of these enormous resources, God endowed in our region ever since, they wouldn’t have been the most weeping zone over the payment of eighteen thousand naira minimum wage to its toiling workers. In fact, Niger Delta workers would have been earning different and better salary than the workers from other zones. Or at most would have been the first zone to implement the new salary structure.
However, this suggestion is applicable to South-South Governors which of course are also Governors of the Niger Delta States. Although, the BRACED Commission consisting of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross, Edo and Delta States, headed by our respected son, Ambassador Joe Keshi has been set up, but little is known about what its set goals are. Nevertheless, the commission, the Governors and the political leaders of the zone should brace up with the challenges of poverty and unemployment in the commercial rich-zone to eliminate these ills.
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) an interventionist agency was created by the federal government for important and special projects for the region, but it ended up in building water tanks and struggling for roads maintenance in the cities with state and municipal government has become interventionist agency for friends and relations. It is the same way the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Commission (OMPADEC) failed to achieve anything for the region. Nobody cared and talked.
The past Governors of the region, from 1999 to 2007 were known for their struggle for resource control which brought about the militancy in the region and snow balled or catapulted our Son, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to Presidency. It was a great achievement. As for the present Governors, we are yet to know what their agitation is for the region. I think if it could be for the relocation of oil and gas corporate headquarter to Niger Delta, the better.
The Niger Delta governors should sit up, particularly this time that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is on ‘the seat. Because if they fail collectively to achieve any tangible thing for the region and there is a new brand of youth restiveness or insurgence in the region as a result of poverty and joblessness, it will not be directed against Nigeria as a nation again, but against the present leaders of the region for their inability to seize President Jonathan’s presidency for the betterment of our people and the region. This is the greatest opportunity the people of the Niger Delta cannot afford to miss.
Ogbuehi, wrote in from Port Harcourt.
Prince Ike Ogbuehi
The Senate yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to remove the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Magaji, over what lawmakers described as a persistent refusal to appear before its Committee on Finance.
The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a session where members of the President’s economic team were present for engagement with the committee.
Tension rose at the commencement of the meeting when agency heads were introduced and senators observed the absence of the CAC Registrar-General, who had been invited to account for the commission’s activities, particularly on revenue matters.
Moving the motion, Kalu expressed anger over what he termed repeated disregard for legislative oversight, accusing the CAC boss of consistently avoiding invitations to appear before the committee.
He said, “Since I came to the Senate, this CAC man has always given excuses that he is in the Villa or going to London. He is not above the law. This man is not coming to the Senate. Look at the ministers of finance and budget. They are both here. We summoned them and they came.
“But this man thinks he’s bigger than the Senate. We’re not going to take that rubbish again. He had refused on so many occasions to honour our invitation to appear before this committee. We have issues with the reconciliation of the revenue of CAC.
“I move a motion that the man should be reported to Mr President and ask for immediate removal because we cannot continue with him. Is that what we’re doing here? He should come and give us an account of what he had done.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, corroborated the concerns, pointing to unresolved discrepancies in the reconciliation of the commission’s revenues.
He noted that despite several invitations, the registrar-general had failed to show up to address the issues raised by senators.
“The registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission has refused on so many occasions to honour the calls, invitations or summons of this most important committee.
“There are only about three committees that are in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Committee of Finance is one of those committees. Sections 88, and 89 have given us these powers.
“And as registrar-general, we have issues with the reconciliation of their revenue. Anytime he is invited, he will give us one reason or another, and he will send junior officers to come and talk to the Senate. That cannot be accepted,” he said.
In a further show of frustration, Senator Adams Oshiomhole proposed that the Senate escalate the matter by withholding approval of the CAC’s 2026 budget pending the registrar-general’s personal appearance before the committee.
Oshiomhole also suggested that the commission be restrained from spending its internally generated revenue without prior approval of the national assembly.
“This senate should decline to appropriate anything in the 2026 budget until we are satisfied that he has accounted for previous money and spending properly.
“And should he spend money that is not appropriated, he should be heading to Kuje prison,” Oshiomhole said.
The motion urging the President to remove the CAC Registrar-General was subsequently put to a voice vote and adopted.
The development underscores renewed assertiveness by the Senate in exercising its constitutional oversight functions, particularly over revenue-generating agencies.
The Corporate Affairs Commission, which regulates companies and business registrations in Nigeria, is a key contributor to non-oil revenue, making accountability and transparency central to its operations.
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to the leadership of the 10th Senate to amend the constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of State Police to tackle insecurity nationwide.
President Tinubu made the appeal during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.
The president said that the creation of State Police has become urgent to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, strengthen grassroots policing, and enhance states’ capacity to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.
He noted that a decentralised policing structure would complement existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.
“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make a right response to this cause. What I will ask for tonight is for you (Senators) to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he said.
The president commended the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Senate, saying that unity is needed to defeat terrorism and banditry in the country.
“It is a good thing that we are working in harmony, we are looking forward to a country that evolves, a country that takes care of its citizens and protects all.
Tinubu thanked the Senate for its unflinching support towards achieving various economic reforms of his administration, especially the fuel subsidy removal and tax reform policy.
“I have a lot of credit for bold reforms. Without your collaboration and inspiration, those reforms would not be possible. We are reformists together. What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We don’t want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange.
You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you could see what Nigeria is today. You should be proud, and I am glad you are. What we are enjoying is a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us. We need to work hard, and this attendance means a lot to me,” the president said.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the president for hosting the leadership of the Senate to the Interfaith breaking of fast.
He commended President Tinubu for providing the visionary leadership the nation needs at this critical time, stating that the administration’s bold reforms have now brought more revenue to governors at the sub-national level for the development of critical infrastructure.
The Senate President prayed for the administration, and for the nation’s peace and prosperity.
Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.
Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.
Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.
“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.
“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.
Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.
According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.
He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.
“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.
According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.
The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.
INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.
According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.
A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.
In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.
In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.
In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.
In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.
In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.
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