Politics

Nigeria @66: June 12 Must Be Remembered Beyond Public Holiday — Musawa

Published

1 minute ago

October 4, 2026

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musa Musawa, has called for a deeper national understanding of the June 12, 1993 democratic struggle, urging Nigerians to remember the sacrifices behind the country’s democratic journey rather than reduce June 12 to a public holiday.

Mrs Musawa made the call at the national premiere of MKO, a documentary on the life, political struggle and legacy of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Minister said the documentary was particularly important for younger Nigerians, many of whom were not alive when the June 12 election was held and subsequently annulled by the military government.

Thirty-three years after the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Mrs Musawa said the events surrounding the election and the pro-democracy struggle that followed must remain part of Nigeria’s collective memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday,” she said, stressing that Nigeria’s democracy was the product of a struggle in which individuals paid significant personal costs.

According to her, the documentary honours the men and women who sacrificed their lives for the June 12 mandate and the democratic system Nigerians exercise today.

She said the creative industry had an important role in preserving the country’s political history by bringing major national events to younger generations through film, documentaries and other forms of storytelling.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history,” Mrs Musawa said, adding that the country had a story that deserved to be told and preserved.

The Minister’s remarks came as the October 1 national premiere brought the June 12 experience back into public focus, with the documentary scheduled for nationwide cinema release on October 2, 2026.

Directed by Nigerian-American filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, MKO chronicles late Chief Abiola’s political journey and the events surrounding the June 12, 1993 presidential election, its annulment, the ensuing pro-democracy struggle and Chief Abiola’s subsequent detention and death in 1998.

The film had its international premiere at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in the United Kingdom in June 2026, before its Nigerian premiere on Independence Day.

Its Nigerian release is aimed at taking the historical account beyond the premiere audience and into cinemas across the country, particularly reaching younger Nigerians who did not experience the events of the early 1990s firsthand.

The documentary draws on archival materials and accounts from personalities associated with the period, including former military leaders, political figures, diplomats, members of late Chief Abiola’s family and other witnesses to the June 12 struggle.

President Bola Tinubu, the chief host, attended the premiere with First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Also present were Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other dignitaries.

Politics

Alleged Attack On PDP In Calabar Barbaric — COPP

Published

2 minutes ago

October 4, 2026

The Tide

The Coalition of Opposition Political Parties (COPP), Cross River State Chapter, has condemned the alleged attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis, and his campaign train at the palace of the paramount ruler of Calabar South on Friday.

The Publicity Secretary of the COPP in the state, Pastor Dominion Esang, made the condemnation in a statement made available to The Tide source in Calabar, the state capital, on Saturday.

Pastor Esang described the alleged attack, which occurred during the PDP governorship consultation in the area, as “barbaric, inhuman, shameful, disgraceful and highly regrettable act.”

“It is an act of political terrorism, an act of desperation, and an act that has no place in a civilised democracy. This is highly condemnable,” he said, adding that, COPP received with total shock, anger and dismay, the news of alleged attack on the consultation train.

Citing reports, the Publicity Secretary further alleged that “sponsored thugs and hoodlums waylaid the PDP campaign train, beating and injuring many innocent supporters, party faithful and journalists, and destroying campaign vehicles, equipment and materials worth millions of naira.”

He also stated that the attack on the PDP “was not just an attack on PDP, it is an attack on democracy, an attack on our Constitution, and an attack on all Cross Riverians.”

The coalition therefore called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, “to take personal interest and immediate note of this unprovoked attack meted on the governorship candidate of the PDP and his consultation train”, saying, “We demand a full scale investigation.”

Continuing, he said, “We call on the Government of Cross River State ably led by His Excellency, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, and all security agencies in the state – the Police, DSS, NSCDC and the Army, to ensure that all thugs and cultists who disrupted the lawful consultation of the PDP governorship candidate are brought to book and prosecuted according to the law.

“Let all candidates across the 18 local government areas campaigning for election or re-election do so within the ambit of the law. Let ideas contest, not thugs.”

He urged all political parties, all candidates and all Cross Riverians to come out boldly and campaign to the electorate without fear, stressing that, “no one should be intimidated.”

“ We are all from Cross River State. In the same vein, no political party is more important than the other. All parties are equal before the law.

“We stand in solidarity with the PDP family, its governorship candidate and all those injured. An injury to one is an injury to all,” the COPP’s Publicity Secretary stated.

Politics

2027: GROUP PLANS DOOR-TO-DOOR CAMPAIGN FOR RIVERS ADC CANDIDATES

Published

4 days ago

October 1, 2026

The Tide

Ahead of the 2027 elections,a support group of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), “ADC For Good Governance”, is planning a door to door campaign and a ten thousand man march for the governorship candidate the of the party in Rivers State, Dr Gabriel Pidomson, and Hon. Chris Ochije, the candidate for Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Constituency 2.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr Ugwuebu Godstime, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt.

He said the proposed event is to sensitize the people of Rivers State and ONELGA Constituency 2 in particular on the need to vote for the duo during the forthcoming elections.

Mr Godstime described the two candidates as God sent, adding that voting them into the respective offices would bring good governance to Rivers people, adding that his support for them was based on their track records.

“I’m supporting Hon. Chris Okor Ochije for ONELGA Constituency 2. God has sent him at this time to take over ONELGA Constituency 2.

“We need a leader that can be accessible that the people can rally round”, he said.

According to him, Hon. Ochije, if elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, would bring the Constituency closer to the government, adding that some of the issues affecting the area such as environmental degradation and youth restlessness would be addressed.

“We want Hon. Chris Okor Ochije who we know that will give us a good leadership, who we know that can represent us very well in the Rivers State House of Assembly”, he stressed.

He said Hon. Ochije, who was a former Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area would bring his wealth of experience to bear in attracting development to ONELGA Constituency 2

“As a former local government chairman, he is well-experienced, he knows the job, and that is the more reason we should vote for him”, he said.

He hinted that Hon. Ochije has outlined programmes such as the establishment of Constituency 2 Development Commission, where a lot of youths would be given employment while various communities and wards would experience infrastructural development.

“Our constituency project will go straight to the people, and I know that he is ready to work with Pidomson.

“He is our son, and we can vouch for him that he is ready to work with Pldomson; he is going to give his best to support the government of Pidomson”, he said.

Mr Godstime said plans have been concluded for a door to door campaign with a view to mobilizing people to vote for the two candidates of the party.

“We are beginning our door-to-door campaign by Monday next week. We are going to start our door-to-door campaign. It is a form of sensitisation programme to sensitise our people, most especially the Constituency 2 and various wards that make up the Constituency 2. Alongside the party chairman, the party secretary and all the party leaders, and including all other structures of ADC, to ensure that ADC is not just a political party, but it’s going to be a household party.

“Yes, we are planning for a ten thousand man march for Hon. Chris Okor OChije and His Excellency Pidomson to ensure that our people get involved and begin to do what is needed in voting them in, because we know they are credible candidates for us to vote”, he added.

John Bibor/ Joy Woko

Politics

BAYELSA CREATION: EX-LAWMAKER RECALLS ARRESTS, TORTURE OF AGITATORS IN RIVERS

Published

4 days ago

October 1, 2026

The Tide

Former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, who represented Ogbia Constituency 111 in the second Assembly of the state, Hon. Augustus Elliott Osomu, has said that he and others suffered multiple arrests and torture during the President Ibrahim Babangida’s military junta while struggling for the creation of new states out of the old Rivers State.

Hon. Osomu, who was the regent of Imiringi community in Ogbia Local Government Area, stated this while fielding questions from journalists as Bayelsa State and Nigeria wrap up plans for the country’s 66th Independence Day anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the state’s creation celebrations.

The ex-legislator alleged that between 1987 and 1993 when the former military ruler was in the saddle, the old Rivers State suffered marginalization which necessitated the clamour for equity and fairness in the administrative agenda of the then federal government.

The Tide reports that General Babangida created nine new states on August 27, 1991, which brought Nigeria’s total number of states to 30.

The new states created include, Abia, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Osun, Taraba and Yobe.

The Tide also notes that upon creation of these states, some names of their parent states from which they were carved out were changed.

Earlier in 1987, Gen. Babangida had created two states, Akwa Ibom and Katsina.

Hon Osomu said that to protest the failure of the regime to created a new state from the old River State in 1991, youths and opinion leaders from the State took to the streets of Port Harcourt to register their grievances, adding that that led to the arrest of several indigenes of the State at different times and in different parts of the city.

“In 1991, when General Ibrahim Babangida announced the creation of nine new States, thinking that at least one would be created out of Rivers State but we didn’t get any, and so as the CEO of the first computer operating firm in Port Harcourt, Ellitons Computers Nig. Ltd, I organized a protest.

“But as I was moving forward in search of like minds who would join the protest, on my way, I met one young man carrying a placard also protesting alone. I asked him his name and he said Bolous Indiamaowei. I then asked if he could lock the Rivers State Secretariat and he answered yes. So I gave him some money and he perfectly executed the task.

“The reason for locking the secretariat was because we want government’s attention and also want the civil servants to be part of the protest and we succeeded in getting them involved after locking up the Secretariat Complex”, he said.

The septuagenarian emphasized that in the Nigerian federation, state creation was viewed in different perspectives, including equal and equitable spread of development and empowerment of the citizens and also served as an avenue for checkmating marginalization, hence the federal and state authorities saw it as direct affront on them.

“We also protested to the Government House gate in Port Harcourt so that the Military Administrator, then Colonel Godwin Abbey, could address us. God willing, he drove down with his team of entourage to listen to us and he addressed us.

“After addressing us, we submitted a letter to him and copied the office of the then Head of State, Gen. Babangida. Our travails in the hand of security agencies started after that day.

“The Police were everywhere looking for us. They finally arrested me and when they took me to the Central Police Station in Port Harcourt, I saw some other people who were part of the protest already in cell. But there were others who weren’t part of the protest led by me, but who protested differently, who were also arrested. I saw, Dr Abiye Sekibo, Bolous Indiamaowei, Barr. Ledum Mitee and others in the cell too.

“Though Babangida still didn’t create any state out of Rivers State, he, at least, created about 12 new LGAs in the state, including Ogbia LGA which was created out from the old Brass LGA.

“We thank God that finally, in 1996 under the Gen. Sani Abacha regime, Bayelsa State was carved out of the old Rivers State. We’re grateful to God for this state, Bayelsa.

“It’s in my firm that most of memoirs demanding for the creation of additional states out of Rivers State, including Bayelsa State were typed”, he added.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa