Politics
Opobo, Nkoro Support Amaechi
Last week in Government House began with a solidarity visit to Opobo and Nkoro people to Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Led by member of House of Representatives representing Andoni/Opobo and Nkoro Federal Constituency, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, the crowd was even acknowledged by Governor Amaechi as the highest since several groups across the state commenced solidarity visits.
In address of the Opobo/Nkoro people was read by former Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Prof Winston Bellgam, who described Amaechi as one of their sons.
The his words: “Today we have come to express our undying and unequalled love and support for you, same way proud parents would do for a loving son. To us, the good people of Opobo and Nkoro, we make bold to say that you are more than a cherished son to us”.
Soon after Prof. Bellgam spoke, other prominent sons and daughters of both kingdoms took turns to speak. They include former Deputy Governor, Sir G.T.G. Toby, Mr. Clapton Ogolo, Pastor S. Datom and Madam Felicia Pepple.
The Governor also received the chairman of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Governing Board Chief Gordon Bozimo. Rt. Hon. Amaechi used the visit to call for the redeployment of the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
Amaechi who decried the police commissioner’s laxity in ensuring adequate security in the state insisted that without a change in the headship of the police, more security problems will continue.
Bozimo had in his speech expressed concerns over the recent kidnap of three youth corp members and other atrocities meted on corp members posted to the state.
Bozimo also said that the purpose of the visit to Rivers State was in confirmation of Governor Amaechis commitment to promoting the NYSC programme and also have a firsthand knowledge of how the orientation camp looks like.
On the same Tuesday, the governor’s convoy was involved in an accident when the security vehicle belonging to the Chief of Staff was hit by an intruding vehicle along Rukpokwu Airport Road. There was no loss of lives.
Also, secretary to the state government inaugurated the state and area council executives of the Nigerian Legion in 22 local government areas, excluding Oyigbo. The new legion executives were inaugurated by the permanent secretary Special Service Bureau of the SSG’s Office, Mr. Sovens Okara .
On Wednesday, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Wogu Boms addressed the press over the ban by the police on protests in the state.
Barrister Boms explained that based on the Public Order Act, the police did not have the constitutional power to ban protests. Rather he argued that section I of the Act authorizes and empowers the governor to do so while describing the police order as null and void.
“I therefore strongly remind the police commissioner that the police as a unit, was established to serve the people in sincerity within the law”, Boms reiterated.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari equally addressed newsmen over comments on Governor Amaechi made by the Felix Obuah-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during a visit to President Jonathan.
Mrs. Semenitari maintained that Governor Amaechi still remained a member of the PDP and would not be forced out of the party.
The Senate yesterday received the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Bola Tinubu, marking the formal launch of the 2026 federal budget cycle.
In a letter addressed to the upper chamber, Tinubu said the submission complies with statutory requirements and sets out the fiscal parameters that will guide the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He explained that the MTEF/FSP outlines the macroeconomic assumptions, revenue projections, and spending priorities that will shape Nigeria’s fiscal direction over the next three years.
The letter was read during plenary by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the document.
“It is with pleasure that I forward the 2026 to 2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for the kind consideration and approval of the Senate.
“The 2026 to 2028 MTEF and FSP were approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of December 3, 2025, and the 2026 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions therein,” the President stated.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved the fiscal projections, pegging the oil benchmark price at $64.85 per barrel and adopting a budget exchange rate of ?1,512/$1 for 2026—figures expected to significantly shape revenue forecasts and expenditure planning.
After reading the President’s letter, Jibrin referred the document to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), with a directive to submit its report by Wednesday, December 17.
The Senate adjourned shortly after to allow committees to commence scrutiny of the fiscal framework and continue the ongoing screening of ambassadorial nominees.
Tinubu’s communication to the Senate came less than 24 hours after he transmitted the same MTEF/FSP documents to the leadership of the House of Representatives.
The letter was read on the House floor by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who also urged timely legislative action as required by law.
The MTEF and FSP are statutory instruments mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and serve as the blueprint for Nigeria’s annual budgets.
They outline the government’s fiscal stance, macroeconomic assumptions, revenue frameworks, projected deficits, and sectoral priorities over a three-year period.
The Tide reports that approval by the National Assembly is a prerequisite for the executive to present the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
