Politics
Much Ado About Rivers 2014 Budget
Tuesday, January 7,
2014 will no doubt go down in the annals of the history of legislation on Rivers State, nay Nigeria, especially against the background of events that preceded the passage of the state’s 2014 Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Expectedly, the presentation and subsequent passage of the 2014 Appropriation Bill by the House had elicited mixed reactions from individuals, lawyers and lawmakers.
One of them is the Chief Whip of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Ikwuiyi Ibani, who criticised the manner in which the budget was quickly passed into law.
“I couldn’t have attended any sitting outside the Chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly. What my colleagues did was unconstitutional in the first instance because it is a known fact that the Rivers State House of Assembly sits at Moscow Road, we have our official office which is the Assembly complex, so any business of the House conducted outside the premises of the Assembly is null and void”, Hon Ibani said.
Also, the member representing Obio/Akpor constituency 1, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, said it was illegal for the Assembly to sit outside the complex. According to him, “The standing order of the Rivers State House of Assembly is very clear, you cannot, and it is not possible for a Governor to present a budget and have it passed on the same day.
“The standing order is very clear, go to order 50, it is very clear, you cannot, in fact, the debate on the presentation of the budget cannot take place on the same day”, Hon Amaewhule stated.
The state Chapter of the PDP, on its part, described the action to present the 2014 budget outside the Hallowed Chambers of the Assembly as “illegal, criminal and of no effect”.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt shortly after Governor Amaechi presented the budget before the House, the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah also described the presentation as “an illegality that will not stand”.
In an obvious response to the above, the State interim APC Chairman, Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, described the Felix Obuah-1ed PDP in the state as a “bunch of ignoramuses who expose their total ignorance of law making shamelessly”.
According to him, the stand of Rivers State PDP on the budget presentation only further “exposes their hatred for the development of Rivers State, knowing very well that without budget, the government can’t finance most of its projects or pay salaries.
“What PDP does not understand is that first, it is the Speaker that designates where the House sits as far as the Mace, which is the symbol of authority is present. The Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree, as the Head of Legislature in Rivers State designated the venue of sitting in line with his powers.
“In other words, based on the fact that the Rivers State House of Assembly is under siege, coupled with the fact that it is still under renovation, the House did the proper thing. Besides, the House has powers under the rules, and with necessary quorum and number, to designate any place as its chambers as in this case”, Ikanya explained.
Earlier, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ote1emaba Dan-Amachree, had said the Assembly took the decision to carry out its legislative functions in a “makeshift chamber” in the Government House.
These claims and counter claims as to the legality of the venue of the plenary session, the presentation of the budget, and its passage as law raises a lot of questions which seem to have been inadvertently down p1ayed in the whole saga. Pitiably, it is done with such impunity that makes the interest of the common man seem unimportant. Ironically, they all claim to seek to protect the same interest.
The key questions that easily come to mind are: “ Does the Assembly have the right to pick another venue different from the Hallowed Chambers for its plenary?” “Is there any law that clearly states the number of days the budget must take to pass through the various stages before becoming a law?” “Did members of the Assembly form a quorum, including key officers, during the plenary?” “Was the Mace, which is the symbol of authority present during the session?”
Specifically, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did not state that plenary must always hold in the Hallowed Chambers. Section 121(i) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which is to the effect that the Governor shall cause to be laid before the Assembly, “at any time before the commencement of any fiscal year”, the estimates of revenue and expenditure, clearly did not state venue for sitting. This is unlike Judges who must sit in the court.
In essence, if there is a lacuna in the constitution, should the Assembly be blamed for it when it acts, based on the exigencies of the moment, with the sole purpose of moving the State forward rather than letting it remain stagnant?
Naturally, every well-meaning individual should know at this point that the events leading to the passage of the 2014 budget should be an eye-opener to those that make our laws at all levels.
They should know by now that what is required of them is for them to make laws that can stand the test of time, for the sole benefit of the populace rather than a few privileged persons fortunate to be in power at any given point in time. Anything different will only create more lacunas that can create problems, and no one can tell who will be the recipient of whatever action that will emanate from it.
As the Governor explained while presenting the budget to the 23 lawmakers present, he proposed to spend N485.5bn this fiscal year, explaining that the budget was 0.98 per cent lower than the N490.32bn he presented in 2013.
He said the focus of the budget was the completion of ongoing projects in the health, education, roads, transport, power, water, agriculture and other critical sectors. According to him, capital to recurrent ratio is 76.24 for the 2014 as against 70.30 achieved as of September 2013.
The Governor also noted that “In the light of the 2014 budget, we will not accommodate new projects. This is in the light of current realities and out of a resolve to guarantee efficient service delivery.
“The economic realities arising from already dwindling resources since mid 2013 suggest a need for prudence and good sense this year. Government will continue to demonstrate good sense of management by making more money available to complete projects this year”.
If the whole hullabaloo over the passage of the 2014 budget is for the interest of the common man in the state, how would it be to his interest if the numerous road projects embarked upon by the present administration, for instance, are not completed and finally abandoned by subsequent government, knowing what usually happens to inherited projects? The same thing goes for all other uncompleted projects, which the 2014 budget seeks to complete.
It is noteworthy that for the first time in the history of the state a government has decided to complete projects before the expiration of its tenure. Considering the fact that this administration has less than eighteen months left, should it not be fair for everything to be done to ensure the completion of the projects? If for nothing else, for the sake of the populace we claim to protect?
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.
Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.
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