President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the political palaver involving Governor Simi Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
The crisis rocking the oil-rich state snowballed on Sunday night with the setting ablaze of the State House of Assembly complex, preparatory to the removal of the governor.
The impeachment and removal plot against the Governor was foiled by the governor himself, who went ahead to have his loyalists remove the speaker who was until his removal working for Wike.
Governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed, who briefed State House Correspondents after the maiden Police Council meeting under the Tinubu administration, where Kayode Egbetokun was confirmed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), disclosed that the President engaged in discussions with both Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), minister, Nyesome Wike, who is alleged to be behind to plot, to restore peace in the state.
Both men attended the police council meeting, which consists of 36 governors and the Minister of the FCT.
Mohammed said: “We had a closed session. You will recall, members of the press, that there was a very serious national issue that was discussed that had security implication. That is the problem emerging in Rivers. Mr President, in his usual leadership position, intervened, and it would appear there will be peace in that respect.”
Fubara and Wike (who incidentally wore white kaftan) were seen outside the Council Chambers of the State House, shaking hands.
Some of the governors, including Wike and the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, were sighted as they engaged in an aside discussion while others engaged in exchanging of banters.
In the ensuing development, Wike later proceeded to shake hands and briefly exchange pleasantries with Fubara after he had disengaged from the NSA.
However, the security personnel present throughout the men’s small talk prevented media from taking any still or moving images of the event.
The Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL), a pressure group, has warned against the plot to impeach Rivers Gov. Siminalaye Fubara, describing the move as “an attack on democracy”.
Its view is contained in a statement jointly signed by Mr Goodluck Ibem, President-General, Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, Mr Iniobong Sampson, Leader, South-South Youth Coalition, and Mr Junaid Abubakar of Arewa Youth Vanguard For Good Governance.
The statement was made available to the on Monday in Awka as a reaction to the setting ablaze of the Rivers House of Assembly on Sunday.
The group alleged that Fubara was equally attacked, using life bullets, teargas and other weapons.
“We condemn, in strong terms, the attack on Gov. Fubara and the plot to impeach him using the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“It is clear that some people want him out of power because he has refused to share the commonwealth of the good people of Rivers State to a few.
“He has not committed any impeachable offence and we, the people, say a capital ‘NO’ to their evil plot.
“Clearly, some anti-democratic forces are at work. We warn them to steer clear of Rivers.
“It is unfortunate that some security agents and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly allowed themselves to be used by these individuals who do no mean well for the state,” it fumed.
The statement said that Fubara was elected by the people of Rivers and should be allowed to do the job freely without any form of interference from any quarters.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest and prosecute those who allegedly attacked Fubara using dangerous weapons.
It also urged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to resist being used by anyone to cause disaffection in the state.
“We call on Gov Fubara to stand firm and defend the mandate given to him by the good people of the state.
“The good people of Rivers should stand solidly behind their Governor who means well and is fully prepared to move the state to another level of growth and development.
“On our part, we will mobilise two million Nigerian youths to support Gov. Fubara’s quest for effective service delivery.
“The battle to defend Gov Fubara is a battle to defend our democracy,” the statement said.
Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, on Monday, challenged the state House of Assembly to make public the offences that warrant impeachment proceedings against him.
Fubara issued the challenge in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr Boniface Onyedi, and made available to newsmen on Monday.
The statement was his first official reaction to the announcement of the commencement of impeachment proceedings against him by the House.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Maol Dumle, had during the house plenary session on Monday moved a motion to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor.
Maol hinged his motion on the governor’s alleged ‘’misconduct, unbecoming of a governor”.
Meanwhile, Fubara has condemned the bombing of a section of the House of Assembly complex by suspected hoodlums, who allegedly attacked the building with Improvised Explosive Device.
In a statement, he described as unfortunate the attempt by “some disgruntled persons to forcefully take over control of the assembly”.
“The truth is that everybody who knows me know that I am a peaceful person.
‘’I can never ever, even if I am aware that there is a plot to impeach me for whatever reason, be part of such destruction.
“I am worried that a facility like this that we used taxpayers money to build will be destroyed for selfish reason just to please somebody,” he said.
Fubara described as null and void any illegal legislative actions that had been taken by some members, who held a purported plenary session.
According to him, whoever masterminded the attack at the assembly was trying to divert attention.
The governor said that he would resist any attempt without justification to impeach him.
“Let them tell Rivers people my offence.
“Come out and tell the people of Rivers that offence that Fubara committed that warrants impeachment.
“My happiness this morning is that the people of Rivers, represented by everyone of you here, are with us.
“Let me assure you people that we will continue to defend you.
“We will protect you and you will enjoy the dividend of democracy,” he stated.
Fubara alleged that some security operatives had been compromised.
He alleged that his vehicle was directly shot on his way to the assembly complex to access the extent of damage caused by the early morning bombing.
He commended the youths for standing up to protect the interest of the state.
Recall that the house also moved four additional motions to remove the Majority Leader of the House, Edison Ehie, for alleged inability to effectively discharge his responsibilities.
The other three motions were for the suspension of Mr Victor Okoh (Bonny constituency), Mr Goodboy Sokari (Ahoada West constituency) and Mr Adulphus Timothy (Opobo/Nkoro constituency).
No fewer than 24 of the 32 lawmakers voted in favour of the motions.
G ov. Siminalayi Fubara has reaffirmed his commitment to serve Rivers State in reaction to Monday’s affirmation of his election of March 18 by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that sat in Abuja.
Fubara’s media aide, Mr Boniface Onyedi, stated in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that the governor restated the commitment at a thanksgiving service held at Government House Chapel of Everlasting Grace on Monday.
He said the place of God would not be compromised in his administration for His unceasing direction and guidance.
Fubara thanked his predecessor, the FCT minister, Chief Nyesom Wike for his immense support of his governorship ambition and through the stages of legal contest.
He also thanked Rivers people who rallied behind him to allow the will of God to prevail.
The governor solicited more support and enjoined Rivers people to be patient with his administration as it delivers good governance that would make their lives better.
In his exhortation, Rev. Barasin Ogan, the chaplain, commended Fubara for recognising the hand of God in his victory.
The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Patrick Tonye-Cole, against the election of Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday.
The three-man tribunal dismissed Tonye-Cole’s suit on the ground that the national leadership of the APC withdrew from the suit against Fubara.
It also dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mrs Beatrice Itubo against Fubara’s election.
It equally dismissed the petition filed against Fubara’s election by the governorship candidate of Accord Party (AP), Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.
The petition filed against Fubara’s election by the candidate of the Alliance Peoples Movement (APM), Mr Innocent Ekwu, was also dismissed for lacking in merit.
The tribunal ordered Ekwu to pay a fine of N500,000 on his failed petition.
The three-man tribunal led by Justice Cletus Emifonye ruled that the petitioners were not able to prove their claims and that their petitions lacked merit.
A discourse was held in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, last week, to enrich perspectives on the growing notion of a shrinking civic space and how citizens have duties and responsibilities to make the space inclusive and liveable.
The parley was at the instance of Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDEBUMOG), a civil society body that has invested more than two decades in tracking resources deployed in the oil-bearing region and how transparently they are applied. Like other civil society operators, NDEBUMOG is bothered that more citizens are falling into poverty as they are schemed out of the democratic process and its dividends.
The general observations are that the means of production that ought to support individual and communal enterprise have been rendered dormant. For example, manufacturers are complaining that their inventory of raw materials is running low. The Apex manufacturers’ group, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has continued to lament insufficiency of dollars in the forex market. They do not have enough of it to import materials for production and are threatening to reduce workforce or close shop. Urban poverty is on the increase.
The people in rural communities who transact cottage businesses with the help of privatized electricity can no longer do so because the new owners of distribution companies do not factor them as priority customers. Energy cost has gone up for small scale business owners.
The consequence is that ordinary folks at grassroots have been schemed out of better life. They have little impact on the democratic process, not even when they are expected to participate in elections. The incident of poverty is such that the mental capacity to aggregate as an electorate has been stolen by the few who have appropriated the levers of political and economic authority. The State has been captured by a few and for a few.
Convener of the Uyo discourse, Dr. Georgehill Anthony, queried the appalling level of underdevelopment around the country, particularly among Niger Delta states, that have earned huge amounts as their share of the 13 per cent derivation principle.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that in 2021, oil producing states shared N450.60 billion. In 18 years as at 2017, they shared N7 trillion, in addition to their monthly statutory allocation from the Federation Account. Of this amount, the core Niger Delta states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom have pocketed a larger share. Yet, Niger Deltans do not enjoy privileges on account of this excess wealth.
The people of these states are just like other Nigerians. They struggle to survive, in addition to living with the burden of degraded homelands after years of oil exploration, exploitation and production. Some environments are ravaged beyond repairs. The remediation process that was promised is yet to arrive. More communities are ravaged by illegal refineries and unwholesome activities of crude oil thieves.
That’s not all. Some Niger Delta states are among the heavily indebted in the country. As at the end of Q3 of 2021, the Debt Management Office (DMO) revealed that Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Delta ranked high on the list of debtor states. And they are not ashamed of it. You cannot identify employment creating investments that could justify these amounts of revenues and the debts the governments accumulate every year.
The East-West Road that links the states is in a deplorable state. After the devastating flood of 2022, the highway was broken into pieces and another flooding season is here. The states are waiting for the Federal Government to fix the highway. Meanwhile, the budgets they sank into the 2023 elections could have remedied the highway before the onset of the 2023 rainy season. They are not bothered. They chartered aircrafts to fly around the world, to negotiate places for themselves in the ensuing political space. That is Nigeria’s version of democracy, where the bullish are rewarded and the meek remain poor.
The Niger Delta states used to have a development platform, whose agenda was to harness the resources of the region for enhanced collective investment and growth. The BRACED, an acronym derived from Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta was designed to initiate policies and drive South-south economic cooperation and regional integration. Director General of the
Commission at a time, Joe Keshi, diplomat and development expert had great dreams for the zone, among which was the need to build strong partnership, mutual respect and accountability among the states and with the Federal Government, together with development partners. The idea was to turn the states into employment creation centres for sustainable development.
Keshi had canvassed that a strong regional economy had the potential to grow the region and the country. He cautioned in 2020 that if the states do not work, the federation itself will not work. Hence the need to build strong economies at the local levels instead of depending totally on the Federal Government. He said: “If we want this country to work, we must ensure that states and the regions work.”
However, BRACED ran into bad weather when bad-natured and petulant characters muddied its brilliant prospects. In pursuit of vainglory and one-man accolade, one bullish former governor refused to cooperate with the rest to kick-start and empower BRACED.
The ideals remain sound and the prospects are still bright. It will make sense if the new governors, together with the older ones of Bayelsa and Edo reconvene the commission and put it on a solid ground to perform.
A contemporary measure of the failure of South-south governors is the high poverty index in the region. The sharing of palliatives to assuage impact of high prices of petroleum products by state governors has revealed that despite democracy, more people are excluded from the dividends.
Reports by participants at the Uyo parley is quite disturbing. Communities are pairing to share few bags of rice. Hundreds of communities have no idea of any form of palliatives. Apart from putting buses on the road and announcing discount fares in urban centres, far-flung communities that have no access roads cannot benefit.
Meanwhile, these states that are unable to distribute one bag of rice per household have proclaimed their agric potentials over and again in the past two decades.
Cross River state governor Bassey Otu
Back in September 2021, former Governor of Cross River, Ben Ayade, had boasted that the state’s ultra-modern rice mill will end poverty in the state. At the test-run of the touted 10-ton per hour mill located in Ogoja council area, Ayade said the mill was a first of its kind in Africa and it was an outstanding world-class vitaminized rice and would make millionaires out of young farmers in the state. He added: “I look forward to converting the entire people of the state into rice farmers. This is because the storage capacity alone is about 6,500 tons and on continuous production, we have a storage capacity of 240 tons per day at 24 hours operation.”
Last week, this columnist asked colleagues in that state to assist with update on how many tons of rice have rolled out of the Ogoja mill to cushion the fuel hike challenge. The rice is not available yet for mass distribution. More investment is needed.
Delta State was among the first to go into Songhai integrated farming model in this dispensation. Songhai farm in Amukpe, near Sapele, was established by former governor James Ibori in 2002 to provide gainful engagement in the wake of youth restiveness. Good vision.
Songhai was designed as a one-stop comprehensive farming community for crop growing, processing and allied businesses. If successfully and faithfully executed, the farm, modelled after a successful model in Benin Republic could have transformed Delta grassroots in two decades.
There aren’t enough details regarding the progress of the farm apart from news shared in May 2022 that Delta State Government planned to hand over the $40 million farm to an American incorporation, Adventium Global Delta Consortium Limited. An MoU was reportedly signed to transform the farm into an Agro-Industrial Processing, Tourism and Training Park. Last week, a colleague shared that the farm is now in the care of a certain professor and is into small scale growing of fish, poultry and snail.
Akwa Ibom State also made some noise about its agric potential during the last administration, with a lot of fanfare: an integrated cassava production programme of 2,000 hectares; 1,200 hectares of rice with over 20,000 farmers registered in 15 local government areas; a vegetables greenhouse and others. The government recently explained the limitations with sharing rice as the first tranche of N2 billion from the Federal Government cannot buy enough bags to go round.
Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara
As for Rivers, in the last eight years, former governor Nyesome Wike busied himself with building bridges and roads. We saw hundreds of road projects commissioned by Mr. Projects, but it’s hard to recall one agric project flagged off and commissioned for production during Wike’s tenure.
Edo State in the last seven years has flagged off different agric-related schemes, in palm oil, cassava and others. What citizens haven’t seen is the impact of agric investments on the state’s monthly IGR and overall percentage on the state’s GDP as well as employment generation capacity. The government will do well to put these out for the public to access.
At the Uyo meeting, participants were told to demand accountability from their governments. Sir Godwin Oriaku, resource person from the National Assembly Bureaucracy enlightened participants on how to engage their representatives to protect the civic space and make it more inclusive. The Constitution enables citizens to engage.
Perhaps if the BRACED Commission had taken off on a solid ground, the wasted investments, lack of coordination and transparency in South-south states’ budgets would have been mitigated. The governments would have been well guarded and citizens may have fared better. And there would be less work for NDEBUMOG and others in tracking the funds and looking for alliances to safeguard the civic space.
But that is not the case. The civic space is choking.
The Rivers Government will not tolerate any act of sabotage against the smooth execution of the re-awarded Andoni road construction project in Andoni Local Government Area of the state.Gov. Siminalayi Fubara made this known during a meeting with stakeholders from Andoni and leaders in Port Harcourt.
Fubara while addressing the Andoni leaders, led by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor decried lack of commitment on the part of the previous contractors (Raffoul Nigeria Ltd) handling the projects after the agreeable contractual terms had been paid by 90 per cent.
”About two years ago, the immediate past Governor of Rivers, Chief Nyesom Wike, held a meeting with Andoni leaders and the contractors to work out modalities of smooth implementation of the project.
“There was a contractual review and the money was paid by the government. But, it is so unfortunate that there wasn’t any progress on the project by the contractors. It pains us as a government, that a project paid for up to 90 per cent is re-awarded”, he said.
He alleged that the non-commitment of the Raffoul Nigeria Limited led to the revocation and re-award of the project to a new contractor, Monier Construction Company,( MCC).
The governor said that 30 per cent of the new contract sum had been paid to the new contractors, MCC to deliver the project within twelve months.
Fubara urged the people of Andoni to give the necessary support to the new contractors to complete the project within the next twelve months, noting that the project will expand economic development of the area.
In his response, the Traditional ruler of Andoni, Aroan Ikuru, who is also the Chairman Andoni Council of Traditional Rulers on behalf of the Andoni stakeholders, thanked the governor for his commitment towards the execution of the Andoni Road project.
Ikuru assured the state government of the support of traditional leaders to the contractors to deliver the project on specified time.
Rivers House of Assembly on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of four commissioners whose names were sent to it by Gov. Siminialayi Fubara for screening.
The four were members of the State Executive Council of immediate past Gov. Nyesom Wike.
They are Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinedum Mmon, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacheaus Adango, and Commissioners for Finance, Mr Isaac Kamalu and that of Works, Mr George Kyeli.
The Assembly itself is due for dissolution on June 3.
Leader of the House, Mr Martins Amaehwule (PDP-Obio/Akpor 1), said the approval was necessary to enable the quartet to continue the good works they were doing in the service of Rivers.
Amaehwule noted that members of the 9th Assembly were of the view that all members of the immediate past State Executive Council of former Gov. Wike be retained in the new administration.
He explained that this was because of their competence, hard work and passion to serve Rivers, adding that they all did well in the Wike administration.
Responding, the Education Commissioner-designate, Mr Mmon noted that his target for the ministry was to digitalise its data and information.
“This means that information about any school in the state; the location; number of pupils or students and their classes and ages among others, will be readily available.
“This is what is paramount to my heart for the ministry and if I am able to achieve that, then I will be fulfilled,’’ he said.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state, Similanayi Fubara has emerged winner of the Rivers State governorship election.
Announcing the result in Port Harcourt on Monday night, the Returning Officer, Prof Rim-Rukeh said Fubara secured 302,614 votes while the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Pastor Tonye Cole, came second with 95,274 votes.
According to Prof Rim-Rukeh, the PDP gubernatorial candidate satisfied the requirements of the law to be declared winner of the March 18 governorship poll. He also declared that the Labour Party candidate, Mrs Beatrice Itubo scored 22,224 to occupy fourth position, NNPP scored 335 votes.
Prof Rim-Rukeh said the number of registered voters was 3,537,190, total number of accredited voters was 496,852, total number of rejected votes was 10,670, while the total votes cast were 494,604.
Fubara is the anointed candidate of the incumbent Governor, Nyesom Wike.
