•Name for equitable wealth distribution
•Rivers curiosity comes first in 2027— PANDEF
By Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt
Thursday, September 18 will go down as a historic date within the political report of Rivers state. It’s a date filled with expectations and agenda-setting for the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu and the 32 Home of Meeting members, to constitutional governance.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on March 18, 2025 proclaimed an emergency rule within the state as the most suitable choice to diffuse the political disaster that engulfed the state resulting in a close to breakdown of regulation and order for nearly two years.
The preliminary six months of the state of emergency will come to an finish on September 18, particularly, subsequent Thursday. Rivers state is anticipated to be thrown right into a state of frenzy with Fubara’s supporters anticipated to roll out the drums to welcome the Governor again to the Brick Home in Port Harcourt.
Whereas the countdown for a full return of democratic authorities in Rivers state continues, a number of teams and organizations have known as on the Governor to make sure that the present peace within the state is entrenched and everyone is carried alongside in the midst of governance.
PANDEF’s Pleasure
The pan Niger Delta Elders Discussion board, PANDEF, has expressed deep pleasure that peace has finally returned to Rivers state. President of PANDEF, Prof Godknows Igali mentioned it was regrettable that the political disaster within the state led to the enthronement of “an un-elected” particular person to be appointed to rule the state for six months. “However we’re blissful that the Governor Fubara has been capable of preserve peace within the state by additionally calling on his teeming supporters to tow that path. The governor is an embodiment of tradition and custom in addition to the political soul of Rivers folks.
“We count on him to proceed with the infrastructural growth of the state with the identical vitality that he began when he newly got here into energy as an elected governor. We count on him to hold everyone alongside no matter occasion, spiritual or tribal affiliations. Peace is paramount for Rivers state”, he mentioned.
On how the emergency rule will have an effect on the result of the 2027 basic elections in Rivers state, Prof Igali mentioned that although the subsequent election is a bit far-off, “I foresee a scenario the place the leaders of Rivers state would rally themselves for the general curiosity of the state”.
In line with the diplomat, “the political curiosity of Rivers state ought to supersede another curiosity in 2027. That’s what is most vital. Leaders of the state ought to resolve on what will likely be to the perfect curiosity of the state”.
The PANDEF chief nonetheless praised the minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Barr Nyesom Wike for additionally keen to permit peace to return to Rivers state. “Wike is our son. Sure, it’s true that no state within the nation has had the form of expertise that Rivers state has confronted within the final six months, we’re all blissful that peace has lastly returned. Now we have seen the video of Wike and Fubara strolling hand in hand. We’re blissful they’re again collectively for the nice of the state”.
INC needs true reconciliation
On its half, the Ijaw Nationwide Congress, INC, an apex socio-political group of Ijaw talking folks of the Niger Delta area known as on the Governor to go for true and enduring reconciliation for the nice of the state.
INC mentioned that the governor must unite Rivers State and reassure the folks that he’s keen to offer good management and bury each identified hatchet for the curiosity of peace and growth of Rivers. The President of INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba in an announcement mentioned because the President of the Ijaw Nationwide Congress, “my expectations of Governor Siminalayi Fubara upon his resumption are clear and guided by the necessity for stability, fairness, and progress for all residents of Rivers State, whereas guaranteeing the long-standing aspirations of the Ijaw individuals are duly addressed”.
Prioritizing his expectations for the Governor, Prof Okaba mentioned that there’s a want for political reconciliation and inclusive governance, including that the Governor ought to instantly provoke a real means of political reconciliation with all the mandatory actors concerned within the state. He should embrace a spirit of statesmanship, interact all stakeholders throughout ethnic and political strains in Rivers State, and type an inclusive authorities.
“Stability within the state is paramount, and that may solely be achieved by unity and collective objective”, he mentioned.
The INC President mentioned Fubara’s administration should resume and fast-track people-oriented initiatives throughout the state—such because the Port Harcourt Ring Street, the Trans-Kalabari Street, and important healthcare and academic infrastructure.
“This can reveal his dedication to tangible growth that advantages each citizen, no matter their ethnic affiliation or political allegiance. Whereas he’s the Governor of everybody, it is necessary that Ijaw communities—which have traditionally suffered neglect—obtain honest and sufficient consideration by way of infrastructure, social facilities, and financial alternatives. Growth should be evenly unfold to foster a way of justice and belonging throughout the state.
“I count on him to strengthen safety mechanisms to guard lives and property in all elements of Rivers State, notably in riverine communities which might be typically susceptible. Moreover, he ought to take decisive steps to handle environmental degradation, particularly flooding and oil air pollution, which have an effect on livelihoods predominantly in Ijaw areas but additionally different elements of the state”.
Prof Okaba went additional to demand that the returnee Governor ought to interact in advocacy for true federalism and useful resource management, stating that as Governor of a serious oil-producing state, he has a duty to champion the reason for true federalism and useful resource management on the nationwide stage. “This isn’t simply an Ijaw agenda however a Niger Delta battle that may guarantee justice and sustainable growth for all of the folks of Rivers State”.
He urged the Governor to help and promote the preservation of Ijaw language, historical past, and tradition by inclusive state insurance policies, whereas additionally respecting and celebrating the range of all ethnic teams in Rivers State.
“Governor Fubara’s success is our success.
The Ijaw Nation stands with him, however we additionally count on him to steer with integrity, equity, and braveness. We urge him to grab this second to heal the state, ship democratic dividends, and uphold the values we maintain pricey”, he concluded.
MOSOP requires warning
Motion for the survival of Ogoni folks, MOSOP, has warned the Governor that upon his return to authorities, he ought to tread with warning whereas coping with politicians within the state. The group famous that the six months suspension ought to make the governor wiser in dealing with the political affairs of the state, going ahead. President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke mentioned he would count on the Governor to point out a real signal of reconciliation by visiting the state Home of Meeting and handle the lawmakers on the necessity to permit the darkish previous to be with historical past.
“I’ll count on the governor to instantly go to the Home of Meeting to supply phrases of reconciliation, simply as I count on reconciliation with different key actors, together with the Minister of the FCT. The governor must act in response to infrastructural decay attributable to neglect throughout his absence. The roads, colleges, hospitals, and electrical energy infrastructure all want fast consideration and restoration. I’ll equally advise the governor to tread cautiously with stronger consultations with the FCT Minister, understanding that he’s not in charge of the system that initiatives him and his workplace”.
Nsuke added that Governor Fubara ought to expedite the method of real cleanup of the Ogoni polluted surroundings and push for the higher residing situation of the disadvantaged Ogoni folks on the nationwide stage, including that potable ingesting water needs to be the precedence of his administration as he returns to energy.
Ibas’ final joker
Regardless of the large expectation of the September 18 date for the lifting of the emergency rule within the state, some individuals are nonetheless uncertain of the sanctity of the federal authorities’s willingness to reside as much as its promise of guaranteeing that residents of the state are allowed to get pleasure from democracy like different states of the federation. Certainly one of such doubts stemmed from the latest pronouncement by the Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas, the only real administrator of the state that he has saved N5billion from the civil servants verification train for the state. A growth many see as a refined transfer to enchantment to the thoughts of President Tinubu to increase the emergency rule.
The pronouncement has been seen as a “doubtful and deliberate push to hunt for emergency rule extension by the backdoor”. Some residents and civic teams have nonetheless dismissed the declare and are demanding full accountability for his six months accountable for the state below emergency rule.
Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Employees who has overseen the state below emergency rule since March 18, 2025, introduced that the financial savings got here from final month’s civil service wage invoice, following the invention of about 12,000 “ghost employees.” In line with him, the train diminished the state’s workforce to 37,703 workers and 19,186 pensioners.
Talking on the grand finale of the Civil Service Week in Port Harcourt, Ibas mentioned the verification efficiently eradicated impostors and non-existent employees from the federal government payroll.
However a human rights activist, Comrade Charles Jaja was quoted as questioning how Ibas might declare such a large saving inside one month, describing it as a ploy to discredit Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Jaja argued that many real civil servants and pensioners have been wrongly categorized as ghost employees as a result of they have been absent through the train. A few of them, he mentioned, have begun to petition for his or her unpaid salaries.
He additional identified that Ibas’s public declare of N5 billion financial savings was untimely and amounted to self-indictment. He alleged that the announcement was geared toward currying favor from sponsors to safe an extension of the emergency regime. Simply on Thursday, Ibas forged extra doubt on Rivers’ folks when he inaugurated the newly appointed Chairmen and members of the Governing Councils for 4 state-owned tertiary establishments, with a transparent mandate to remodel them into premier centres of educational excellence, innovation, and technical prowess.
The newly constituted councils are for the Rivers State College (RSU), Ignatius Ajuru College of Training (IAUE), Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, and Kenule Benson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori.
In his handle, Administrator Ibas described the occasion as a reaffirmation of the federal government’s unwavering perception that training is the cornerstone of sustainable growth and the empowerment of the folks of Rivers State. Addressing the councils of Rivers State College and Ignatius Ajuru College of Training, the Administrator highlighted their distinctive place within the state’s educational and developmental panorama.
“Through the years, they’ve produced women and men who’ve contributed immensely to public service, business, and innovation each inside and past our borders,” he said, additionally praising the establishments’ lecturers for his or her excellent contributions. He charged the brand new councils to offer strategic management by guaranteeing sound coverage route, accountability in administration, and the creation of an enabling surroundings for instructing, studying, and cutting-edge analysis. Whereas acknowledging challenges comparable to infrastructure, funding, and world competitiveness, Vice Admiral Ibas insisted they might be overcome with “imaginative and prescient, dedication, and integrity.”
Because the countdown to Thursday, September 18 date continues, the political environment within the state is super-charged with pleasure hanging within the air for the “triumphant” entry of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, into the Authorities Home, Port Harcourt.
Whereas the nation awaits the return of President Tinubu from his 10-day trip and eventual pronouncement of lifting of the emergency rule, Nigerians and Rivers individuals are solely hoping that the President lives as much as his billing of a self-styled democrat.
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