Politics
Why Buhari’s Bill Was Shot Down – Sekibo
The Senator Representing Rivers East Senatorial Destrict at the National assembly, Senator George Thompson Sekibo, has said that shooting down the amendment of the Electoral Act, last Tuesday, by the Senate was to strengthen the electoral process and ensure good governance.
Sekibo who stated this when the State Executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ ), Rivers State Council, led by the chairman, Stanley Job Stanley, paid a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt, said good governance must be achieved through electoral processes.
The lawmaker noted that if the nation must have good governance, elections must be transparent, credible, and fair .
According to him, “in order to get these four cardinal points, those who have interest in elective positions in the Executive Council should resign their executive positions before contesting elective positions”.
He explained that as lawmakers, their work was to adjust the law until it conforms with the international best practice.
Sekibo who is also the leader of the Rivers State National Assembly members and chairman of the South-South Caucus said as lawmaker representing the Rivers East Senatorial Destrict, he would continue to give his constitutecy good representation by joining other members in making laws that would favour his Senatorial District and the country at large.
He further explained that as lawmakers, they were not positioned to award contracts but to lobby for projects for their Senatorial District.
He commended Rivers State NUJ executive members for the visit and praised the performance of the leadership in ensuring that journalists in the state work in line with the ethics of the profession.
He assured the union of a harmonious relationship for the good of society.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Stanley Job Stanley had commended Senator Sekibo for making his Senatorial District and Rivers State proud at the National Assembly.
Job praised the lawmaker for his outstanding performance at the Upper Chamber and urged him to continue his good works for the people of the state.
The NUJ Chairman thanked the lawmaker for the various donations he had made to the union and urged him to continue to support the union to achieve its objectives.
“We want our existing relationship to continue. NUJ is ready to work with you and other lawmakers to make Rivers State great”, he said.
By: Ike Wigodo
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.