Politics

Rivers crisis: PDP behind its woes – FredFish

Published

9 months ago

March 22, 2025

Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom and Chairman, PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPAJ), Dr Tom FredFish has joined many Nigerians to condemn the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State and subsequent suspension of the governor, Sim Fubara by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, FredFish described the President’s speech as a total reflection of how biased he is to the impasse in Rivers State, even as he blamed the leadership of the PDP, including Atiku Abubarkar over failure to wield the big stick against Nyesom Wike, Minister of FCT, whom he referred to as the bone of contention and had involved in various anti-party activities.

Excerpts:

What is your view about the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State? Is it in accordance with the law?

Well, the President, in his broadcast, claimed he acted according to the law, but what he has just demonstrated is the use of powers and the loopholes created by the Constitution to gain political capital by preparing for the 2027 election. The President was too quick to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

As a chieftain of PDP, which is Fubara’s party, why was your party docile in resolving the problem between Wike and Fubara before now?

If you recall, I have made several alarming statements asking why the leaders of our party, the PDP, are quiet over the unruly behavior and actions of Wike. I had bemoaned Atiku Abubakar and the Chairman of the PDP BoT, Senator Wabara for not taking a stance. I also urged the PDP to suspend Wike or, at most, expel him from the party, but the party seems to have lost its voice to the defeat in 2023 and kept Wike perpetually in charge of the party.

There was certainly no way Wike would want to make peace with Fubara. Wike sees himself as a god that must be serviced with loyalty and allegiance and anyone who has a contrary view is seen as his enemy. So Wike, who sees himself as a demigod, will not want to settle with Fubara, who he thinks has challenged his godlike status in the state and country. Secondly, the party made several attempts to bring both men together, and each time, Wike ended up stalling the peace process. But I can state clearly that the PDP shot itself in the foot by accommodating Wike’s anti-party activities, as well as his attempts to cause chaos in the party.

Are you comfortable with the disinterest the party leadership and stakeholders showed in the matter so far?

I am very uncomfortable. The party has shown that it cannot pull itself back to order. Atiku has failed to play the role of an elder statesman. As long as Wike continues to remain in the PDP, the party will not know any peace. They all know what the problem is, but why the party does not have the political will to take the necessary action is what baffles me to date. Wike is a plague that must be uprooted.

Do you see APC taking over Rivers State in the nearest future or before the 2027 elections?

There is no way the APC can take over Rivers State. The party is very unpopular in the state, and the people have rejected such a party, as clearly shown in the 2023 Governorship election. And that’s why Wike, in connivance with the Abuja front, decided to hatch the crisis in the state. The plan of Wike and the 27 members of the House of Assembly was to impeach the governor and offload themselves into the APC. So when they realized that the people were ready to resist such anti-democratic acts, they resorted to the declaration of a state of emergency. President Tinubu’s speech is a total reflection of how biased the president is to the impasse. There is no sign that the APC can take over Rivers State through a democratic process.

Do you think Fubara and the other House of Assembly members would be called back at the end of the six months suspension?

Certainly, there is no reason they shouldn’t be recalled. Except if the President wants to suspend democracy.

What are the implications of the suspension on the people of Rivers State?

There are various implications to the suspension of the governor by the president. First, it shows that the president can use his powers for political gains when he deems fit. Second, it leaves a huge moral burden on the President, who was very fast to resolve the Lagos State House of Assembly crises but very slow and reluctant to act when it comes to Rivers State. Third, it shows that the tenets of our democracy are not truly democratic if the President can wake up and sack a democratic Governor and that the framers of our constitution erred with these loopholes created to make the president plan a coup against the people of a state. Fourth, it leaves a constitutional crisis, especially as it relates to the order for the stoppages of the State Allocation or funds by the Supreme Court to the CBN.

The Supreme Court said that CBN should withhold Rivers’ allocation and release the funds when a proper Local Government election is conducted. Does the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibokette Ibas, have any legal backing to conduct the Local Government election in Rivers State? And will CBN continue to withhold Rivers allocation till Sim Fubara, who has a democratic mandate, returns back in 6 months to conduct LGA election? How will the state run without funds? The Nigerian economy will likely suffer with the renewed bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta. The return of hostilities, militancy, and oil bunkering would likely resurface with the sceneries affecting the income of the nation. Lastly, the people of Rivers State will lose in all these episodes.

What are the decisive, urgent actions that the PDP is expected to take?

The PDP needs to expel Wike immediately. Send him packing. After all, Wike has violated the party’s constitution by not showing concern for the party and its affairs. His recent revoking of the PDP secretariat is a sign that the former governor has declared war on his party. He should be shown the way out for peace to return to the party. If the PDP must survive, the party needs to be decisive as it pertains to Wike. They should also make strong statements condemning the President’s actions and expelling the 27 Rivers House of Assembly members for attempting to impeach the governor against the party’s position. Discipline must be enshrined in the PDP if the party must move forward.

Politics

President Tinubu Transmits to The Senate Lists Of Ambassadorial Nominees

Published

14 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.

Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.

The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

Politics

PRESIDENT TINUBU FORWARDS NEW AMBASSADORIAL LIST TO SENATE, NOMINATES DAMBAZAU, IBAS, CHIOMA OHAKIM AND OTHERS

Published

19 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
4-DEC- 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a fresh set of ambassadorial nominations to the Senate, featuring a mix of distinguished public figures and seasoned professionals drawn from across the country.

Among the notable nominees are former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former senator Ita Enang; and Mrs. Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State.

The President formally transmitted two comprehensive lists containing 34 career and 31 non-career ambassadorial nominees, bringing the total number of nominees awaiting Senate confirmation to 68.

The newly submitted lists mark another significant step in the administration’s ongoing diplomatic restructuring, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s representation and presence across global missions.

The Senate is expected to commence screening and confirmation proceedings in the coming days.

Politics

I’m Not Playing Politics with Nnamdi Kanu’s Release – Gov Otti Replies Chief Ogbonna

Published

22 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to a Former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Abia State, Chief Charles Ogbonna, wherein he called Governor Alex Otti unprintable names and also alleged that Governor Otti didn’t visit President Tinubu to discuss the issue of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but to plan on how to defect to the APC, among other childish verbal attacks.

Chief Ognonna has been unleashing unprovoked verbal venom and vituperation on the Governor, but we chose to ignore him, not only because we have been busy with the task of governance, but because we also know that he is traumatised by the obscurity he was plunged into after the 2023 general election and felt he should be allowed to experience some healing that could help normalise his reasoning.

Ordinarily, we would have still ignored Chief Ognonna’s latest idle tirade and allow him delude himself with fantasies of fury, but because the Nnamdi Kanu issue is both sensitive and very important to this government, we felt we should respond and put the records straight.

In continuation of Governor Otti’s efforts aimed at securing Kanu’s release, the Governor subsequently had a meeting with the President after visiting the IPOB leader at the Sokoto Correctional Centre on Sunday, November 30 2025. This is in continuation of earlier meetings the Governor had been having with the FG on this matter in the past two years.

The issue of Kanu was the only subject matter that took Governor Otti to Aso Rock and to the Glory of God, the meeting was both positive and fruitful, as the President was so gracious and generous.

Chief Ogbonna’s allegation of Governor Otti going to lobby to join the APC is both petty, ignoble, laughable and very irresponsible. At the risk of sounding immodest, any political party Governor Otti chooses to join today would roll out the drums and red carpet to welcome him with joy and excitement. If anything, many notable and respected APC leaders are not just desirous of having him in their fold, but are strongly appealing to Governor Otti to join their party because they know that he is not a liability.

Ogbonna accused Otti of betrayal, but he didn’t say who Otti betrayed, how and when.

He claimed that Otti doesn’t have capacity, yet Otti defeated him in his Polling Unit, Ward and LGA where his PDP Candidates from House of Assembly to President lost woefully.

He accused Governor Otti of inconsistency, yet he abandoned Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar less than 48 hours after the result of the Presidential Election was announced, in spite of the empty noise and boast he made about the PDP’s Presidential Candidate, all for Atiku’s money when it was needed and available.

He alleged that Governor Otti is playing politics with Nnamdi Kanu, yet, he is angry that the Governor is engaging the FG to secure Kanu’s freedom. Is there anything more contradictory and ridiculous than Ogbonna’s utterances?

At this point, the general public needs to know the genesis of Chief Ogbonna’s anger and aggression.

Having acquired Agbozu Cocoa Plantation when he was in government, the present government decided to reclaim the Plantation which was yielding nothing to the state under Charles Ogbonna. In line with Governor Otti’s policy of operating a government with human face, which sees him pay compensation so as not to hurt any citizen or investor, he approved a compensation package which was paid to Chief Ogbonna. He was excited and full of thanks and appreciation to Governor Otti for the gesture, because he knew he didn’t deserve it. Unfortunately and in line with his insatiable quest for power and money, he thought that another opportunity had opened for him to surreptitiously sneak into the government as he later nominated his son to be appointed by Governor Otti. The Governor flatly declined the request and subsequently appointed another person from the same Ogbonna’s Community, a development that made him feel slighted, diminished and broken and has since then gone out of control, throwing tantrums and hoping to be invited for settlement.

Chief Ogbonna’s problem, like some of his co-travellers is his failure to wake up from his slumber and realise that the era of ruins is over and that Abia has moved forward, never to be dragged back.

His primitive arrogance and mediocre mindset that limit his understanding of government and governance to political appointments, settlement and sharing of public funds without service to the people has so blinded him to the extent that he attacked the Governor recently for awarding the badly broken Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, claiming that the FG had aleady awarded it and thus should not be awarded by the Governor. How could any human being with conscience prefer that his people continue to suffer and die in their numbers just because he feels that building the strategic road would earn the Governor a huge political capital? Ogbonna needs to be reminded that such evil mindset has no place in the New Abia.

Even though Ogbonna’s character deficiency doesn’t position him for any modicum of respect, however, having advanced in age, he is expected to conduct himself honourably and responsibly so as not to attract insults to himself.

Finally, Ogbonna needs to be educated that one of the hallmarks of a great leader is his ability to apply wisdom, emotional intelligence and deploy the instrument of diplomacy in solving problems that have the propensity to impact the security of life and property of the people negatively if handled wrongly.

Governor Otti didn’t campaign with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s name in 2023, and doesn’t need to campaign with his plight for 2027, however, he strongly believes that resolving the problem of Kanu’s conviction is one of the ways to achieving peace, security and healing in our land. Unfortunately, Chief Ogbonna is not grounded, both in character and knowledge of the ingredients of modern leadership, hence his kindergarten politicisation of Governor Otti’s engagements with the FG and visit to the President.

Now that Ogbonna has become an errand boy in the APC, he needs to be reminded that he can pursue his stomach agenda without necessarily carrying out this misplaced aggression against Governor Otti, because it makes him look more pathetic than he can ever imagine.

Ferdinand Ekeoma

Special Adviser to the Governor

(Media and Publicity)

December 4, 2025.