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[OPINION] Delta: When The Vultures Gather

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By Israel Adebiyi

There is a strange rustling in Nigeria’s political forest these days — not of development or reform — but the frantic wing-flapping of politicians turning coats faster than a magician at a street carnival. Yes, once again, the vultures are gathering, and the carcass they circle is none other than the tattered remains of ideological politics in Nigeria.

Gone are the days when parties were bound by clear-cut beliefs. Today, in the Nigerian political dictionary, ideology is defined as whatever keeps me out of EFCC trouble and loyalty is simply whoever signs the bigger cheque. Defection has become a sport, a market, a ritual — and the politicians? A fair-weather company of deserters.

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Take a good look at Delta State, the latest theater of the absurd. On Monday, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, led an armada of APC governors to welcome Delta’s Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and — drumroll — Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the 2023 election vice-presidential candidate of the PDP, into the APC fold.

Yes, you heard right. PDP’s two grand lions in Delta, now in APC jerseys, chanting a new anthem. Like a lady stripped of her dignity in the market square, Delta PDP was dismantled. Everybody with any weight, clout, or dancing skills made a grand somersault into the APC.

Mind you, this is a state where APC, despite huffing and puffing over 26 years, never managed to blow down PDP’s house. And yet, overnight, they woke up to find the steering wheel of the state government handed to them — not after an election, but by executive surrender. One minute, the APC was struggling to rent a kiosk in Delta politics; the next, they are cutting housewarming cakes.

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Governor Oborevwori, now fully draped in APC colours, didn’t just defect — he became the APC leader in Delta! Meanwhile, the original APC “landlords” like Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Festus Keyamo have been turned into tenants in their own home. At a courtesy visit to the new landlord, Keyamo bluntly told loyal APC members: “Follow your new master or find another playground.” Democracy, Nigerian style. Such is the gathering of vultures. In the feast of political carcasses, if you weren’t invited, don’t even smell the kitchen!

And what was the official excuse? According to Okowa, the defection was “necessary to better connect Delta State with the Federal Government and benefit from the resources and goodwill available in Abuja.”

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Let that echo properly: benefit from the resources and goodwill available in Abuja! Translation: secure personal survival, eat federal cake, and leave the voters to chew the crumbs. The same Delta people who, roughly over two years ago, decisively rejected the APC at the polls, reaffirming that Delta is PDP and PDP is Delta. The people? They’re just extras in this poorly scripted movie.

Make no mistake, the Nigerian defector is not moved by conviction but by calculation. When the party is good, they dance. When the food finishes, they wipe their mouths and walk out the back door. They loot their parties dry, sell out their comrades, and wear new party colors like a scarf in Harmattan.

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR: OPINION: The Politics Of Protest In Nigeria [Nation’s Pulse]

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In this bazaar, honour is not a currency. Faithfulness is foolishness. It’s all about who offers the juiciest meat at the gathering.

But beyond the drama, there is a sinister undertone. As opposition parties collapse and key figures desert, Nigeria risks sleepwalking into a one-party state — the graveyard of true democracy. Without viable opposition, governments become their own praise singers, and citizens become casualties.

Even more troubling is the emerging North-South polarization. Voices like Hakeem Baba-Ahmed and Nasir El-Rufai have bluntly stated that a Southern presidency is a disadvantage to the North. 2027 looks set to be another North vs South street fight, not a contest of ideas.

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Opposition parties must now either reinvent themselves, or resign to being sideshows. PDP must stop acting like a weeping widow and start acting like a contender. Labour Party must move from hashtags to grassroots. NNPP must stop being a regional loudspeaker and build national bridges.

Or else, when the vultures are done gathering, there’ll be nothing left but bones — bones of democracy, accountability, and hope.

The gathering has begun.
The question is: who will survive the feast?

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Bauchi Govt Sanctions 4 Senior Officers For Gross Misconduct

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The Bauchi state Civil Service Commission (CSC) has sanctioned four senior officers for gross misconduct in the discharge of their service.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Bauchi on Friday by Mr Saleh Umar, the Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi state Civil Service Commission.

According to him, the decision, which was made during the Commission’s plenary session, was in its continued effort to sanitise the State’s Civil Service.

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He listed the names of the officers that were sanctioned to include; Garba Hussaini, a Director, Education and former Provost, Haruna Umar, a Deputy Director, Administration and Human Resources.

READ ALSO:Bauchi Board Laments Low Teacher Turnouts In Training Exercise

Others included; Umar Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer (Account)- Bursar and Mohammed Usman, Chief Clerical Officer – Cashier, all attached to Bill and Melinda Gate College of Health Sciences Technology in Ningi Local Government Area of the state.

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Umar explained that the interdicted officers have been placed on 50 per cent of their salaries with effect from 28th October, 2025 until the end of the full investigation.

The Commission’s decision was taken to allow further investigation into the allegations laid against the officers.

“The Officers were found guilty of misconduct that contradict Bauchi State Public Service Regulations – 0327 (x) and (xxii) and interdicted under rules 0329 (i), (ii) and (iii) to further distance them from their duty posts for seamless and smooth investigation.

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READ ALSO:Bauchi Begins Production Of Exercise Books, Chalks For Schools

“In a light-hearted part, the Commission has promoted 21 officers to their next grades of Deputy Chief Librarian, Assistant Chief Librarians and Principal Librarians to grade levels 15, 14, 13, 12 and 10 respectively.

“Others were Assistant Chief Executive Officer and Chief Confidential Secretary on grade levels 13 and 14,” said Umar.

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The Public Relations Officer added that Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad, the Chairman of the Commission, reiterated the Commission’s unwavering commitment to the rules of law under his watch.

He noted that while promising to continue to uphold integrity, transparency and fairness in the commission, the Chairman also expressed dismay over the nonchalant attitude of some Civil Servants not knowing the disciplinary procedures in civil service and its consequences.

Chairman also called on all workers to be conversant with the do and don’t in carrying out their assignments to avoid unnecessary offense,” he said.

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Don’t Take Law Into Your Hands – NYSC Warns Corps Members

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The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned all corps members serving their fatherland not to take laws into their own hands during and after their service year.

Mr Umoren Kufre, the Bauchi state Coordinator of NYSC gave the warning during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘C’ stream 1 corps members at the state’s NYSC permanent orientation camp, Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

“I urge you to obey all the rules and regulations governing the NYSC. In case you notice any irregularity, do not take the laws into your hands.

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READ ALSO:NYSC Deploys 1,900 Corps Members To Bauchi State

“Always ensure that you follow the proper channel of communication to express your grievances.

“Let me assure you again that management will ensure that the basic amenities you need in the camp are provided for you. Your safety and comfort remains our utmost priority,” he said.

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Kofre, who explained that a total of 2,050 corps members were posted to the state for the one year compulsory service, said there has not been any serious problem since the commencement of the course and the prospective corps members were participating actively in all camp activities.

He appreciated Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state for his continuous support to the scheme in the state as well as the complete renovation of Corps Members hostels and the construction of a brand new Multipurpose Hall in the camp.

READ ALSO: PDP NWC Suspends Legal Adviser, Anyanwu, Others Amid Convention Crisis

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The NYSC boss, however, called on the governor to help them rebuild the part of the camp perimeter fence that collapsed about a year ago.

Declaring the orientation camp exercises open, Gov. Bala Mohammed urged the corp members to take the lead and advocate for national development and transformation.

Represented by Mr Mohammed Umar, the State’s Head of Service, Mohammed called on them to take the noble call with utmost seriousness and commit themselves to achieving the scheme’s objectives of national unity and development.

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While administering the oath of allegiance, Justice Rabi Umar, the Chief Judge of the state who was represented by Abdullahi Yau, Deputy Registrar, High Court of Justice, charged the corps members to maintain law and order towards the peaceful orientation exercises

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17 Nigerian States Implementing CPS As PenCom Assets Rise To Over N26trn

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The National Pension Commission hassaid only 17 Nigerian states are currently implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme as its assets rose to over N26 trillion in September 2025.

Ms Omolola Oloworaran disclosed this during an event in Benin, Edo State.

Oloworaran, who was represented by the Commission’s Inspectorate Commissioner, Chief Samuel Chigozie Uwandu, stressed that CPS plays a vital role in national economic development.

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According to her, CPS has evolved beyond a retirement policy and has become a symbol of a national shift towards financial discipline and long-term planning.

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Oloworaran noted that the scheme illustrates “a decisive break from past dependencies on state-provided old-age financial security to a new culture of retirement savings and forward planning.

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A contract between the worker and the employer, with the assurance that a lifetime of labour would be rewarded with financial security in old age.”

“Seventeen states out of the 36 states in the country are currently implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme. Twelve states have not started at all, while seven states are at various stages of establishing their pension bureaux.”

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