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[OPINION] Delta: When The Vultures Gather

Published

2 months ago

April 30, 2025

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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?

News

Uproar As Senate Okays Non-indigene As Rivers Electoral Commission Chairman

Published

11 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

There was an uproar in the Senate on Wednesday following the approval of a non- indigene, Dr. Michael Odey as the Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

The confirmation of Odey, who hails from Cross River State, alongside other members of the Commission followed the consideration of the report of the Ad- Hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers State presented by its chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central).

The development sparked as a few senators objected the appointment of a non-indigene to head a sensitive position as that of a state electoral commission.

Those confirmed as members of the RSIEC are Mr. Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof. Author Nwafor, Prof. Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha, Prof. Joyce Akaninwor, Dr. Olive A. Bruce and Prof. Chidi Halliday.

Objecting to Odey’s confirmation, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central) said bad precedent should not be set by allowing a non-indigene to head the electoral commission of a state.

He said: “I objected as observed because if it is allowed and becomes the norm, it will not be well for the country.

“I do not see the necessity of having someone from another state to chair an electoral body.”

Also kicking against the approval, former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, (APC Borno South), said it is wrong to scout for a non-indigene for such sensitive position when there are over one thousand indigenes who are qualified.

Referring to a comment by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), said politics was infused into the matter.

“It is here that politics is brought into this matter. Nobody is objecting to the personality but to a question of morality this appointment has raised.

“I am not a lawyer and not talking law, we are talking about ethics. This is unethical. We should not intrude politics into what we do here,” Moro said.

But the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), argued that Odey’s appointment is constitutional and that there is nothing wrong im the confirmation by the Red Chamber.

He said: “The constitution is the ground norm and inasmuch as there is no provision in the constitution that is against appointing a non-indigene, the confirmation is then in order.

“Any Nigerian is free to take up appointment in any state. I can be a governor in Benue State. We are talking about constitution, not morality.”

The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele while appreciating concerns raised, however, appealed that it is a matter that should not be politicized, saying “The matter does not call for grandstanding.”

He argued that Odey is both eligible and qualified as a PhD holder.

Bamidele disclosed that the committee had also raised similar concern during the screening exercise where he called on Odey to provide constitutional evidence of his eligibility.

He said the Odey is eligible and qualified, adding that having the six other members from Rivers State, picking a non-indigene as chairman would create room for transparency and neutrality.

In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Barau, who presided over the session, insisted that anybody can work anywhere in Nigeria.

Barau cited an example of an indigene of Edo State who is the Head of Service in Abia State.

He said the objection “is purely politics because it is coming from APC”.

In the same development, the Senate also confirmed the appointment of members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission and Local Government Service Commission nominated by President Bola Tinubu.

The Civil Service Commission consists of five members, including its Chairman, Dr Livinus Bariki, and Ambassador Lot Peter Egopija, Mrs Maeve Ere Bestman, Mrs Joy Obiaju and Mrs Charity Lloyd Harry as members.

Also confirmed are the chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr Isreal N Amadi and Mr Linus Nwandem, Lady Christabel Ego, George Didia, Dr Tonye Willie D Pepple, Barrister Richard Ewoh, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (rtd) and Dr Sammy Apiafi, as members.
(DAILY POST)

News

Nigerian Senate Passes 2025 Budget For Rivers State

Published

11 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian senate on Wednesday, passed the 2025 budget of Rivers State, to the tune of N1.485 trillion.

The passage came after the third reading of the appropriation bill on the Senate floor.

This came after the upper chamber considered the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State during the Committee of Supply session.

DAILY POST reports that the bill seeks to authorize the issuance of N1,485,662,592,442 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.

According to the approved budget breakdown, N120.8 billion is for debt servicing, N287.38 billion is for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and N1.077 trillion is for capital expenditure.

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), while supporting the passage of the bill, however, raised a concern regarding the additional 50 billion naira earmarked for the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities.

The lawmaker charged the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee to carry out more rigorous oversight to ensure that the funds reach the rightful pension beneficiaries without delay.

DAILY POST reports that with the passage, the Rivers State 2025 budget will now proceed for assent and implementation.

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu in May submitted the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State to the National Assembly for consideration, after the suspension of the state’s House of Assembly.

In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio, the proposed budget totals N1.481 trillion, with major allocations aimed at revitalizing key sectors.

The president also wrote to the House of Representatives for the Rivers State budget approval, reminding the House that the Supreme Court had nullified the 2025 budget presented by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

News

Kebbi Govt Mulls Death Penalty For Bandit Informants

Published

11 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Kebbi State Government has said it would review existing laws to impose death penalty or life imprisonment on convicted informants aiding the criminals in the state.

This is coming in the wake of renewed attacks by armed bandits in parts of the state.

The State Governor, Nasiru Idris made this disclosure on Tuesday, when he paid condolence visits to Tadurga village in Zuru and Kyebu in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Areas, both recently targeted by bandits in attacks that claimed 30 lives.

The governor, while describing informants as deadly to society, reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on insecurity and promised to treat the issue with utmost seriousness.

He expressed sorrow over the tragic loss of lives, praying for the victims and asking Allah to grant the deceased Aljannah Firdausi and a quick recovery to those injured.

“We are here to see things for ourselves, commiserate with you and reassure you of the urgent steps we have taken to improve security,” he said.

The Governor called on the public to refrain from politicizing security issues or spread unverified information on social media, warning that such actions could jeopardise ongoing efforts to restore peace.

Responding, the Chief of Danko, Ibrahim Al’aji, and the Chief of Dabai, Suleiman Sami, appreciated the governor for his swift intervention and called for enhanced security measures, especially along routes used by bandits entering from neighboring states.

The Emir of Zuru, Rtd. Major General Sani Sami also expressed appreciation for the governor’s visit and ongoing commitment to security in the emirate.