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Stop Fubara From Presenting Budget Afresh, Rivers Elders Tell Court

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Some elders in Rivers State have filed a motion ex parte urging the court to stop Governor Siminalaye Fubara from presenting the 2024 budget afresh to the state House of Assembly.

The governor had in December presented an N800bn 2024 budget to a faction of the Assembly, comprising four lawmakers.

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Following the passage of the budget by the lawmakers, Fubara subsequently signed the budget into law.

The Rivers Assembly became factionalised following a move by 27 lawmakers loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike to impeach Fubara.

The crisis saw the destruction of the Assembly complex with an explosive on the night of October 29.

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READ ALSO: Rivers Elders Write Tinubu, Fubara, Say Presidential Intervention Death Sentence

The weeks after revealed that the relationship between Fubara and his political godfather, Wike, had become strained.

President Bola Tinubu, however, waded in in December and summoned the parties to a meeting in Abuja on December 18, where they signed an eight-point resolution to settle the political crisis.

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Among the resolution was that Fubara would present the 2024 afresh to the pro-Wike lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.

Another important item on the resolution was that the 10 pro-Wike commissioners who resigned from Fubara’s cabinet in the heat of the crisis would be screened afresh by the Assembly and reabsorbed.

The resolution was, however, criticised by the Rivers elders, who said it was skewed in favour of Wike against Fubara.

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READ ALSO: Rivers Lawmakers Withdraw Impeachment Notice Against Fubara

They also faulted the role played by President Tinubu, saying it was unconstitutional.

In their fresh suit, they listed as defendants, President Tinubu; the Attorney General of the Federation, Fubara, the Rivers Assembly, Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

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The plaintiffs, led by a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Bonny State Constituency, Victor Jumbo, are Senator Bennett Birabi, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Rear Admiral O.P. Fingesi, Ann Kio Briggs, and Emmanuel Deinma.

They had in December 2023 asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare the purported peace agreement Fubara entered into at Abuja meeting as unconstitutional and “an usurpation, nullification, and undermining of the extant/binding relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.”

The matter has not been heard.

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The Rivers elders, through their lawyer, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), in the motion exparte, called on the court to restrain the state House Assembly and the Speaker of the House from allowing the 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to participate in the plenary.

READ ALSO: No Regrets Making Fubara Governor – Wike

They want “an order of interim injunction restrainingthe Rivers State House of Assembly and Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, their agents, loyalists, privies or representatives by whatever name so called from passing another 2024 fiscal budget of the Rivers State government pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

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Ajulo particularly urged the court to take cognizance of the motion on notice attached with the suit and stop the holding of plenary sessions by the 27 members of the state House of Assembly out of the 32 members.

Meanwhile, in fulfilment of the Abuja resolution,the Rivers Assembly, on Wednesday, conducted a fresh screening and confirmed the 10 pro-Wike commissioners from resigned from Fubara’s cabinet for reabsorption into the cabinet,

The commissioner nominees, who appeared before the lawmakers led by the Speaker, Amaewhule, on Wednesday morning, were given a clean bill of health after they made a brief introduction of themselves.

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READ ALSO: Tinubu Threatened, Imposed Resolution On Fubara, Says Ex-Rivers Commissioner

This followed a motion moved by the House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, who said since the nominees had been screened previously it was needless to do so a second time and craved the indulgence of his colleagues to allow them ‘take a bow and go’.

The Speaker then directed the Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi, to forward the names of the commissioners’ designate to the governor for action.

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Amaewhule disclosed that Governor Fubara had written a letter to the House requesting the screening of the nine commissioners’ nominees.

The commissioners-designate, who are loyal to Wike, are Prof. Zacchaeus Adango, (SAN), Dr. Jacobson Nbina, Dr. Gift Worlu, Mrs Ineme Aguma, Chukwuemeka Woke and Prof. Chinedu Mmom.

Others are Dr Des George-Kelly, Isaac Kamalu and Auten Ben-Chioma.

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The Speaker explained that the re-screeni g of the nominees was in line with the presidential proclamation following the intervention of President Tinubu.

Amaewhule, however, fumed that Fubara had yet to respond to some correspondences sent to him by the Assembly.

The Speaker threatened that the Assembly would reject further correspondences from the governor if the trend of not responding to their letters continued.

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“It is important we make this very clear that we need to work for the interest of the people of Rivers State, mindful that it is the people who will gain or lose when we choose not to do what we are supposed to do in line with the Constitution,” the Speaker remarked.

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OPINION: 200k – The Shameful Prize For Academic Excellence

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By Israel Adebiyi 

Education remains the most powerful tool for personal and national transformation. It is through the cultivation of knowledge, literacy, and skills that societies evolve from dependence to independence, from poverty to prosperity, and from stagnation to innovation. Nations that truly understand this reality invest heavily in their young intellectuals, not only by providing opportunities but also by celebrating and rewarding excellence in ways that inspire others to aim higher.

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The Nigerian Constitution itself recognizes this truth. Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states unequivocally that “Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.” Furthermore, subsection 3 mandates that “Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy” through free and compulsory education at all tiers. These provisions are not mere suggestions; they are guiding principles for national progress.

Beyond our national laws, Nigeria is signatory to several international treaties and conventions that place education at the heart of human rights. Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms education as a right for all. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) insists that primary education must be compulsory and free, while higher education must be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. Similarly, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights calls on governments to promote education as a vehicle for collective dignity and empowerment.

But education in Nigeria is more than just policy and law. It is part of our cultural consciousness. Through songs, elders and teachers reminded us that knowledge is wealth, and learning is the ladder to dignity. Songs like Eko Dara Pupo (“Education is very good”) captured the timeless truth that education liberates a person from ignorance. Another popular tune, Bata Mi A Dun Ko Ko Ka (“My shoes will sound proudly”), symbolizes the celebration of educational achievement and the promise of a bright future. These melodies echo in classrooms and homes, serving as cultural testaments to the high value Nigerians place on knowledge.

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MORE FROM THE AUTHOR:OPINION: Ezekwesili, The NBA, And The Mirror Of Truth

Yet, against this backdrop of constitutional guarantees, international obligations, and cultural reverence, one cannot help but question the nation’s priorities when brilliance is rewarded with a token. When 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullahi from Yobe State outshone over 20,000 students across 69 countries to emerge the world’s best in English Language Skills at the TeenEagle Global Finals in London, she did more than win a trophy; she placed Nigeria on the map of intellectual achievement. Her victory was a triumph of diligence, discipline, and the power of Nigerian intellect. But the nation’s response, a ₦200,000 reward, was a glaring contradiction to the weight of her accomplishment.

The ₦200,000 cheque presented to Nafisa Abdullahi was not a reward; it was an insult dressed as recognition. It was not a gesture to inspire a generation; it was a token that diminished the very essence of her victory. In a country where entertainers are showered with millions for fleeting performances, and football teams receive dollar rains for continental triumphs, how can the brightest young mind, who carried Nigeria’s flag to the pinnacle of global intellectual acclaim, be handed the equivalent of a week’s grocery bill in some households?

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This disparity speaks to a deeper malaise in our national value system. We clap louder for goals than for genius, we celebrate speed on the pitch more than brilliance in the classroom, and in doing so, we broadcast a dangerous message: that intellect is cheap, and learning is secondary. But a nation that cannot properly reward education is a nation headed for doom.

Consider this: Nafisa hails from Yobe State, a region often in the news not for academic breakthroughs but for the tragic statistics of out-of-school children. UNICEF reports that Nigeria has over 20 million out-of-school children, many of them in the North-East, with Yobe carrying a heavy portion of that burden. Yet, from such a place of adversity, a flower bloomed, and rather than water it, the nation offered her crumbs. If ever there was a story that should have been used to ignite a revolution in education, it is Nafisa’s. Where was the Yobe State government with a grand civic reception to remind its children that brilliance is not only possible but celebrated? Silence and indifference prevailed instead.

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR:[OPINION] Game Of Thrones: Ooni, Alaafin And The Ridiculing oF Yoruba Heritage

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This faulty reward system does not only dishonour one girl; it demoralises millions of students who labour in classrooms across Nigeria, dreaming that their diligence might someday earn them recognition. If what they see is that global brilliance earns a paltry ₦200,000, while entertainers and athletes are endlessly celebrated, what then do we expect the next generation to aspire to?

Nigeria must, therefore, rethink its value system. Rewarding intellectual achievement must not be an afterthought—it must be a national priority. A new framework is needed where students who bring glory to Nigeria through knowledge are celebrated with the same pomp and substance as sporting heroes. Scholarships, endowments, mentorship opportunities, and life-changing incentives should be the bare minimum. If we truly believe that education is “the most powerful weapon to change the world,” then we must treat those who wield it as national treasures, not as footnotes in ceremonial handshakes.

Nafisa’s triumph should have been a rallying point to declare to the world that Nigeria will no longer export only oil and athletes, but also intellect, innovation, and ideas. Instead, we reduced her victory to a headline and a token cheque. That is not just a missed opportunity; it is a national disgrace.

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Until we build a system that dignifies education, we will continue to reap the fruits of misplaced priorities: corruption, mediocrity, and underdevelopment. The time has come to rewrite the reward system—not for Nafisa alone, but for every Nigerian child whose shoes, one day, should sound proudly, ko ko ka, on the global stage.

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Popular Skit Maker Dies In Car Crash

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Comedian and skit maker Raji Adetola, widely known as Mr Sanku Comedy, has died after a car accident in Ibadan, colleagues and family confirmed on Tuesday.

The fatal crash occurred on Monday along the Oyo–Ogbomoso road. Photos and videos shared online showed the vehicle plunging into a ditch. Sanku was rushed to hospital with a friend who was travelling with him, but he was later confirmed dead. The condition of his companion remained unclear, though reports suggested critical injuries.

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The 2021 content creator was known for his unique storytelling and comedy skits, amassing a large following on TikTok. His final video, posted a day before his death, went viral after the tragedy. In it, he prayed not to die before reaping the fruits of his labour.

READ ALSO:Three Drown In Rivers Boat Accident

Actress Funmi Awelewa said she had been told Sanku was initially responding to treatment, but he did not survive despite prayers.

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When I saw the news online, I quickly sent one of my students who stays close to Bowen hospital, and he told me that he met one of your friends at the hospital who told us that you’re responding to treatment. I prayed……God, we prayed!!! Kilowa de bai Oloun, Haa Olorun oba oo,” she wrote on her Instagram page.

Fellow skit makers Ozain Comedy and Jidex also paid tribute, with messages shared on Instagram and TikTok.

“Rest well, soldier,” Ozain wrote shortly after influencer Jidex also took to TikTok to speak on his death with the caption, “Rest in peace.”

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Benin Consultative Forum Mourns Its President, Arase’s Death

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Benin Consultative Forum (BCF) has expressed sadness over the sudden passing of its president, Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase.

Arase, who served as the 18th Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force,died on Sunday, August 31, 2025 in Abuja hospital.

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In a statement signed by the Vice President of the Forum, Dr. Samson Osagie, and Secretary-General, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, the BCF said Arase was widely celebrated for his role in modernizing the Force.

 

He introduced innovative policing models, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art technical intelligence platform, and made history as the pioneer Head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, where he deployed forensic and non-kinetic strategies to combat complex crimes,” the statement partly reads.

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READ ALSO: BREAKING: Former Inspector-General Of Police, Solomon Arase, Is Dead

The BCF, while describing Arase as a towering figure in Nigeria’s security architecture and an acknowledged intelligence cop within the global security network, recalled his contributions to police reforms, intelligence, law enforcement, and scholarship, especially through his writings on internal security and electoral management.

The Forum noted that Arase’s membership of the Body of Benchers was a reflection of his commitment to excellence, integrity, the rule of law, and service to humanity.

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Until his passing, he was the immediate past Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), where he brought fresh, innovative ideas to police management.

“Beyond his public service, Arase would be remembered as a philanthropist who used his influence and professional networks to uplift communities.

READ ALSO: Police Mourn Ex-IG Arase’s Death

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“Through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), he provided scholarships to indigent students across Nigeria and championed causes that advanced education, security, and social welfare,” the BCF noted.

The BCF also highlighted his passion for his people, which inspired the formation of the Forum in December 2024 at his Benin City residence.

The BCF said his vision was rooted in building an egalitarian society where culture, security, and development went hand in hand.

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The Edo people, the entire nation, and humanity in general are highly appreciative of his humble service which he rendered with uncommon dedication, grit and compassion,” the statement read.

The Forum extended prayers and condolences to his wife, Mrs. Agharese Arase, and their children, describing his death as a monumental loss to Edo State, Nigeria, and the world.

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