Abomination In Rivers
As the English people say, “there is a silver lining in every cloud,” but the cloud in Rivers State at present is not looking rosy yet at all. Not with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and his strong ally, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s insistence on maintaining a permanent hold on the state’s political and economic structures.
In spite of the negotiations, peace talks and reconciliation moves following the imposition of an emergency rule on March 18, 2025, Wike, being encouraged by the President, seems bent on having his way over the deposed Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the options have been weighed and the verdict-Fubara may return to the Brick House, Port Harcourt in September, but with a price tag-he must surrender the political structures and the juicy resources of Rivers State to Wike and the Presidency.
To achieve their goals, Fubara, who has been accused of plans to sabotage Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, has allegedly acceded to the preconditions of the powers that be before his impending defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) prior to his reinstatement. And the result-A dangerous descent into prehistoric antecedents and precedence for democracy under the Tinubu administration.
Our Cover Story dwells on the challenges that may follow the August 30, 2025 council polls in Rivers State what with all the legal fireworks that are likely to trail the exercise, which has been tagged as dangerous, not only for Rivers, but the entire country.
In Tentacle’s resolve to expose the bad, the good and the ugly, we present an array of other stories, including the innovations and collaborative efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with other government agencies and institutions, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), among others to improve the fortunes of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and by extension the national economy.
Of particular interest are the milestones being recorded at the Premier Port Apapa, Tincan Island Port, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ and other commands of the Service in their efforts to outsmart and frustrate smuggling activities across the country while generating unprecedented revenues into the coffers of the Federal Government.
This comes with a reminder that while the government focuses on generating more revenues from its cash cow agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the NCS and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among others, most Nigerians still wallow in abject poverty, lack and deprivation, prompting concerns that the Tinubu administration has remained insensitive sine assuming office on May 29, 2023.
There may be permanent interests in politics, but overall, Nigerians demand some fresh breath from the Tinubu government even if it comes in the package of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s era.
We serve you these and many more in this edition in our resolve to keep pushing for a better country. Enjoy the package!
