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Stop peddling false hopes, unrealistic promises, HURIWA tells Ministers

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1 year ago

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Stop peddling false hopes, unrealistic promises, HURIWA tells Ministers

Ministers in the country have been asked to stop ‘dishing out’ unrealistic, unattainable promises that are out of touch with the reality of the Nigerian situation.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) made the call following recent statements credited to some ministers.

A statement signed by HURIWA national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko on Sunday, said : “We urge these ministers to stop making dubious promises and focus on doing the work for which their principal appointed them or were they appointed to keep dishing out outlandish and nonsensical talks about things they never intended to achieve?

” Governing a grossly underdeveloped society made so by thieving politicians of their party, is beyond reeling out students’ like utopian manifestos. It requires seriousness of purpose, accountability, transparency and effective implementation of policies and programmes that will address the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian people.

“We are not impressed by the claims of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who says the proposed Abuja-Lagos Supersonic highway will be completed in four years. Umahi who stated this in a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, noted that driving from Lagos to Abuja will take 4 hours when the project is completed.

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“This is a blatant lie and an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians who have suffered for decades from the poor state of roads and infrastructure in the country. How can a project that has not even started be completed in four years when previous administrations have failed to deliver on similar promises? How can a supersonic highway be built in a country that lacks basic amenities such as electricity, water and security? How can Nigerians trust a minister who has been accused of corruption and mismanagement of funds meant for road projects?

“We are also not convinced by the statement of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who has said that under his watch, no Nigerian would be an illiterate.

” In 2022, the former Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah said 31 per cent of the nation’s population could not read or write. This shows that out of 223,804,632 Nigerians population, 68,379,436 cannot read or write in the country. However, Mamman in Abuja on Friday during the commemoration of the 2023 International Literacy Day said the President has directed that every Nigerian must be educated.

“This is a mere rhetoric and a mockery of the educational sector that has been neglected and underfunded by successive governments. How can a minister whose ministry has serially failed to address the issues of teachers’ welfare, curriculum reform, quality assurance, access and equity, infrastructure and learning materials claim to eradicate illiteracy in Nigeria? How can Nigerians trust a minister who has yer to publish a plan of action on what he intends to implement and their timeline to enhance literacy?

“We are also not moved by the declaration of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, who has restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment towards creating 10 million jobs through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

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” This is a false and empty promise that has no basis in reality. How can a minister who has failed to provide humanitarian assistance and relief to millions of Nigerians affected by conflicts, disasters and poverty claim to create 10 million jobs? How can Nigerians trust a minister whose ministry unser the immediate past dispensation was accused of diverting funds meant for social intervention programmes such as N-Power, TraderMoni and School Feeding Programme? This same minister for Humanitarian Affairs was allegedly caught on camera sharing dollars to her staff when she was the National women’s leader of APC and soon after sue was appointed? In what way does she plan to createvthe employment opportunities and what is the timeframe?”

The civil rights group called on the ministers to stop deceiving Nigerians with their unrealistic and unattainable promises and focus on doing their jobs with honesty, integrity and competence.

” We also call on President Bola Tinubu to hold these ministers accountable for their actions and inactions and ensure that they deliver on their mandates or face sanctions. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation should coordinate efficient monitoring of these ministers and the federal government should set up a performance assessment mechanisms whereby the ministers are marked quarterly and if any failed to reach certain acceptable standard of performance based on empirical data, then the said minister should be sacked forthwith, ” it said.

The group also reminded the ministers that governing Nigeria is not a joke or a game, adding that it is a serious responsibility that requires vision, passion and dedication.

” We urge these ministers to allow their success to speak for them rather than making noise with their words. We warn these ministers that Nigerians are watching them closely and will not hesitate to demand for their resignation or removal if they fail to perform, ” the statement added

Stop peddling false hopes, unrealistic promises, HURIWA tells Ministers

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Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG

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20 hours ago

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March 23, 2025

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Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday attributed its neutral position on the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State to the need to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.

Taking positions on contentious partisan issues, the NGF said, would not augur well for it, especially in view of its past experience in fundamental division.

Notwithstanding, the declaration of the state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu yesterday generated more kudos and knocks from across the country.

Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, said the action of the president was meant to ensure protection of lives and restoration of law and order in the state, while the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said his principal  was required  to “avert needless harm and destruction .”

National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, said Tinubu, by his action, cleared what had manifested as a constitutional crisis in Rivers state.

But former President Goodluck Jonathan saw it from a different perspective.

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He described “abuse of office and power by the three arms of government in the country“ as a dent on Nigeria’s image.

The NGF, in a statement by its Director General Abdulateef Shittu, said it is essentially “an umbrella body for sub-national governments to promote unified policy positions and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in pursuit of sustainable socio-economic growth and the well-being of the people.”

It added: “As a technical and policy hub comprising governors elected on different platforms, the body elects to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.

“In whatever language it is written, taking positions on contentious partisan issues would mean a poor sense of history — just a few years after the forum survived a fundamental division following political differences among its members.

“Regardless, the Forum is reputed for its bold positions on governance and general policy matters of profound consequences, such as wages, taxes, education and universal healthcare, among others.”

It asked for “the understanding of the public and the media, confident that appropriate platforms and crisis management mechanisms would take care of any such issues.”

Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG

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Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi

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2 days ago

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March 22, 2025

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Chairman of the Senate Services Sunday Karimi

Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi

Chairman of the Senate Services Sunday Karimi has hailed President Bola Tinubu for the decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.

 He told reporters on Friday in Abuja that the President acted in the best interest of the State and Nigeria, having taken his decision in compliance with the Constitution.

“No President or government worth a name, will fold its arms and watch a political situation deteriorate to what we saw unfolding in Rivers State.

“We saw that bombing of pipelines had begun, and the security situation was getting worse with the tension everywhere”, Karimi stated.

Karimi, who represents Kogi-West on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled the “fatherly role” Tinubu had played in the crisis since 2023 in a bid to get the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reach an understanding, to no avail.

He explained: “We were all here in 2023 when Mr President called that truce meeting at the Aso Rock Villa. There was the eight-point agenda for settlement reached between the factions.

“When Nigerians expected that progress should be made to achieve peace, things started deteriorating considerably to a point where the governor demolished the House of Assembly building and administered the state with only three legislators.”

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Karimi observed that with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which gave the upper hand to the 27 lawmakers loyal to the camp of the FCT Minister, matters merely got worse in the State as the lawmakers were set to impeach the Governor.

“What did you expect would be the implications? There would have been more destruction, killings and economic losses for the country.

“With the bombings that had already started, it was a matter of time before the whole state would be engulfed in flames. No responsible President would sit, arms folded, and allow that to happen “ he added.

The senator further argued that it took “painstaking efforts” by the administration to raise daily crude oil production to around 1,800 barrels, noting that Nigeria’s economy was already “witnessing a rebound under the renewed hope projects of the government.”

“Allowing the situation in Rivers to get worse before he would act, wouldn’t have helped the state or Nigeria as a country in any way.

“Mr. President intervened at the right time, and his actions are covered by law,” he said.

Karimi also spoke on the emergency declaration  in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and a couple of other states by former President Goodluck Jonathan without removing the Governors from office or suspending the state assemblies.

According to him, the case with those States was not generated by political crises but rather security concerns.

“So, I will advise those comparing the two scenarios to remember that one was purely about security threats resulting from the insurgency caused by Boko Haram, while that of Rivers is clearly political.

“It was the proper thing to do to suspend the political actors in the two factions to allow for tensions to diffuse. Nigerians should appreciate the President for the action he has taken so far,” he stated.

Sen. Karimi also noted that there was no cause for alarm as the National Assembly had indicated that the emergency rule could be reviewed as soon as there were signs that things could quickly normalise in Rivers State.

 

Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi

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Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas

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5 days ago

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March 19, 2025

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Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibok-ete Ibas 

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (Retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

The administrator was sworn in on Wednesday after a short meeting with the President.

Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly members.

The President said his decision was based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking concrete action.

The suspension of Fubara and other elected representatives has been rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigerian Bar Association.

However, the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.

Ibas was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.

He is from Cross River State where he had his early education.

The new sole administrator went to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.

He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.

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