By George Mgbeleke

The Deputy President of the Senate and the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promptly acceding to the request of the Government of the Benin Republic, for Nigerian military intervention to thwart the coup attempt in the country.

On Sunday, soldiers under the banner of the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) announced the ousting of President Patrice Talon through a broadcast on the country’s state-owned television station.

The swift intervention of the Nigerian Armed Forces played a leading role in foiling the coup and restoring law and order in the neighbouring country.

Senator Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, commended President Tinubu for his swift response to the country’s request.

Describing Democracy as the best system of government, Senator Barau said military government has no place in the modern world’s scheme of things.

” I commend the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for swiftly acceding to the request of the Government of the Benin Republic, for Nigerian military intervention to foil the coup in the country.

” Military rule has no place in our society. Regardless of the situation, Democracy remains the best option for our subregion and continent. We must all work together to promote, defend and make the system work based on our peculiarities,” he said.

Through the ECOWAS Parliament, he said that they will continue to promote legislative cooperation, democratic development, regional integration, and shared prosperity across West Africa.

” At the ECOWAS Parliament, the people’s parliament, our commitment to building a more integrated, stable, and prosperous West Africa is rock solid. We are collectively working to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, foster unity among member states, and advance peace and security for the development of our region,” he said.

By Our Correspondent

The Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives has expressed disappointment and concern that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is prioritizing 2027 politics over the welfare and security of Nigerians, labeling it insensitive, unconscionable and a clear example of questionable leadership.

They emphasized that while the President’s aspiration for re-election is legitimate, his priority should be addressing the pressing challenges facing Nigerians.

In a statement issued by the Labour Party Caucus Leader, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, in Abuja on Sunday, the lawmakers reiterated that the primary duty of a government is to ensure the welfare and security of its citizens. However, they criticized the APC and President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing their 2027 reelection bid over these fundamental responsibilities. The statement expressed concern and bewilderment that while the nation grapples with insecurity, the ruling party is either ignoring the issue or offering superficial solutions rather than addressing the problem effectively.

These concerns were raised amid escalating insecurity nationwide and the administration’s struggles to fund budgets and demonstrate accountability. “The situation has led to prolonged protests by local contractors who remain unpaid for completed projects, sparking economic hardship, stalled development, and a dearth of new projects.”

Recently, these aggrieved contractors have been holding vigils outside the Ministry of Finance, highlighting the government’s shortcomings.

The Labour Party representatives highlighted that the “Appropriation Act, a law governing budget allocation, has been consistently disregarded by the current administration.” They pointed out the irony of the government pursuing costly projects like the controversial multi-trillion naira coastal road without proper appropriation or procurement processes, while essential federal road infrastructure lies in disrepair. This has raised concerns among citizens, particularly those planning to travel during the festive season, who face not only difficult road conditions but also heightened insecurity.

Also of grave concern is the opaque expenditure of N17.5 trillion, in 2024 alone, on a pipeline-security contract, as revealed in the recently audited accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC.
“Nigerians would remember that over a 12-year period, the country spent about N18 trillion on subsidy(which benefitted everyone through affordable transportation and cheaper costs of foodstuffs), but on the excuse of lack of funds to sustain the subsidy regime, this Administration has clearly robbed Peter(Nigerians), to pay Paul(cronies), through a questionable pipeline-security contract whose executors are unknown.”

This statement paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s current state, highlighting concerns about the effectiveness of its government branches. “The executive is seen as underwhelming, the judiciary’s decisions are questioned, and the legislature is criticized for not having the moral fiber to hold the executive accountable.

“Our dear country, Nigeria has become a special economic zone: everyone and everything now has a price. Kidnappers and bandits now have prices on the heads of the citizenry; elected officials now have a price to look the other way; and opposition figures have prices to enthrone chaos in their own platforms. Even the clergy and ulamas are not spared the chicanery of the divisive effects of a gravely monetized polity.

“Pray, Nigerians, we’re in the 12th month of the year, 2025. In fact, across government owned enterprises, ministries, departments, and agencies of government, none can boast of 10 percent of execution of the capital component of the budget. In most cases, the scorecard reads nil.

“Yet everyone carries on, as though this has become the new normal.
Worse is the glaring impunity of relevant officials not bothering to explain to anyone where revenues meant for the implementation of the budget have ‘disappeared’ to.

“Nigeria is on a negative cruise; local contractors occupying the offices of the Federal Ministry of Finance, retired police officers taking over the gates of the National Assembly, while kidnappers freely choose where to strike every single day, yet the only response by government is to launch and distribute vehicles for a purported Renewed Hope Agenda.
So, while the country sits on the precipice, all Mr. President thinks about is to return to power in 2027.

“Mr. President, while your quest is a legitimate aspiration, please do well to attend to the current stark realities confronting Nigerians.
Besides the parlous state of Nigerian roads – which now ensures that a hitherto six hours journey, from either Lagos or Abuja to the South South or South East, now takes an entire day to traverse – is the grim reality of possible kidnap which stares every road user in the face.

“Some lawmakers are reflecting on their roles and acknowledging that many are complicit, silenced by potential pecuniary gains. Many have described the 10th Assembly as the worst in Nigeria’s democratic history, reduced to puppetry and rubber-stamping, with no tangible benefits for citizens. They criticize the government for prioritizing economic interests over citizens’ welfare, labeling it “economic banditry.”

“We must not continue on this sorry path. Both the ruling party and opposition must put aside politics and prioritize the people’s welfare. Citizens are the backbone of democracy, and their interests should come above all else.”

By Our Correspondent
Seventeen members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, on Friday, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The lawmakers announced their defection during plenary on Friday, December 5, 2025 at the Auditorium of the Assembly quarters currently used as the hallowed chambers.

The defected lawmakers, led by Speaker of the House, Martin Amaehwule, cited the division in the PDP at the national level as the reason for their defection, noting that the situation has made the future of the party “hazy and nebulous”.

Among the lawmakers who defected to the All Progressive Congress were; the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, Majority Leader, Major Jack, Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Somiari- Stewart, Chief Whip, Hon. Frankline Nwabuchi, and the Deputy Whip, Hon. Ofiks Kabang.

Others are; Hon. Peter Abbey, Smart Adoki, Igwe Aforji, Arnold Davids, Enemi George, Tekenari Granville, Christian Nwankwo, Gerald Oforji, Azeru Opara, Lolo Opuende, and Hon. Solomon Wami.

Recall that the Speaker, Martin Amaehwule had in December 2023, in the heat of the over two years political crisis in the state, led all 27 members of the Assembly loyal to the FCT Minister to the APC but later denied their defection, and returned to the PDP.

Meanwhile, the PDP which is now the minority party in the House with 9 members, has constituted their officers with Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo emerging the Minority Leader, Hon. Barile Nwakoh was elected Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. John Dominic Iderima, Minority Whip, and Hon. Justina Emeji, Deputy Minority Whip.

The Assembly has also renewed its earlier call on the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to forward his list of Commissioner-nominees to the House for screening and confirmation in line with the 1999 Constitution; regretting that “the State is yet to have the complement of a full cabinet.”

The Assembly also reaffirmed its earlier resolution made on the 14th of December, 2023, and adopted the auditorium at the State House of Assembly quarters as its legitimate and lawful Chamber for the conduct of legislative businesses for the life of the Tenth Assembly of the State.

Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Amaehwule in his speech lauded President Bola Tinubu for his purposeful and exceptional leadership and pledged their support to the APC and the President.