News
Right of Reply: THE PUNCH AND BUSYBODY BUSINESS
The recent declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State has triggered diverse commentaries from a wide range of Nigerians.
Almost everyone hailed the presidential proclamation because of the visible threat to law and order in the state at the time the action was taken. Of course, there were a few naysayers who read political meanings into an otherwise sincere and prompt intervention.
One such negative interpretation is the position taken by the Editorial Board of The Punch newspaper. In one of its editorials published on the matter, the national daily claimed that the entire crisis was caused by what it described as “the needless meddlesomeness in the governance of the state by its former governor and Tinubu’s Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike….” It is unfortunate that this narrative and others like it have become commonplace in the media space.
How did the Editorial Board of a reputable newspaper arrive at such a conclusion? Their claim that the Sole Administrator, Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd), has been acting a script purportedly written by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is also faulty and has no iota of truth.
They also faulted the sacking of all political appointees who served in Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration, insinuating that their replacements were drawn from Wike’s political camp. Again, nothing can be further from the truth.
Since his appointment as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas has been running the state with the abundant human resources available in the state and has not imported anybody from outside the state. Did the Editors of The Punch really expect him to run the administration with the politicians loyal to the suspended governor?
Do they not know that the crop of political appointees who served Fubara would have found it difficult to work with the Sole Administrator?
Certainly, they know the truth, but they have chosen to stoke the fire to generate more tensions in Rivers State.
Certain interests might have commissioned this editorial to cast aspersions on the Sole Administrator and raise doubts about his capacity to run the state.
It may also have been the handiwork of Wike’s political detractors, the man whom many politicians love to hate for no other reason than envy and jealousy.
We urge the Punch newspapers to seek a better mode of intervention in the political situation and not dwell on innuendos and unsubstantiated allegations against certain political actors in order to blackmail them.
Dr Ike Odogwu
Two people were killed and several others injured in a violent bandit attack on Tuge town, Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State, on Friday morning.
According to residents, the assailants stormed the community around 7:00 am, firing sporadically and forcing locals to flee for safety.
The victims sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The attack comes despite multiple peace deals brokered between Musawa local authorities and bandit groups operating in the area.
Community leaders had hoped these agreements would reduce violence and allow displaced residents to return to normal life.
Security forces were reportedly alerted as the attackers withdrew, but many residents questioned the value of the peace arrangements, pointing out that rural communities in Katsina remain highly vulnerable.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has restated that it is a self-governing political party, insisting it is not controlled by any single person.
The party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC remains accessible to all Nigerians, including prominent political figures such as former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
He maintained that no individual can claim ownership of the party.
Abdullahi made the clarification during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Friday, where he dismissed claims that the ADC is being groomed to advance the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, such claims are unfounded and largely driven by individuals who lack a proper understanding of the party’s internal structure.
He explained that ADC members are fully aware that the party operates on collective ownership, a principle that allows it to welcome influential politicians from different backgrounds.
“Those of us within the ADC know that the party does not belong to any one person. That is why someone like Peter Obi can join, and why Rotimi Amaechi is already a member,” he said.
He further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is behind the growing speculation, accusing it of attempting to interfere in the ADC’s internal affairs.
The ADC spokesperson also assured that the party’s presidential candidate would be chosen through due process, stressing that the outcome is not prearranged.
“Whoever eventually becomes our presidential candidate, whether Atiku or any other aspirant, will emerge through a transparent and credible process,” Abdullahi stated, reaffirming that the ADC is not the personal platform of any individual.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday scheduled a date for judgment in a case brought by the Civil Society Observatory for Constitutional and Legal Compliance, CSOCLC, challenging President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State last year.
Justice James Omotosho set Friday, March 9, 2026 for judgment after both the plaintiff’s counsel, Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe, and the defence lawyers adopted their processes and presented arguments supporting and opposing the suit.
In the fresh lawsuit, CSOCLC questioned the President’s authority to remove elected state officials during a state of emergency.
The NGO argued that while the President may declare an emergency under Section 305 of the Constitution, he does not have the power to suspend or remove elected executive or legislative officers and appoint an interim administrator.
Justice Omotosho, however, highlighted the similarity of the case to previous ones he had dismissed, citing jurisdictional issues under the old Emergency Powers (Jurisdiction) Act of 1962.
He also referenced a Supreme Court decision from December 15, 2025, which dismissed a related case on procedural grounds.
Acknowledging these earlier rulings, Ahaaiwe insisted they were mistaken.
The lawyer argued that the 1962 Act is a “spent” law, deliberately omitted from statute books before the 1999 Constitution came into effect.
He further contended that a 2025 presidential order modifying the alleged non-existent law is “unconstitutional, null, and void”.
“The constitution has fully covered the field on emergency powers. No executive proclamation can alter the express provisions of Section 305,” he added.
Lawyers representing the 1st to 5th defendants, including the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation, relied on the same 1962 Act and the modification order.
They argued that only the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over such disputes and urged the court to strike out the case.
The plaintiffs had requested 26 reliefs, including a declaration that Rivers State cannot be governed by an appointed administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, outside the constitutional provisions.
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