By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has declared that Nigeria’s problem is basic and could be solved within four years but lamented that people always think that politics and governance are the same thing.

He noted that there is a marked difference between politics and governance, stressing that one could be adept in politics but a total failure in governance.

“If governance fails, everything will crumble.

He cited an example with Lagos which used to have the best water in the English speaking world due to governance not politics.

“If you read the colonial journals, if you are coming from London, they say, no, no, don’t bother. Once you get to Lagos, you can drink water from the fountain anywhere. It’s safe,” he stated.

He emphasized that the person who was behind all of that and those who built the waterworks were not politicians because if you ask them to stand up and speak, they wouldn’t know what to say but they were good in water.

“The people who came up with the best idea for education were not good in politics, but they knew how to educate people.

“So, the role of politics is that you will select those who are politically communicative and bring them to your political party. Then, you also select those who are very proficient in the areas of life and who can say farewell to poverty and empower the people that can uplift the nation,” he said.

He noted that to be able to deliver good governance, one must be able to bring together talented individuals with fantastic political communication and political organizing ability and not necessarily people who are good in politics.

Adebayo added that in addition to having the leadership skills to manage resources, such persons must also have some levels of altruism because to succeed in politics one must be willing and ready to do the required things.

“This is because in politics, you do things that don’t affect you. Altruism is what makes a soldier die in a war that doesn’t have any personalistic aim. Altruism is what makes you to build schools for children that are not yours.

“That altruism is what will make you to build a national institution. But, the opposite of altruism is what makes you appropriate what was built before you came and now put your name on it. It’s all part of the problems.

“So what you need to learn is that offering good governance is not difficult. Our problems are basic.
“We have solved them before in our civilization. In the past, we used not to be hungry at all.

“We have had civilizations that are secure to the point where women would go to the stream, fetch water and be playing around. Nobody would worry about them.

“So, we can do it again. I don’t want you to think that our country is beset with unsolvable problems. None of our problems can last longer than the life of one administration that is committed and serious,” he said.

He used what the FCT minister, Nyesome Wike is doing to prove that the country’s problems can be solved in four years if the leadership in Nigeria is committed and serious.

He said: “It shows to you that if the person in charge of communication does that, education does that, health does that, it is easy to transform a developing country than a well-developed country.

“So the idea that we need to be patient should be properly defined. It is a patience that is strategic, not just being patient.

“For example, if you are into construction and you do a concrete deck, you have to wait 21 days for it to dry. That is strategic patience. But you cannot say I’m waiting without pouring the concrete. You must pour the concrete first and then wait.

“So our leaders who say we should be patient, must do something which we are waiting for. A mother, who is cooking jollof rice for the children will tell them, wait for 30 minutes or one hour. They will be patient because they see that the mother is cooking. But if she’s lying on her bed and making telephone calls, they are going to worry.”

 The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom says it is set to welcome President Bola Tinubu to the state as the party officially receives Gov. Umo Eno into its fold.

Sen. Ita Enang, an APC Chieftain, made the statement in Uyo on Friday while briefing newsmen on the party’s preparation for the reception in honour of Eno.

Enang further  said that the party was fully prepared to receive the Vice President, the party’s National Chairman, and governors elected on the party’s platform.

It would be recalled that on June 6, Eno officially announced his defection from the People’s Democratic Party to APC.

Enang, a former Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly and Niger Delta Affairs, said that the governor’s decision had aligned Akwa Ibom to the centre.

He assured the governor and his supporters that the APC would receive them with open arms, and keep to every agreement that had been reached.

“As progressives, we shall work with the governor and his supporters to ensure that they fit into the party without hitches.

“We will also work with them to align programmes of the state government with the ideals and manifesto of the party,” he said.

Enang described the governor’s entry into APC as a merger that would be of immense benefits to the state and its people.(NAN)

…Additional Funds for Security, Pension, Gratuity Arrears

…. Total  Budget Rises Now N1.846trn

By David Torough, Abuja

The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibak has presented a revised budget of N1.

The revised budget includes allocations for security, pension and gratuity arrears, and capital projects to support economic growth and entrepreneurship.

Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele defended the increase, citing the need to address the state’s pressing issues.

Bamidele highlighted the allocation of N50 billion for pension and gratuity arrears, saying it’s a moral obligation and a peace-building effort.

“One of the standout components of the revised budget is the allocation of N50 billion for the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities.

“These are citizens who served their state diligently and have waited far too long for their entitlements. We see this move as both a moral obligation and a peace-building effort.

“Another major point of commendation is the budget’s structure. More than 70% of the total appropriation is earmarked for capital expenditure, while less than 30% is designated for recurrent expenses, including overhead costs.

“This demonstrates a clear commitment to infrastructure, job creation, and development.

“If our budgets focus more on capital projects, our people will see and feel the dividends of democracy.”

The Senate Leader of the Senate assured that the Ad-hoc Committee would ensure faithful implementation of the Rivers State Budget, emphasising the importance of transparency and accountability in public fund utilisation.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Senate Leader also assured that the adhoc Committee would ensure faithful implementation of the Rivers State Budget.

“As representatives of the Nigerian people, we are not only tasked with evaluating figures, but also with ensuring the faithful implementation of the budget.

“It is our mandate to track how allocated resources are utilised – project by project, sector by sector – to guarantee transparency and uphold accountability in the use of public funds.

“This means that our engagement today on the Rivers State 2025 Appropriation Bill does not end here.

“We shall, in the coming months, assess the performance of the budget by closely monitoring disbursements, execution timelines, and delivery outcomes.

“Our objective is to ensure that approved funds translate into meaningful development and that deviations or delays are addressed promptly in the overriding public interest.

“Beyond the numbers, we must also evaluate the real-world impact of this budget on the everyday lives of the people of Rivers State. In times of political uncertainty and emergency governance, government actions must not only be lawful, but also people-centred. We must ask: will this budget deliver improved roads, healthcare, education, safety, and livelihoods for the people?

 “This, ultim