Moroccan King, His Majesty, Mohammed VI, has sent a congratulatory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria marks her 66th Independence Day, Moroccan News Agency (MAP) said on Thursday.

“In this message, the Sovereign extends to President Tinubu His warmest congratulations and well wishes for good health, happiness and success in leading the Nigerian people towards further progress and prosperity”.

It added that, “On this occasion, HM the King seizes the opportunity to express His keenness to continue working with the Nigerian President to strengthen friendship and fraternal ties between Morocco and Nigerian, serve both peoples’ interests and contribute to greater security, stability and prosperity in Africa.”

Nigeria and Morocco diplomatic relations continue to deepen through high-level engagements, sharing a strong and growing strategic partnership focused on energy security, agricultural collaboration, and regional integration in Africa.

*Pays tributes to state creation heroes, former governors

*Says Ekiti will become Nigeria’s tech hub in another 30 years

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has hailed the remarkable strides and progress the State has made 30 years after it was created by the administration of the late former military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

Oyebanji in a statewide broadcast to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the State, said although the state encountered many challenges and unpleasant experiences within the period, its people has reasons to celebrate the three-decade milestone because of the remarkable progress recorded in all indices of development.

The Governor noted that despite being among the last set of states to be created in the country and receiving one of the lowest allocations from the Federation Account, “Ekiti leads its contemporary and many before it, including far richer states, in critical matrices of human development.”

Ekiti State was created on October 1, 1996 by the late Gen. Abacha, during a broadcast to mark the nation’s 36th independence anniversary alongside Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Zamfara States which took the number of states in Nigeria from 30 to 36.

The feat was achieved after years of epic struggle by eminent citizens of the state among whom were traditional rulers, legal luminaries, politicians, senior bureaucrats, captains of industry and community leaders under the aegis of a body known as Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State.

Speaking during the broadcast, Oyebanji pointed out that many people did not give Ekiti a chance of being created as a state as it stood against “more formidable contenders from the Southwest geopolitical zone”, but the Governor ascribed glory to God for making the creation of the state possible against all odds.

According to him, the creation of the State 30 years ago and 120 years after the Kiriji War completed an epic struggle of independence started by Ekiti forbears in the liberation war of 1877 to 1893. He congratulated all Ekiti sons and daughters and all peoples from other parts of the world who have made Ekiti their home on the occasion of the 30th anniversary.

The Governor paid tributes to members of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State led by their Chairman, Chief Oladeji Fasuan; legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola; Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; other monarchs whom he described as “incubators of the state creation struggle” and lauded the patriotic sacrifices of heroes and heroines of the struggle who had joined their ancestors.

Oyebanji said it was heartwarming that as the then Secretary of the Committee for Ekiti State Creation, through the grace of God and the benevolence of Ekiti people, he is now in the saddle as Governor of the State, as the state turns thirty. describing the experience as “very humbling.”

He equally paid glowing tributes to all his predecessors in office: Col. Inua Bawa, Navy Capt. Atanda Yusuf, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Ayo Fayose, Chief Segun Oni, Dr Kayode Fayemi and leaders who served during interregnums like Chief Friday Aderemi, Brig.-Gen. Tunji Olurin, Hon Tope Ademiluyi, Hon Tunji Odeyemi, all former Deputy Governors and all former heads of legislature and judiciary.

Oyebanji restated the commitment of his administration to the ideals of the founding fathers that inspired the creation of the state stressing that “the vision of the founding fathers was to have a State where Ekiti people can utilize their God given natural and human resources in the most efficient, effective and inclusive manner, for the prosperity of our people.”

He pointed out that the state’s founding fathers envisioned “an industrialized Ekiti, where private sector capital is at the centre of the economic nervous system of the state and where enterprise and productivity are the pillars of prosperity.”

While unveiling the theme of the anniversary ‘Ekiti at 30; Celebrating the Past and Creating the Future,’ the governor disclosed that his administration has decided to use the 30th anniversary as the Launchpad for a 30-year Transformation Agenda.

The agenda, according to him, will make Ekiti a leading Centre of Agricultural Production and Agro-Processing, Innovation and Tech Development, Quality and functional Education, Research and Skills Development, Tourism, Culture and Creative Economy and Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development.

To achieve the vision, the Governor said a conversation with Ekiti Youths on October 7, 2026 at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti, will be staged with the intent to achieve three important things: to remember with gratitude, to assess the present with honesty, and to approach the future with confidence and determination.

He said: “Our agenda is therefore to work aggressively to ensure that the socio-economic infrastructures we have built in these thirty years lead to real economic growth that produces quality employment, crystallize productivity, support enterprise and enhance quality of life.

“For example, the ongoing multi-billion naira Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) project is a technological park and economic ecosystem to support the innovative and creative ingenuity of our young population.

“It is our dream that in another three decades, the tag of Ekiti as a ‘civil service’ state will have yielded to Ekiti as a Tech Hub in Nigeria’ and a major commercial centre for international trade and commerce.

“This is our promise, and we are resolutely committed to it. The Special Agric Processing Zone (SAPZ) will also take off soon. These two projects, upon completion, will transform the economic outlook of the State and drive our government’s Shared Prosperity Agenda.”

The Governor urged the people of the state to troop out en masse during the January 16, 2027 presidential election and use their votes to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in appreciation of his benevolence, support, and favour Ekiti has enjoyed under his presidency since 2023.

Francis Sardauna in Katsina 

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, has tasked Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state government to ensure the timely and effective implementation of projects and programmes contained in the 2027 Appropriation Law.

Radda, who gave the charge shortly after signing the N828.58 billion 2027 appropriation bill into law Wednesday evening, said the MDAs should ensure that the budget delivers tangible development to the people of the state.

He said that with the budget now signed into law, the responsibility had shifted to the relevant MDAs to translate the government’s plans and allocations into concrete projects and programmes.

He explained that the 2027 budget was designed through a three-stage process aimed at ensuring that the needs and priorities of the state’s citizens were reflected in government expenditure.

He noted that the first stage involved consultations with citizens across the 361 electoral wards of the state, with their identified needs collated and incorporated into the 2027 budget.

He added that the second stage involved detailed scrutiny and defence of budget proposals by ministries, departments and agencies in his presence, a practice he said had been maintained since the beginning of his administration in 2023.

The third stage, according to the governor, was the consideration of the proposals by the state House of Assembly, which is constitutionally empowered to scrutinise and pass the budget into law.

Radda said: “Now it is up to all of us to implement it. So we hope and pray that the implementing ministries, departments and agencies will be timely in their execution. And we also focus on the areas they need to focus their attention.”

He stressed that the early passage and signing of the 2027 budget represented further progress in the state government’s efforts to improve the timeliness of its budgetary process.

He recalled that the 2026 appropriation bill was signed into law on November 17, adding that the signing of the 2027 budget on October 30 represented a significant improvement.

Presenting the 2027 Appropriation Bill to the governor for assent, the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon. Nasiru Yahaya Daura, said the Assembly approved a total budget of N828,578,844,091.48 for the 2027 fiscal year. 

He further disclosed that the budget comprised N190,726,262,820.44 for recurrent expenditure and N637,852,581,271.03 for capital expenditure.

He reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to supporting the APC-led administration in delivering democratic dividends to the people of the state.

He called on residents of the state to continue supporting the government to ensure the successful implementation of its development agenda.

The Presidency has commended Promiseland Innovation for launching ProTaxi, a home-grown e-hailing platform, in Abuja with the rollout of 1,000 electric vehicles [EVs].

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation and Mobility, Prince Adetokunbo Ademola Ade-John, gave the commendation at the official launch of ProTaxi in Abuja on Thursday.

Ade-John lauded the initiative and commended the Chief Executive Officer of PromiseLand Innovation, Ambassador Emmanuel Lawrence Oloche, for the project, saying it was part of the president’s vision for transportation and mobility.

He said the ProTaxi initiative aligned with the administration’s vision for the transportation sector, particularly efforts aimed at providing modern transportation solutions.

“I commend the CEO of PromiseLand Innovation for taking this bold step in advancing transportation and mobility in Nigeria,” Ade-John said. 

“This is in line with the president’s vision for transportation and mobility. We need more innovative solutions that can provide Nigerians with efficient and affordable transportation.

“We encourage PromiseLand Innovation to sustain this initiative and expand it to other parts of the country. 

“What we are witnessing today demonstrates what can be achieved when innovation and government policy work together.” 

Home-grown e-hailing platform ProTaxi has commenced operations in Abuja, offering commuters an electric-powered transportation option while creating opportunities for drivers and their families.

ProTaxi is an initiative of PromiseLand Innovation, which is focused on using innovation and technology to move ordinary people from poverty to prosperity and create opportunities for families to earn a living.

The launch attracted guests and stakeholders as PromiseLand Innovation unveiled the ProTaxi ride service, built around electric vehicles.

The company had earlier announced plans to onboard and empower 1,000 drivers with electric vehicles, with the initiative aimed at creating income opportunities for drivers and supporting their families.

Speaking at the launch, Oloche said the idea behind ProTaxi was rooted in the organisation’s broader vision of moving ordinary people from poverty to prosperity through innovation and technology.

“That question is at the heart of why PromiseLand Innovation was born,” Oloche said.

He said the organisation believed that people’s circumstances should not determine their destiny, adding that providing the right tools, opportunities and environment could transform lives.

“We believe that circumstances should not determine destiny.

“We believe that when you give people the right tools, the right opportunities, and the right environment, their lives could be transformed,” he said.

Introducing ProTaxi, Oloche said the platform was not simply another e-hailing application but an initiative designed to create opportunities and change lives.

“Today, we introduce a ProTaxi that is not just another e-hailing application. It is a platform that creates opportunity and changes destiny,” he said.

According to him, behind every ProTaxi ride is a driver with a family whose livelihood could be supported by income generated from the platform.

“Every time a passenger takes a ProTaxi ride, there is a driver behind the wheel.

“And behind the wheel, you have a driver with a family,” he said.

Oloche explained that the income generated by drivers could help families meet basic needs, including children’s school fees and house rent.

“That is to say, for every ride that is booked, a child’s school fee is paid. A house rent is paid.

“And a dream is fulfilled for a better future to be built,” he said.

He said the company’s objective was to create opportunities for thousands of drivers, adding that the impact would extend beyond individual drivers to their families and communities.

“We believe that when we create opportunities for thousands of drivers, we are not watching families, but we are reshaping communities,” Oloche said.

He said the vision was not limited to Nigeria, as PromiseLand Innovation sought to build an African technology company capable of transforming everyday living and competing globally.

“Our mission is to build an African technology company that will transform everyday living and eventually compete with the best in the world,” he said.

Oloche described the launch as part of the PromiseLand Innovation dream of using innovation and technology to create opportunities and improve livelihoods.

“The future is not what you wait for. The future is what you work towards every day,” he said.

He said ProTaxi was also intended to provide an affordable alternative for Nigerians to move from one point to another using electric mobility.

“ProTaxi to me is yet another vision being fulfilled, a vision to provide opportunity for families to earn, to provide opportunity to families to be able to earn a living,” he said.

Also speaking, Executive Director, PromiseLand Estate, Gift Emmanuel, said the vision behind the initiative was to help the masses.

She said the company had commenced operations in Abuja and planned to expand to other states.

“The vision is to help the masses. And, at least, he’s here in Abuja now, and we are moving to other states to help other people too,” she said.

The launch marks the commencement of ProTaxi’s operations in Abuja, with the company set to implement its driver empowerment programme and expand its electric mobility offering.

• Says over 140m Nigerians live in poverty, 18m children out of school

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, on Thursday declared that Nigeria’s greatest challenge was not a lack of resources but the failure of leadership to convert the country’s enormous wealth into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity.

Obi stated this in his Independence Day address read to journalists in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 66th anniversary.

He said the country had become weighed down by poverty, insecurity, hunger, unemployment, poor healthcare and a large population of out-of-school children despite its abundant human and natural resources.

He said the anniversary should not be reduced to celebrations and patriotic speeches, but should provide an opportunity for Nigerians to critically examine the country’s journey since independence and determine whether it was still moving towards the vision of its founding fathers.

According to him, Nigeria must confront three fundamental questions: “Where are we today? Where do we want to be? How do we get from where we are to where we want to be?”

Obi said the questions had become particularly urgent because, despite the promises made by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in 2023, Nigerians continued to face severe difficulties across virtually every critical sector of national life.

He listed poverty, out-of-school children, insecurity, hunger, maternal and infant mortality, unemployment and substance abuse among the major challenges confronting the country.

Obi said more than 140 million Nigerians were living in poverty and severe hardship, while more than 18 million children were out of school.

He also claimed that more than 35 million young Nigerians were unemployed or underemployed, while over 40 million Nigerians could face extreme hunger by the end of 2026.

On insecurity, the NDC candidate said terrorism, banditry and kidnapping continued to threaten lives and livelihoods, while drug abuse and substance misuse were increasingly affecting young Nigerians.

He further stated that Nigeria’s life expectancy stood at 54 years, compared with a global average of 74 years, describing the country’s social conditions as requiring “serious, sober and honest reflection”.

Obi rejected the suggestion that Nigeria was inherently cursed, arguing that the country was “immensely endowed and blessed”.

“Our greatest problem is not a lack of resources; it is the failure to convert our enormous resources into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor said his recent visit to Sokoto State with the NDC vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, reinforced his concerns about the condition of ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, the two-day visit involved consultations with people across the state on insecurity, out-of-school children, poverty, youth unemployment and drug abuse.

He said their visit to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Ramin Kura in Sokoto metropolis was particularly disturbing, with thousands of women and children living in deplorable conditions after being displaced from their communities.

He said: “What we saw was deeply troubling,” adding that many of the displaced children lacked access to education while mothers and children had limited access to basic healthcare.

“These are Nigerians who should be living in their communities, going to school, farming their land, conducting their businesses and contributing to the economy. Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country.” 

Obi accused political leaders of failing the country and, more importantly, failing Nigerian children, insisting that the situation must change.

He, however, struck an optimistic note, declaring that his message was not one of despair but “hope, determination and responsibility”.

“I dare to proclaim with full assurance that a new Nigeria is possible,” he said.

The NDC candidate promised that, if elected president, he would make governance measurable and accountable, with government policies centred on the welfare and productivity of Nigerians.

“Within the first year, Nigerians will begin to see the tangible impact of purposeful and effective leadership,” he pledged.

Obi said his administration would confront insecurity decisively to enable farmers to return to their farms, children to return to school and businesses to operate without fear.

“No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security,” he said.

He also promised to facilitate the safe and dignified return of Nigerians displaced by insecurity to their communities.

On the economy, Obi said he would move Nigeria from what he described as a consumption-driven economy to a productive one capable of creating jobs, expanding opportunities, supporting agriculture and manufacturing, and investing heavily in human capital.

“We will prioritise education, healthcare, security and productive enterprise because these are not luxuries. They are the foundations of a functioning nation,” he said.

In an unusual pledge aimed at demonstrating his commitment to understanding the conditions of Nigerians across the country, Obi said he would spend his presidential holidays within Nigeria if elected.

He listed Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi and Ekiti States among destinations he intended to visit during his four-year tenure.

“I want to continue to see Nigeria. I want to know Nigeria. I want to spend time with Nigerians, listen to them, understand their challenges and celebrate their resilience,” he said.

Obi said his administration would seek to build a Nigeria that was secure, united and productive and governed with competence, accountability and justice.

He promised a country where no child would be denied education because of poverty or insecurity, no mother would die because she could not access basic healthcare, farmers could safely return to their farms and young people could find opportunities to work and prosper.

He also pledged that public resources would be deployed strictly for the public good.

The NDC candidate called on Nigerians to approach the 66th Independence anniversary with gratitude for the country’s achievements, honesty about its challenges and courage to confront them.

Obi said: “The Nigeria we desire will not be built by prayers alone, nor by promises alone.

“It will be built by leadership that understands that public office is a sacred trust, by citizens who demand accountability, and by all of us who refuse to accept failure as our destiny.

“It is time to build the new and productive Nigeria that is possible.”

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, Chairman of Optiva Capital Partners, Franklin Nechi, has called on Nigerians to renew their commitment to building a nation where freedom, enterprise, opportunity and human potential can flourish.

In a goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day on Thursday, Nechi described Nigeria’s 66th anniversary as an opportunity not only to celebrate the country’s journey since 1960, but also to reflect on the responsibility of the present generation to shape the Nigeria that future generations will inherit. 

“Independence is more than the absence of colonial rule. It is the freedom and capacity of a people to determine their destiny, create opportunity, build prosperity and give every generation a reason to believe in its country,” he said.

According to Nechi, Nigeria’s greatest resource remains its people, their enterprise, creativity, resilience and ability to succeed despite difficult circumstances.

He said Nigerians have demonstrated repeatedly that given the right environment, they can compete and excel anywhere in the world. “Our entrepreneurs are building businesses, our professionals are leading institutions, our young people are creating technology and our creative talents are shaping global culture. Wherever Nigerians find opportunity, they demonstrate what is possible.”

Global Citizens, Deeply Rooted in Nigeria

Nechi said Nigeria’s engagement with the wider world should not be interpreted as a rejection of the country. As chairman of an investment immigration firm that helps Africans explore international mobility and investment opportunities, he said Optiva’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that Nigerians can be globally connected without becoming disconnected from home. 

“Global mobility should not mean abandoning Nigeria. It should mean creating bridges between Nigeria and the world, bridges through which knowledge, investment, partnerships, technology and opportunities can flow in both directions.”

He said Nigerians living and working abroad remain an important part of the country’s economic and social story, contributing knowledge, capital, expertise and international networks to the development of the country.

Reflecting on Optiva’s 2026 thought-leadership theme, ‘From Access to Legacy: Building the African Family’s Global Future,’ Nechi said the same principle could be applied to nation-building. “Wealth must ultimately create impact. Access must create opportunity. And opportunity must create a legacy.”

He urged successful Nigerians to look beyond personal accumulation and consider how their businesses, investments, expertise and influence can contribute to a stronger society. 

He said the responsibility of nation-building belongs not only to government but also to businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs, families and citizens. “Every Nigerian who creates a job, builds a business, educates a child, mentors a young person, develops an innovation, pays taxes responsibly or invests in the future is contributing to the Nigeria we want.”

The Nigeria We Owe The Next Generation 

Nechi said Independence Day should also prompt Nigerians to think beyond the present generation. He challenged Nigerians to consider whether the country being built today will provide future generations with greater opportunities than those available to previous generations. “The real measure of our independence will not only be how far we have travelled in 66 years, but what kind of country we leave behind after our time.”

He called for greater emphasis on education, entrepreneurship, innovation, infrastructure, healthcare, economic opportunity and an environment where young Nigerians can develop their talents and compete globally. According to him, Nigeria’s enormous human capital represents an opportunity that must be deliberately nurtured.

“Our young people should not merely be the future of Nigeria. They should be participants in building Nigeria today.”

As Nigeria celebrates its 66th Independence anniversary, Nechi urged Nigerians to retain faith in the country’s potential while recognising that patriotism must be expressed through action. “We have every reason to believe in Nigeria. But belief must be accompanied by responsibility. The Nigeria of our dreams will not be built by hope alone. It will be built by people who choose every day to create, invest, serve, innovate and contribute.” 

Nechi concluded by congratulating Nigerians at home and around the world on the nation’s 66th Independence anniversary. “As we celebrate 66 years of independence, let us remember that our greatest legacy will not be what we accumulated for ourselves, but the possibilities we created for those who come after us.”

Funmi Ogundare 

The University of Ibadan (UI) has called on student union leaders to embrace ethical conduct, accountability, competence and resilience in the discharge of their responsibilities, stressing that effective leadership goes beyond occupying a position.

The Director, Career Development and Counselling Centre (CDCC), University of Ibadan, Prof. Adebayo Oluwole, made this call at a training programme for student union leaders, Tuesday themed, ‘Ethical and Responsible Student Leadership: Building Competence, Resilience and Positive Impact’.

He said student leadership was both a responsibility and an opportunity to create positive change, noting that student leaders were expected to represent their colleagues, articulate their concerns, engage university authorities, resolve disagreements and contribute to the development of the university community.

He noted that the quality of student leadership could influence student life, campus relationships and the reputation of the university.

According to him, “Leadership can not be sustained by position alone, as a title may give you authority, but character, competence and credibility give you influence.”

He explained that the training was deliberately structured to expose student leaders to various dimensions of effective leadership, including responsible governance, collaboration, conflict management, drug abuse prevention and people skills.

The first session, ‘Drug Abuse and Addiction: Early Signs of Abuse, Consequences and the Way Out’, was delivered by Mercy Godwin, representing the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command.

Oluwole said the session was particularly relevant because student leaders were expected to serve as role models and positive influences among their peers.

Another session, ‘Ethical Leadership, Accountability and Stewardship in Student Governance,’ was handled by the Deputy Bursar (Grants), University of Ibadan, Mr Olagoke Akanwo.

The programme also featured a session on ‘Leadership Service through Collaboration and Teamwork among Students’,  facilitated by the Director, Youth Friendly Centre,  Dr. Adebunmi Oyekola.

The director said the session underscored the importance of teamwork, stressing that no leader could succeed alone.

A session on ‘Understanding Personality Types for Effective Conflict Management’, was delivered by Dr. Adeleye of the Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies.

According to Oluwole, understanding personality differences was essential for student leaders because they interacted with individuals with different temperaments, expectations, communication styles and approaches to disagreements.

The final session, ‘People Skills for Student Leaders: Empathy, Altruism and Positive Campus Relationships’, was facilitated by Dr Ola John Oluremi of Micomglobe Limited, Lagos.

Oluwole said the session reinforced the importance of empathy and positive relationships, noting that leadership was ultimately about people.

He stated: “The CDCC remains committed to supporting the development of students with the knowledge, skills and values required to provide responsible leadership within and beyond the university community.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor,  Prof. Kayode Adebowale, urged the student union leaders to lead with empathy, integrity, competence and courage, stressing that effective leadership depends on the ability to understand people, communicate effectively and treat others with dignity.

Adebowale, who declared the training open, noted that it was designed to equip student leaders with skills and values needed to provide responsible leadership.

He said leaders might have good policies, programmes, manifestoes and speeches, but their leadership would remain limited if they could not understand the people they led, communicate with them and empathise with their experiences.

He said: “Empathy is not weakness. Altruism is not foolishness. Respect is not surrender. These are qualities that enable leaders to build trust and create healthier relationships.”

The VC urged the student leaders to approach the training with an open mind and actively participate by asking questions, challenging their assumptions and learning from both the facilitators and one another.

He further charged them to translate the knowledge acquired during the programme into their conduct, saying leadership training would only be meaningful if it influenced their actions.

According to him, “Preparing students for the future goes beyond academic qualifications, as the workplace and society require graduates who can communicate, collaborate, manage conflicts, demonstrate emotional intelligence, make ethical decisions, solve problems and lead responsibly.”

He said the university’s responsibility extended beyond helping students build careers to developing their character, competence, resilience and ability to build meaningful relationships.

Addressing the student leaders, Adebowale urged them to focus on the legacy they would leave behind after their tenure.

He said: “Your tenure will end, but your legacy will remain.”

He advised the leaders not to measure their success only by what they achieved while in office, but also by the people they empowered, relationships they built, values they demonstrated and the positive culture they left behind.

Adebowale urged them to “lead with integrity, lead with competence, lead with empathy, lead with courage, lead collaboratively,” adding that, above all, they should lead in the spirit of service.

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Sokoto State, Miss Amanwi Gahtan Ndomchen, has provided free Hepatitis screening for 250 residents and trained students of Rochas Foundation School on skills acquisition.

The medical outreach was carried out in collaboration with UNICEF, Pathfinder Women and Children Development Initiative (PWCDI) and Pure Path Health Initiative (PHI).

The programme targeted residents of Kwanawa community and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Dange/Shuni Local Government Area of the state.

It also included general health checks, blood pressure and blood sugar tests, as well as health sensitisation.

Speaking with newsmen after the exercise, Ndomchen said she was motivated by the low level of medical literacy in the country, where many only seek care when their condition has worsened.

She noted that many Nigerians unknowingly live with ailments until complications set in.

Ndomchen, a medical biochemist, said those who tested positive for Hepatitis would be referred for treatment and counselling, stressing that early detection remains key to effective management.

The Director of Medical Services, Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Adamu Abubakar Ibrahim, commended the corps member for the gesture.

Ibrahim said the outreach would create needed awareness, adding that Hepatitis B is manageable and curable when detected early, while advising those with high blood pressure and sugar levels to adopt healthy lifestyles.

The Coordinator of PWCDI, Hajiya Aisha Dantshoho, also lauded Ndomchen and urged other corps members to emulate her.

Dantshoho said her organisation partnered the corps member because of its commitment to improving the lot of women and children, noting that PWCDI provided testing kits and other materials for the programme.

The Programme Manager of Pure Path Health Initiative, Theophilus Odeleye, said his organisation would continue to support preventive healthcare programmes at the grassroots.

In a related development, Ndomchen also trained students of Rochas Foundation School, Sokoto, on skills acquisition and empowered two best students with start-up funds as part of her Community Development Service (CDS) project.

She said the training, which covered production of soaps, shampoo, peanuts and cosmetics, was aimed at making the students self-reliant in a world driven by entrepreneurship.

The Principal of the school, Mr. Michael Shilong, thanked the corps member for the laudable gesture and urged the students to take the skills seriously, noting that white-collar jobs are no longer readily available.

The NYSC Coordinator in Sokoto State, Mr. Tyoyer Gabriel Ter, represented by the Assistant Director, CDS, Alhaji Nafiu Garba Nadama, commended Ndomchen, saying posterity will remember her for her contributions to humanity and urged other corps members to initiate impactful community projects.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar Thursday continued his attacks on the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, stating that contrary to the present situation in the country, his administration if elected will provide affordable welfare and protection of lives and property for all Nigerians at inception of office as President.

He also asked President Bola Tinubu to explain how N750 billion was distributed to Nigerians without telephones.

Addressing a press conference at the National Secretariat of the his party, the African Democratic Congress, Atiku, in a speech titled BOLA TINUBU CALLS IT PROSPERITY BUT NIGERIANS CAN BARELY AFFORD TO LIVE, said: “From my first day in office, I will put affordability and the protection of life at the centre of government. We will begin bringing down the costs of food, fuel and power, improving access to healthcare and education, and restoring security to communities living in fear. I will account for public spending and measure progress by what Nigerians can afford and whether they can live safely.”

Referring to the unacceptable actions of the APC government, Atiku said, ‘”Then there is your party chairman’s claim that more than 10 million Nigerians received ₦75,000 each in cash transfers—at least ₦750 billion in all. Professor Yilwatda says many beneficiaries have no phones. So how did your government identify, contact and pay them, particularly in parts of Yobe and Borno where insecurity makes access difficult?

“Did officials deliver the money by hand? If so, who delivered it and where are the receipts? If it went into bank accounts, show the transaction records. Nigerians are not asking you to expose poor families. They are asking for an auditable account of how the money reached them. If you could find ten million people to pay, you can account for the payments.”

According to Atiku, “Sixty-six years after independence, millions of Nigerians are fighting for things a free country should never put beyond their reach: food on the table, a wage that lasts the month, and a safe journey home. The past three years under Bola Tinubu have plunged Nigeria into the most severe cost of living crisis in our history. Families are not merely tightening their belts. They are skipping meals, delaying treatment and borrowing to survive until payday.

“And what has this government asked of them? More patience. More sacrifice. More faith in figures they cannot eat. While Nigerians are lectured about hardship, those in power preside over brazen waste, corruption and a budget process that makes a mockery of fiscal discipline. The people are told there is no money to ease their pain, yet government always seems to find money for its own appetites.

“Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy with one announcement and no credible protection in place for the families who would bear the shock. Petrol, transport and the cost of moving food rose. He promised that the savings would benefit Nigerians. Three years later, the pain has an address in every home. Bola, where is the benefit?”

He continued, “And beyond the market, our nation is bleeding. Armed groups have killed thousands and driven families from their communities. Farmers fear their fields. Parents fear for children in their classrooms. Families dread the call demanding ransom for someone they love. A government that cannot make life affordable and cannot protect life has failed the two tests that matter most to its people.

“This is not the Nigeria our founders struggled to set free. But I will not ask you to surrender to despair. Despair is not a strategy. We have a path to recovery, and we must take it.

“Today, Bola Tinubu told us that the “emergency treatment is over” and the “age of prosperity” has begun. A President may announce a new chapter in a speech. He cannot announce food onto a family’s table or money into a worker’s pocket.

“Bola, where is this prosperity?
Bola says inflation has fallen. A slower rise in prices does not restore what families have lost. He cites growth and rising exports. Nigerian businesses deserve credit for what they have achieved. But growth must improve lives. It cannot be a certificate of success that government awards itself while citizens struggle to survive.

“Bola, you call Nigeria a patient with cancer. After three years of your treatment, why is it harder for Nigerians to buy food, pay for medicine or even get to work? Why does your government have more money while the people can afford less?”, he stated

The ADC presidential candidate further said, “You say Nigerians must endure the pain because you are curing the disease. But when a patient cries out, a doctor listens. He does not call the patient “regressive” for asking when he will get better. He does not point to the hospital’s rising revenue and declare him healed. A patient who cannot afford to live is not proof that the treatment is working.

“And you cannot speak as though you arrived from the moon in 2023. Your party had governed Nigeria for eight years. If the country was as sick as you say, tell Nigerians what responsibility your party bears for its condition.

“Let us bring this argument down from the podium to the places where Nigerians make their daily choices: the filling station, the market stall and the breakfast table. In April 2023, a ₦30,000 minimum wage could buy about 118 litres of petrol. Today, a ₦70,000 minimum wage buys just 50 litres. The salary has more than doubled on paper; the petrol it can buy has fallen by more than half.

“The average price of one egg rose from about ₦88 in April 2023 to ₦261 in May 2026. A sliced loaf was about ₦500 in April 2023; by May 2026, the average was about ₦2,000 for a smaller loaf. These may look like small items in a government report. In a family home, they are breakfast. They are the money left for a child’s lunch. If 2023 was the illness, why does your “cure” buy less fuel, fewer eggs and a smaller loaf of bread?”, the former vice president stated.

He stressed that no mother struggling to feed her children is asking for “morphine.”, saying “No worker spending his wages on transport is addicted to subsidy. They are asking what happened to the savings you promised and when your reforms will bring down the cost of living.

“My fellow Nigerians, I will not ask you to accept another promise without asking how it would work. Working with my running mate and our partners in the African Democratic Congress, I will pursue a clear purpose: make life affordable again.

“We will introduce a capped, budgeted production subsidy tied to verified fuel refined in Nigeria, including fuel from modular refineries. Imported petrol will not qualify. The benefit must reach consumers through lower pump prices. We will publish the costs, independently audit the payments and cut government waste to help fund the programme.

“The principle is simple: produce here, refine here, create jobs here and pay less here. If Bola disagrees, he should answer the proposal on its merits. Calling relief an addiction will not lower the price of petrol.”

Speaking directly to the President, the former vice President said, “Bola, your speech is full of “we will.” We will make farming cheaper. We will power factories. We will create jobs. We will bring down prices. You have been President for more than three years. Nigerians are entitled to ask what you have done with the time already given to you.

“You say that when farmers produce more cheaply and manufacturers spend less on electricity, prices will fall. Of course they will. But farmers and manufacturers are telling you that they cannot produce cheaply now. A farmer who cannot safely reach his field cannot wait for your theory of cheaper food. A factory paying more to keep its machines running cannot wait for another promise of industrial growth.

“You speak of young Nigerians building unicorns. I see their talent wherever I go. I see young people learning new skills, making things and looking for a chance to serve their country. They first need work that pays enough to get them through the month. Ambition is abundant in Nigeria. What is scarce is the chance to turn it into a living.

“And please do not describe every new loan as an opportunity. A student loan does not make education affordable when fees are rising. Under your watch, some institutions have raised fees by more than 400 per cent, and your answer is to offer students loans to pay them. Consumer credit does not make a worker prosperous if repayment takes another bite out of a wage already too small to live on. Tell Nigerians what these programmes have delivered, who has benefited and what they must pay back.”

Speaking on the confusions on the extended budget system, Atiku said, “The confusion extends to your budgets. You have just signed an extension keeping the 2025 budget in operation until the last day of 2026. The 2026 budget exists alongside it. Soon, your government will ask Nigerians to examine a 2027 budget. How many budgets must be open at once before you can tell the country what was funded, what was completed and what remains unpaid? A budget should be a timetable for delivery, not a ball passed from one year to the next.

“Bola says his government reforms have a human face. Nigerians have spent three years looking for that face in the market, at the hospital and on the road to work. What they have found is deepening poverty, healthcare they cannot afford, school fees they struggle to pay, food beyond their reach and electricity bills that consume what little they earn. In communities under attack, people fear for their lives. A government cannot claim a human face while making it harder for Nigerians to eat, learn, seek treatment and stay alive.

“Bola, let us name who has found opportunity in your “age of prosperity.” Hitech, a Chagoury Group company, received the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway contract without an open public tender. The Chagourys’ longstanding relationship with you is public knowledge, as are the reported business ties between your son Seyi and the family. Your government says it used restricted bidding. Then publish the invitations, the bids, the evaluations, the final contract and every variation. Let Nigerians see how this enormous award was decided.”

Atiku also brought up the issues of the local contractors. He said, “local contractors who completed government projects remain unpaid. Many borrowed from banks to do the work and now face demands for repayment on money the government owes them. Some have lost their property; their representatives say some have died under the financial strain. Bola, why do your friends get huge contracts while Nigerian contractors have to protest to be paid for work they have already done? Pay the contractors. Publish what is owed and when it will be paid. Nigerians are entitled to know whose prosperity your government is building.

“Nigeria’s public debt stood at ₦166.79 trillion at the end of June, and your government is now discussing another $1.5 billion in World Bank loans. Before you borrow another dollar in the people’s name, tell them what the money already borrowed has delivered. Name the projects. Show what they cost, who benefited and who was paid.”

According to Atiku, “While politicians speak of hundreds of billions in relief, consider what happened at the Niger State Government House. Three people died in a stampede after a crowd gathered amid reports that ₦10,000 would be distributed. A mother, her daughter and another woman did not return home. I mourn them, and I repeat my call for a full account of how that gathering was organised.

“Think of the families waiting for them that night. Think of the children who will grow up without a mother. What does it say about the condition of our country that the prospect of ₦10,000 can draw a desperate crowd, while its leaders declare an age of prosperity?”

“Bola, you have put the weight of Nigeria’s economic wellbeing on a skateboard. Families are struggling to keep their balance, businesses are falling, and you stand in Aso Rock declaring that the journey to prosperity is going smoothly.

“Before I forget, you promised Nigerians lower transport fares from October 1. Today is October 1. Did your promise miss the bus?”, Atiku stressed.

Atiku said, ” in your Independence Day speech, you found time to attack my plan to make life affordable. But you did not tell commuters which additional routes became cheaper today, what the fares were before, what they cost now, or how many people can use them. Lower fares on a few routes are welcome, but they do not solve the transport crisis facing the rest of the country.

“Bola, was this a Yahoo Yahoo promise or a hurried reply to my production subsidy proposal? You advertised cheaper transport from October 1. Today is October 1, and commuters are still asking where they can find the lower fares. Show them the routes and the prices. Nigerians cannot board an announcement.

“Bola, publish the routes, the fares and the number of people benefiting. Show Nigerians the cheaper journey you promised.

“My dear Bola, you said the people “cannot wait for tomorrow.” On that, I agree with you. Yet almost every answer in your address was about tomorrow. But Nigerians are hungry today. They pay transport fares today. They need jobs and safety today.

“You also say, “We have made hard decisions together.” No, Bola! You made the decisions alone, not with Nigerians. The people have only paid the price for your reckless decisions. You cannot claim a shared journey while refusing to account for who has carried the burden and where the promised savings have gone.

“Again, Bola, you told Nigerians that salaries and pensions are being paid “on time and in full.” Tell that to the military pensioners who protested over unpaid adjustments. Tell it to federal workers who have reported delayed salaries, wage awards and promotion arrears. A pensioner standing outside a government office to demand what is owed does not need a lecture about prosperity. Pay the outstanding entitlements, publish what remains unpaid, and stop claiming that everyone has been paid in full.”

He said that a growing government account is not a recovering Nigerian, noting that “A speech about prosperity is not prosperity. Show Nigerians where the savings went. Show them the relief. Or stop calling their pain a cure.

“Our independence also demands political freedom. Nigerians must be free to question their leaders, organise peacefully and demand change. Public office belongs to the people. No President owns the voices of citizens.

“On this day, I call for the rule of law to be applied fairly in every case. The continued detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai raises questions about due process that the authorities must answer. Following Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction, his right to lawful appeal must be respected, while the grievances and divisions surrounding his case must be addressed seriously.

“I also repeat my call for the release of the five young Nigerians arrested in Borno after wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts. The police have made further allegations against them; those allegations must be tested fairly. A political slogan on a shirt must never become a reason to imprison a Nigerian.

“And I make this promise to every Nigerian who has stood in line to vote and later wondered whether that vote counted: if elected President, I will work to end election rigging. I will respect INEC’s independence, support the prompt publication of results from every polling unit, and insist that anyone caught buying votes or changing results faces the law – even if that person belongs to my party. Your vote must count as you cast it. You should not need powerful friends to make it count.”

On the 2027 election, Atiku said: “it offers us a peaceful way to choose our course. To the young person who wonders whether one vote matters, to the parent who has lost faith in promises, and to the worker who has grown tired of waiting: this country is yours. Listen closely. Question every candidate, including me. Demand plans that can be examined and promises that can be measured. Protect your vote and refuse intimidation.

“Bola Tinubu says Nigeria has crossed the Red Sea and that there must be “no looking back.” Let him come down from Aso Rock and meet the Nigerians still struggling to get to the other side. Looking back at a government’s record is a citizen’s right. It is how we decide whether those who hold power deserve more time.

“We have looked back. We have counted what fuel costs, what food costs and what a wage can still buy. We have seen families waiting for relief while government asks for more patience. We have heard promises of prosperity from a President who cannot show millions of Nigerians where to find it.

“Our founders did not win sovereignty so that a few could prosper while millions merely survive. Their promise lives in ordinary hopes: a meal a family can afford, a safe road home, a child free to learn, and work that offers a path to a better life. Those hopes are neither extravagant nor beyond Nigeria’s reach.”

“Bola, the Promised Land is not in sight merely because you can see it from the villa. Nigerians must be able to reach it. We have chosen a different course, peacefully and together, through the power of our votes; the message is clear: Tinubu must go”, Atiku stated.

Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Over 40,000 farmers under the aegis of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Abia State chapter, have endorsed and adopted the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Kelechi Anosike, as their sole candidate for the February 6, 2027 governorship election in the state.

The adoption was announced  by the State Chairman of Abia AFAN,  Mike Obinna Okezie, who led members of the state executive to visit Dr. Anosike at his campaign office, Aba Road, Umuahia. 

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Okezie said AFAN decided to identify with Anosike because of his welfarist programmes and clear agenda for agriculture, describing him as “not a run-of-the-mill politician.”

According to him, farmers have laboured for years without recognition and see in Anosike’s blueprint a revolutionary appeal for food security, reminiscent of the agricultural exploits of late Dr. M.I. Okpara as Premier of Eastern Region and Dr. J.O. Okezie as Federal Commissioner for Agriculture.

In a resolution read at the meeting, AFAN said after extensive deliberations on food security, rural development and farmers’ welfare, it resolved to adopt Anosike because his agenda directly addresses their challenges, citing Operation Feed Abia (OFA), restoration of agricultural extension services, farm mechanisation, farm grants and support, revitalisation of farm settlements and rural development.

The association resolved to mobilise its members across the 17 LGAs to participate peacefully in the electoral process, promote Anosike’s agricultural policies in rural communities, and engage constructively with his campaign on agri-value chain development.

Responding, Chairman of the Abia PDP Campaign Council, Ambassador Empire Kanu, said farmers made the right choice, assuring that Anosike, whom he described as well-educated, grounded and from the Okpara pedigree, will replicate the M.I. Okpara’s agricultural blueprint and introduce modern equipment like the Apache farm machinery from Argentina.

State Chairman of PDP and deputy governorship candidate, Elder Amah Abraham, said the party treats farmers as strategic partners who must be part of policy formulation, not just election tools and pledged that the next PDP government will nominate a farmer as Commissioner for Agriculture.

Also, the Director General of Abia PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Chief Obinna Nwachukwu, requested  the creation of a Directorate of Farmers in the campaign council to be headed and populated by AFAN members.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Anosike approved the creation of the Directorate of Farmers in the Campaign Council.

“And like DG said, that request has been granted. There will be a directorate for the farmers. So in our campaign council, which is being constituted, so they give us the name of local government coordinators, we incorporate them into what we’re doing and the membership spans down all the 184 wards, all the polling units,” he said. 

Assuring the farmers of a pride of place in his administration the Welfarist candidate said: “Like the state chairman said, the farmers will be an integral part of the next government. It will be a partnership between the state government and Abia farmers. They’ll have a pride of place.”

He said his government will pursue Operation Feed Abia to ensure no Abian goes to bed hungry, bring back extension workers to teach best agronomic practices and stop over-chemicalisation that blocks export, and empower LGAs to provide tractors for free bush clearing and land preparation for farmers.

Anosike added that his administration will provide farm grants, promote packaging and standardisation for export, revitalise farm settlements with modern facilities to attract youths into fishery, piggery, poultry and ranching, and open rural roads through a Rural Development Agency, noting that agriculture will be the central focus for jobs and wealth creation.

The PDP hopeful said he was elated that Abians are listening to issue-based campaigns, stressing that 2027 will be a referendum of ideas, not insults.

Members, partners and other close associates of Queen Belemzy Ministries-School of Power, have celebrated its founder Apostle Queen Belemzy as she marked her 46th birthday on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The historic birthday celebration of the US-Based preacher was anchored on a three-day revival crusade themed,“3 Days Holy Ghost Encounter,” which was held from Sunday September 27 to Tuesday September 29, which was her birthday.

It was an atmosphere of worship, testimonies and spiritual renewal at the Reens Suites and Apartments Event Centre, venue of the crusade, as Christian faithful, including her followers and partners from across Nigeria, Africa, Europe and the United States gathered, with millions joining online from around the world.

Belemzy is acclaimed for using social media platforms to bring the Gospel of salvation, deliverance and restoration to millions around the world.

Some members of the ministry from Nigeria and other nations who spoke with newsmen on the sideline of the event testified how Apostle Belemzy’s ministry has touched their lives, prompting their decisions to travel down to Port Harcourt to celebrate her.

A Dubai-based member, Verah Otieno, said she has been part of the ministry since 2018, and decided to come to Port Harcourt to celebrate with the woman whose ministry has tremendously impacted her life.

“This ministry is like our home. There’s love here, there’s teaching here. This ministry just taught me how to love God.Through the Apostle, I’ve learnt a lot. The things I didn’t know, I’ve learnt them under her.

“I have seen how she has blessed many people.Their lives have changed because of her. Because of the love she has for God and humanity.

“I have never in my life experienced what the Apostle is doing for people. I just admire her obedience, and she has taught us how to be obedient to God,” she said.

Another member of the ministry from Germany, Mary Bruenle, said: “My encounter with her has changed my life so much; spiritually, physically. Jesus has changed my life so much through her ministry. So, first of all, Jesus, and then my Apostle, and then the country Nigeria because I like the country, not everything, but I like it,” she said.

Recalling how she met the woman of God, Bruenle said “I met her online. One day I was scrolling through YouTube and then I saw her video and I was just like glued to it”.

Also, Celeste Glichrist from Delaware, United States, who said she was visiting Nigeria for the second time, described her encounter with Belemzy as transformational.

“I joined this ministry six years ago through a friend who invited me. And I’m going to tell you, the first time that I watched her, I couldn’t stop, and I joined the ministry. I have been a member for six years now.

“My life has tremendously changed 360degrees. God has blessed me. I’ve been healed through this ministry. My eyes, my high blood pressure, Cholesterol, so many things. You know, God has really taken care of me through this ministry,” she added.

Also speaking, Apostle Felicia Tengu from Columbus Ohio, United States, said celebrating with the woman of God whose life has touched many around the world was very significant to her.

Apostle Belemzy’s Aunty, who simply introduced herself as Mrs Margaret, lauded the preacher for yielding herself to the call of God, culminating into a ministry that has transformed many across nations of the world.

According to her,” she grew up here before moving to the U.S. I am her mother’s younger sister,and she stayed with me when her parents moved to the United States.

“ Today, I can tell you that I am very proud of her because her life has become an instrument of change to people.God is using her to touch lives around the world, including her own people here,” she said.

While addressing a press conference earlier, the Port Harcourt-born cleric said she decided to use her birthday to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to her people by the leading of God.

She said the three-day revival programme was part of her ministry’s ongoing evangelistic outreaches in parts of the country, bringing healing, restoration and revival to the nation.

“God told me to come and do my birthday celebration here.I used to be a party promoter and I used to do birthday parties every year in the club, big ones, and since I got saved God told me from now on I will do the party for the glory of God,” he said.

The cleric added that,“right now it’s Jesus’ party. So he told me to come to Port Harcourt and do it. This is where I was born. This is my home town, I am from here”.

She said the three-day programme was an opportunity for people to have genuine encounters with Jesus Christ, culminating into healings and deliverance for both the people and the nation.

“Jesus is the light of the world, and this is the word he’s been giving me since I came for this programme, Nigeria is about to experience the light of the world-Jesus Christ, and he is set to remove every darkness and bring light into their lives. Nigeria is about to be great again, “ the cleric said.

Belemzy, who is committed to ministering to the needs of many beyond the pulpit, also used the 3-day programme to attend to the material needs of many, giving food, clothes and startup capital to many.

The occasion also brought together Nigerians from all walks of life, including stars from the Nigerian film industry, led by the former National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Dr Emeka Rollas Ejezie(MON).

Some thespians present at the event to felicitate the cleric include veteran actress Patience Ozokwor (Mama G), Steve Eboh, Doris Ogala, Uche Ogbodo and Torino Ojukwu, amongst others.

Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin City

The campaign office of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Oredo federal constituency in the 2027 general election, Hon. Frank Uyi Omosigho, in Benin City, has reportedly been attacked.

The attack, which reportedly occurred at about 10 p.m. last Tuesday, with campaign posters, banners and other materials allegedly destroyed during the attack, was said to have been carried out by suspected political thugs.

The campaign office located at Stadium Road yesterday revealed visible signs of destruction, with several campaign materials pulled down and damaged.

Reacting to the incident, Omosigho, who represents Oredo East constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, said community members alerted him to the attack, prompting him to visit the office at about 11 p.m.

He said he met youths at the premises who complained that unknown persons had arrived at the office and destroyed the campaign materials.

“My appeal to youths is not to allow politicians to use them to perpetrate violence or other illegal acts. Anyone caught violating the law would face the consequences.

“The campaign materials were meant to introduce candidates and political parties to the electorate. The voters had the right to make their choices independently,” the lawmaker stated.

Omosigho further disclosed that the incident had been reported to the police at Aideyan Police Station, while the state Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) had also been informed.

He urged his supporters and NDC members to remain calm and continue campaigning peacefully, saying the party would not be deterred by the incident.

Omosigho further appealed to Nigerians, particularly youths, not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate electoral violence, urging them to vote for candidates based on their programmes and capacity to represent the people.

The lawmaker claimed that some of his campaign materials had been pulled down in different locations, including Stadium Road, Oguola, Oliha, Five Junction and Ekenwan Road.

The Public Relations Officer of Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin City

Indigenes and stakeholders of Orogho Dukedom in Edo South of Edo State have raised the alarm over alleged activities of some oil companies and a traditional ruler of the community.

Some indigenes of the community, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital, yesterday, said the oil companies, in concert with some of their leaders, are cornering the resources meant to develop the community.

According to the representatives of the seven communities that make up the dukedom, their area has remained largely underdeveloped despite millions of naira that have been channeled through a particular monarch.

Osahon Imaru, the convener, alleged that misappropriation of funds by the Enogie, Prince Patrick Osayande Akenzua, meant for seven communities in the Dukedom, namely: Orogho, Uwuo, Obagie Nunuamen, Iwevbo, Ugbigun, Obanakhoro and Ekhigbe, has been the order of the day.

He further stated that since the ascension of the present Enogie, several concerns have been raised by the stakeholders across the seven communities concerning the administration of the dukedom.

The convener also said that one of the most worrisome concerns was the introduction of Enogie representatives or Sub-Enogie in each of the seven communities, which they said have allegedly taken advantage of those positions to oppress the people whom the Enogie is expected to protect.

They further expressed their worry over the alleged misappropriation of N38.5 million that was disbursed among ancestral land owners and the dukedom communities that NEW CROSS Petroleum’s pipeline traverses.

The group equally raised a concern regarding the alleged disposal of a large parcel of land in the Savannah area of Ere-Egwa Farm without the knowledge or consent of the community leaders or the wider communities within the Dukedom.

The people further stated that the land was subsequently recovered after well-meaning indigenes of Orogho and Owuo communities intervened and stopped Ere-Egwa Farm from securing a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the Edo State Ministry of Lands and Survey in respect of the land.

The group reiterated that the issues raised are not mere allegations made without basis, as relevant documents are in their possession and available for verification by the appropriate authorities.

They said that, having exhausted several avenues to resolve the issue internally, they decided to seek the intervention of the Palace of the Oba of Benin as the highest traditional authority relevant to the matter, which they said was followed by a letter submitted through the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council.

Continuing, the group said having discovered that the Enogie resorted to an oppressive and autocratic style of administration, which he was exercising through the Enogie Representatives or Sub-Enogie, compelled them to seek the intervention of the Edo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Orhionmwon Local Government Council.

On the proposed election in the community, which was put on hold, the group considered this development significant as it demonstrates the importance of allowing the appropriate authorities to address underlying issues before any process that could further deepen division within the communities is resolved.

The group said they are not opposed to the traditional leadership, as they recognize and respect the Benin traditional institution and the historical significance of the Enogie institution, adding that their concern is the manner in which the institution is being administered.

They, therefore, advocated that they allow the seven communities to have meaningful participation in decisions affecting them.

The group called on the Oba of Benin, the Edo State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Orhionmwon Local Government Council and other relevant authorities to give these matters the necessary attention.

The concerned indigenes and stakeholders concluded that their intervention on these issues is not a campaign against the institution of the Enogie, but a call for accountability and responsible administration.

“We believe that traditional institutions can only remain strong when they enjoy the confidence of the people they represent. Our struggle is therefore directed towards ensuring that the seven communities of Orogho Dukedom are governed through a system that promotes peace, justice, accountability, consultation, transparency and development,” they posited

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Almost three weeks after 37 Illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, another disaster has befallen the state.

This time, no fewer than eight people, mostly women and children, have reportedly died in a stampede at the Government House in Minna, the state capital.

The stampede was said to have been caused when people were allegedly invited from different wards in Minna to receive N10,000 palliatives from the state government.

It was learnt that the huge crowd became unruly and uncontrollable, resulting in the stampede.

However, another source said some youths were in the government house to dissociate themselves from the planned protest by a group of youth miners.

It was learnt that one government official threw bundles of money into the air, resulting in the stampede.

A woman and her two daughters, according to an eyewitness, were among those trampled upon, adding that several others were injured and rushed to the Primary Healthcare Centre close to the government house.

It was learnt that when the condition of those taken to the health centre deteriorated, they were moved to the general hospital where some of them died.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, when contacted, said the police were yet to be aware of the incident.

Both the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Bologi Ibrahim, and the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Obed Nana, could not be reached for comments on the issue.

A similar incident occurred at the same government house in 2023, which claimed the lives of several people while many others were injured.

Sunday Okobi

Cybernovr has announced a 100 per cent scholarship programme for learners seeking to acquire cybersecurity knowledge and practical skills through its Cybersecurity Education & Awareness Programme (CEAP).

The nine-week programme, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary, is open to applicants at all levels, with selected learners required to pay no tuition fees.

According to a statement issued by the organisers, the scholarship is designed to provide participants with foundational and practical knowledge in cybersecurity while promoting digital safety and awareness.

The programme will feature live instructor-led sessions for two hours weekly, alongside access to the Cybernovr Mobile Learning Management System (LMS).

Participants will also undertake a hands-on capstone project and receive a certificate of completion at the end of the programme.

The training covers 12 modules, including introduction to cybersecurity, identity management, cyber threat awareness, ethical hacking and coding.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has condemned the arrest of members of the ‘Tinubu-Must-Go (TMG)’ movement in Maiduguri, Borno State, by the administration of Governor Babagana Zulum, describing the action as a reckless abuse of power and office.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the arrests as an attempt to intimidate and silence citizens expressing opposition to the government.

“The arrest of members of the Tinubu Must Go (TMG) movement in Maiduguri by the state governor is reckless and a total abuse of power and office. It is a welcome gift for President Tinubu,” Ologbondiyan said.

He alleged that some state governors were now engaged in a race to impress President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the expense of the rights and welfare of ordinary citizens.

“What is in vogue among some of these current governors is a race to impress Tinubu at the expense of ordinary citizens,” he stated.

Ologbondiyan stressed that Nigerians have the constitutional right to express their political preferences and opinions, including calls to vote for a party and candidate of their choice in 2027.

He maintained that expressing the slogan “Tinubu must go” or “Tinubu must leave” constitutes a form of political expression and, in itself, does not amount to a criminal offence.

The ADC PCC spokesman further alleged that the arrests were intended to intimidate members of the ADC and other opposition groups ahead of the 2027 general election.

He, however, insisted that arrests, harassment and intimidation would not deter Nigerians from exercising their franchise.

“The intimidation of citizens through arrest and other unlawful means will not deter the people from voting out President Bola Tinubu in the January 16, 2027 election.”

 Ologbondiyan said.

The ADC PCC, therefore, called on Governor Zulum to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested, and to guarantee their safety.

The council also urged the authorities to ensure that no harm came to the detainees, recalling what it described as a similar incident in Minna, Niger State, a fortnight earlier.

“Zulum should know that in a few months, he will be an ordinary citizen, and no amount of intimidation and harassment will deter Nigerians from voting out Tinubu,” Ologbondiyan added.

The ADC PCC also appealed to the international community, particularly the African Union (AU), European Union (EU), British High Commission and United States Embassy, to take note of what it described as the growing use of harassment and intimidation against citizens exercising their democratic rights.

It urged the international community to support efforts to protect Nigeria’s democratic space and safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights.

Ologbondiyan recalled that when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was in opposition, its members openly criticised and attacked the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said President Jonathan, despite the criticism directed at his government, did not order the arrest of citizens merely for exercising their right to free speech.

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Nigerian military has said troops across all theatres of operation killed 554 terrorists and other criminals, apprehended 1,333 of them alive, and rescued no fewer than 1,736 kidnapped civilians in the third quarter of 2026.

The military also revealed that 333 terrorists surrendered to troops, while 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition were recovered.

Addressing a press conference on the operational achievements of personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies in the third quarter of 2026, the Director of Defence Military Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the troops dismantled 104 illegal refining sites and recovered 1,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum products, representing a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide.

Major General Onoja said: “During the period under review, the AFN recorded a total of 367 attacks across various theatres of operation. Operation Hadin Kai recorded 33 attacks; Operation Fansan Yamma recorded 115; Operation Savannah Shield recorded 13; Operation Enduring Peace recorded 147; Operation Whirl Stroke recorded 55, and Operation Udo Ka (OPUK) recorded four, while Operation Delta Safe recorded no attacks.”

Troops, he said, responded decisively to these incidents, swiftly engaging the assailants with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvring, and successfully countering the attacks.

Onoja said the third-quarter of 2026 data showed significant month-to-month fluctuations in operational outcomes.

“From July to August, bandits/criminals killed increased by 171.9 per cent, while arrests declined slightly by 4.2 per cent; civilians rescued by 51.4 per cent, surrendered terrorists by 252.6 per cent, arms recovered by 28.6 per cent, ammunition recovered by 12.5 per cent, and crude oil recovered by 11.0 per cent.

“These changes reflect the intensity and nature of operational engagements during August. From August to September, most indicators declined from their August peaks, including 85.8 per cent in bandits/criminals killed, 28.3 per cent in arrests, 10.8 per cent in civilians rescued, 62.7 per cent in surrenders, 51.9 per cent in arms recovered, 24.3 per cent in ammunition recovered and 55.6 per cent in crude oil recovered.

“However, the September figures still demonstrate sustained operational activity, with 581 civilians rescued, 345 arrests, 75 surrenders, 52 arms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition recovered, alongside continued efforts to protect national economic resources,” he said.

The director concluded that the variations reflected the changing operational environment, while troops maintained their commitment to national security throughout the period.

 Funmi Ogundare

The University of Ibadan (UI) yesterday called on student union leaders to embrace ethical conduct, accountability, competence and resilience in the discharge of their responsibilities, stressing that effective leadership goes beyond occupying a position.

The Director, Career Development and Counselling Centre (CDCC), University of Ibadan, Prof. Adebayo Oluwole, made this call at a training programme for student union leaders with the theme: ‘Ethical and Responsible Student Leadership: Building Competence, Resilience and Positive Impact’.

He said student leadership is both a responsibility and an opportunity to create positive change, noting that student leaders were expected to represent their colleagues, articulate their concerns, engage university authorities, resolve disagreements and contribute to the development of the university community.

He noted that the quality of student leadership could influence student life, campus relationships and the reputation of the university.

According to him, “Leadership cannot be sustained by position alone, as a title may give you authority, but character, competence and credibility give you influence.”

He explained that the training was deliberately structured to expose student leaders to various dimensions of effective leadership, including responsible governance, collaboration, conflict management, drug abuse prevention and people skills.

The first session, ‘Drug Abuse and Addiction: Early Signs of Abuse, Consequences and the Way Out’, was delivered by Mercy Godwin, representing the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command.

Oluwole said the session was particularly relevant because student leaders were expected to serve as role models and positive influences among their peers.

Another session titled:  ‘Ethical Leadership, Accountability and Stewardship in Student Governance’ was handled by the Deputy Bursar (Grants), University of Ibadan, Mr. Olagoke Akanwo.

The programme also featured a session on ‘Leadership Service through Collaboration and Teamwork among Students’, facilitated by the Director, Youth Friendly Centre,  Dr. Adebunmi Oyekola.

The director said the session underscored the importance of teamwork, stressing that no leader can succeed alone.

A session on ‘Understanding Personality Types for Effective Conflict Management ‘ was delivered by Dr. Adeleye of the Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies.

According to Oluwole, understanding personality differences was essential for student leaders because they interacted with individuals with different temperaments, expectations, communication styles, and approaches to disagreements.

The final session, ‘People Skills for Student Leaders: Empathy, Altruism and Positive Campus Relationships’,  was facilitated by Dr Ola John Oluremi of Micomglobe Limited, Lagos.

Oluwole said the session reinforced the importance of empathy and positive relationships, noting that leadership was ultimately about people.

He stated that: “The CDCC remains committed to supporting the development of students with the knowledge, skills and values required to provide responsible leadership within and beyond the university community.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, urged the student union leaders to lead with empathy, integrity, competence, and courage, stressing that effective leadership depends on the ability to understand people, communicate effectively, and treat others with dignity.

Adebowale, who declared the training open, noted that it was designed to equip student leaders with skills and values needed to provide responsible leadership.

He said leaders might have good policies, programmes, manifestoes and speeches, but their leadership would remain limited if they could not understand the people they led, communicate with them, and empathise with their experiences.

He said: “Empathy is not weakness. Altruism is not foolishness. Respect is not surrender. These are qualities that enable leaders to build trust and create healthier relationships.”

The VC urged the student leaders to approach the training with an open mind and actively participate by asking questions, challenging their assumptions, and learning from both the facilitators and one another.

He further charged them to translate the knowledge acquired during the programme into their conduct, saying leadership training would only be meaningful if it influences their actions.

According to him, “Preparing students for the future goes beyond academic qualifications, as the workplace and society require graduates who can communicate, collaborate, manage conflicts, demonstrate emotional intelligence, make ethical decisions, solve problems and lead responsibly.”

He said the university’s responsibility extended beyond helping students build careers to developing their character, competence, resilience and ability to build meaningful relationships.

The VC expressed appreciation to the student leaders.

Addressing the student leaders, Adebowale urged them to focus on the legacy they would leave behind after their tenure, adding: “Your tenure will end, but your legacy will remain.”

He advised the leaders not to measure their success only by what they achieved while in office, but also by the people they empowered, relationships they built, values they demonstrated, and the positive culture they left behind.

Adebowale urged them to “lead with integrity, lead with competence, lead with empathy, lead with courage, lead collaboratively,” adding that, above all, they should lead in the spirit of service.

 Sunday Okobi

 The Emmanuel Osemota Foundation (EOF) has stated that the upcoming Edo 1,000 Girls Summit will focus on human-trafficking prevention, menstrual health access, digital skills and school-to-career opportunities. The summit is coming as Nigeria confronts persistent concerns over girls’ safety, educational attainment and economic inclusion.

The Edo 1000 Girls Summit is scheduled for October 16 at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City with the theme: ‘Invest in a Girl. Power the Future. Protect Her Freedom’.

At the summit, the Edo State First Lady, Edesili Anani Okpebholo, is expected to deliver the keynote address with a focus on safeguarding girls’ rights, strengthening support systems and encouraging female leadership.

The summit is designed as a one-day intervention bringing together students from across the state for mentorship, practical learning sessions, health information and access to educational resources.

The organisers said the programme would combine public awareness with direct support, including planned laptop and scholarship awards.

According to Emmanuel Osemota, founder of the Emmanuel Osemota Foundation, “Human trafficking awareness will be a central part of the event. Edo State has long been a focal point in national conversations about irregular migration and trafficking, making prevention education for adolescent girls particularly significant.

“Participants would receive information on recognising deceptive recruitment tactics, reporting concerns, and reducing vulnerability to exploitation. The sessions are also expected to address peer-to-peer awareness, encouraging girls to identify and discuss warning signs within their schools and communities.”

He told journalists that “Hosting 1,000 secondary school girls under one roof represents a critical operational milestone for our foundation.

“By combining grassroots advocacy with high-level institutional partnerships, we are equipping these young women with the tools, digital competencies and safety awareness they need to build safer, stronger futures.”

Beyond trafficking prevention, the summit will address menstrual health and hygiene, an issue the organisers said can disrupt attendance and learning where girls lack information, privacy or access to sanitary products.

The programme will also include leadership and personal-development sessions intended to build confidence, civic awareness and long-term planning skills. A separate education and career track will promote digital literacy, academic achievement and pathways into further education and employment.

Also, the Director-General of the Edo State Tourism Agency, Lady Vivian Elabor, will speak on leadership, self-development and economic opportunities for young women. Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals to the Edo State Government, Sally Suleiman, is expected to discuss education and career routes linked to broader development targets.

The initiative comes as governments, schools, civil-society organisations and development partners increasingly emphasise the need to keep girls in school, protect them from gender-based risks and prepare them for a technology-driven economy.

While the summit will be held in Edo State, its core concerns extend beyond the state: access to education, reproductive-health information, safe migration awareness and digital inclusion remain central to Nigeria’s wider effort to improve outcomes for girls and young women. The summit will include panel discussions, essay and quiz competitions, mentoring activities and scholarship announcements intended to support participants beyond the event itself.

By Alim Abubakre

On 1 October 2026, Nigeria turns 66.

That anniversary invites neither self-congratulation nor despair. Both are too easy.

Nigeria has survived civil war, military rule, commodity shocks, insurgency, disputed elections and repeated economic disruption. It has also produced globally competitive entrepreneurs, professionals, artists and institutions. Yet too many Nigerians still rely on private ingenuity to compensate for public weakness.

That contradiction deserves attention.

Through years of teaching leadership and international business, and engaging executives across sectors and countries, I have become increasingly convinced that Nigeria’s central challenge is not a shortage of talent. It is the failure to convert talent into institutional capability.

Our people often outperform our systems.

The next chapter must reverse that imbalance.

Five achievements that matter

1. Nigeria has sustained an extraordinarily difficult union

Nigeria’s survival should not be trivialised.

Few countries combine its scale, ethnic diversity, religious plurality, regional inequality and powerful local identities. The federation survived a devastating civil war and continues to negotiate the meaning of belonging.

Nigeria’s strength has never been sameness. It is the ability of people to belong simultaneously to family, hometown, faith, ethnicity, profession, state and nation.

Hometown associations, age-grade groups, traditional institutions and religious communities frequently organise welfare and development with remarkable effectiveness.

The unfinished task is to make national institutions command comparable confidence.

2. Civilian government has become the accepted basis of political legitimacy

Since 1999, Nigeria has sustained its longest period of civilian rule. The peaceful change of governing party at the presidential level in 2015 was particularly significant.

The achievement should not be exaggerated. Elections and governance remain imperfect. But an important norm has taken root: political authority is expected to emerge through constitutional civilian processes.

The next frontier is performance.

Democracy must become visible not simply at polling units, but in classrooms, hospitals, roads, public safety and economic opportunity.

3. Nigeria has proved how rapidly its people respond when constraints are removed

The telecommunications revolution remains one of Nigeria’s most instructive economic stories.

Once competition and access expanded, Nigerians adopted mobile technology at extraordinary speed. The phone became a bank, marketplace, media platform and business tool.

The lesson is larger than telecommunications.

Nigeria often does not lack demand, ingenuity or enterprise. It lacks enabling systems.

The same logic should shape electricity, broadband, transport, credit and education.

4. Nigeria has acquired global cultural power

Nollywood, Afrobeats, literature, fashion, comedy and digital culture have changed how Africa represents itself to the world.

This is more than entertainment.

Nigeria has acquired narrative power.

People who have never visited Lagos increasingly consume Nigerian language, humour, music, fashion and stories. Few African countries possess comparable cultural reach.

The opportunity now is to connect that influence more deliberately to tourism, intellectual property, technology, education and investment.

5. Nigerians have built a global network of capability

The Nigerian diaspora is usually discussed through remittances.

That understates its significance.

Nigerians occupy important positions in medicine, academia, finance, technology, engineering, law, entrepreneurship and the creative industries across the world.

This raises a difficult but useful question: why does Nigerian talent so often become more productive once it enters better functioning systems?

The diaspora should therefore be treated not merely as a source of money, but as distributed national knowledge.

Seven challenges beneath the familiar headlines

1. We restart too often

Nigeria has an institutional memory problem.

Governments, organisations and agencies frequently improve under particular individuals, then lose capability when those individuals leave.

Rwanda’s use of clear performance commitments offers a relevant lesson. The transferable idea is simple: promises require owners, deadlines and consequences.

Government must preserve institutional knowledge across administrations. ������Ƶes must build beyond founder dependence. Civil society must track unfinished commitments, not merely new announcements.

Nigeria must learn to continue.

2. Federalism rewards sharing more than production

Nigeria has spent decades debating how national revenue should be divided.

Far less energy has gone into asking what each state should become exceptionally good at producing.

Indonesia’s decentralisation experience shows that transferring money alone does not guarantee development. Local incentives and measurable outcomes matter.

Nigeria should move towards productive federalism. States should compete on learning, investment, agricultural productivity, exports, infrastructure and service delivery.

Thirty-six states should become thirty-six laboratories of development.

3. Nigeria has plenty of trust, but its radius is too narrow

Nigerians trust family networks, religious communities, hometown associations, traders and professional circles.

The problem is not absence of trust.

It is that trust often weakens outside the group.

India’s digital public infrastructure demonstrates how common systems can connect people across vast social differences.

Nigeria needs reliable national platforms for identity, payments, qualifications, land and public services. ������Ƶ should build supply chains and leadership teams across regions. Civil society should create more practical coalitions that cross ethnicity and religion.

Nigeria does not need weaker local identities.

It needs stronger bridges between them.

4. Informality works, but it does not scale

Nigeria’s informal economy is not disorderly. It contains sophisticated systems of reputation, apprenticeship, credit and dispute resolution.

Its weakness is scalability.

A trader may be trusted by an entire market yet remain invisible to a bank.

The lesson from countries such as Bangladesh is that businesses formalise faster when formality creates access to markets and opportunity.

Government should therefore make formal participation valuable through simpler taxation, insurance, credit histories, procurement access and portable pensions.

Formalisation should be an invitation, not merely an obligation.

5. Aspiration is growing faster than capability

Nigeria has one of the world’s youngest large populations.

But youth alone is not an economic advantage.

A smartphone allows a young Nigerian to compare opportunities instantly with London, Dubai, Toronto or Singapore. Expectations have globalised faster than opportunities.

Vietnam connected skills development closely to manufacturing and exports. Nigeria must similarly connect education to actual economic production.

Government should build skills around regional industries. Companies should become training institutions. Apprenticeship traditions should be modernised and accredited.

A degree cannot remain the only respected proof of capability.

6. Nigerian cities are growing faster than their systems

Nigeria’s future will increasingly be urban.

Yet many cities are expanding without adequate transport, housing, drainage, electricity or coherent land administration.

Brazil’s metropolitan experience shows the cost of allowing economic regions to outgrow fragmented governing structures.

Nigeria needs metropolitan governance that reflects how people actually live and work.

The objective is not prettier cities.

It is productive cities.

Every hour lost to traffic, flooding, unreliable electricity or avoidable logistics is a hidden tax on national productivity.

7. Our greatest strength, improvisation, can become a trap

Nigerians are exceptional problem solvers.

No electricity? Buy a generator.

No water? Drill a borehole.

Weak school? Pay privately.

Poor security? Hire guards.

This resilience is admirable, but it creates a dangerous equilibrium. Individuals solve today’s problems while the underlying system survives unchanged.

Morocco’s industrial development offers another lesson. Infrastructure, skills, logistics and investment were coordinated over years rather than treated as isolated projects.

Nigeria must learn to compound.

Government needs long-term national priorities that survive administrations. ������Ƶ must invest beyond quarterly horizons. Civil society must preserve memory and insist on continuity.

A country becomes serious about the future when tomorrow has a voice in today’s decisions.

Seven opportunities if we get this right

The first opportunity is a delivery state, where citizens can see what was promised, who owns it and whether it was completed. Predictability itself would become economic infrastructure.

The second is productive federalism. Nigerian states could specialise rather than imitate one another, creating competitive clusters in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, technology, tourism, healthcare and energy.

The third is development powered by social capital. Hometown associations, age-grade groups, religious institutions, alumni networks and diaspora communities could co-invest transparently in schools, clinics, apprenticeships and community infrastructure.

The fourth is financial deepening through formalisation. Millions of small businesses could become financeable once reputation, transactions and skills are converted into recognised economic records.

The fifth is talent export without permanent talent loss. Nigerian professionals could increasingly sell digital, medical, creative, financial and technical services globally while remaining physically rooted in Nigeria.

The sixth is an urban productivity revolution. Better transport, land systems, electricity, housing and logistics could return millions of lost hours to productive economic life.

The seventh is the most important: Nigeria could finally become a country that compounds.

Good schools would produce better workers. Better workers would attract investment. Investment would strengthen suppliers. Stronger suppliers would create better jobs. Trust would lower transaction costs. Institutional memory would prevent constant restarting.

Progress would begin reinforcing itself.

The real task at 66

Nigeria does not need another generation celebrating its potential.

Potential is useful only when converted into performance.

Our entrepreneurs show that Nigerians can build. Our communities show that Nigerians can organise. Our creatives show that Nigerians can influence the world. Our diaspora demonstrates that Nigerians can excel under demanding institutional conditions.

The evidence already exists.

The problem is that these islands of excellence remain insufficiently connected.

This is also where my own understanding of leadership has evolved through teaching and engagement with executives over many years.

Leadership is not ultimately about becoming indispensable.

It is about building something that continues to work when you are absent.

The same principle applies to nations.

Nigeria’s next chapter cannot depend upon heroic presidents, governors, chief executives or exceptional civil servants. Heroism does not scale.

Institutions do.

The real test of the years ahead is therefore straightforward.

Can community become institution? Can federalism produce competition? Can informality produce scale? Can youth become capability? Can cities become productive? Can improvisation become accumulation? Can leadership become legacy?

At 66, Nigerians have demonstrated enough resilience.

The greater ambition should now be to build a country in which ordinary people require less extraordinary resilience simply to live productive lives.

That would be more than progress.

It would be progress that endures.

Dr. Alim Abubakre, founder of TEXEM, writes from UK

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a suit challenging the emergence of former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke, as the presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general election. 

Justice Umar dismissed the suit filed by an aggrieved aspirant, Yakubu Muhammed Kingsley, for being incompetent and lacking in merit.

Besides Duke, the PRP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were the other defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026.

The plaintiff had asked the court to, among others, determine whether Duke was dully returned as the presidential candidate of PRP in the May 25 primary election, in which its results was declared on May 26, having not been a registered member of the party as at May 4, when the PRP’s membership register was submitted to INEC. 

 Kingsley  also asked the court to determine, “Whether over voting in states like Bauchi, where the registered members of the 1st defendant in its membership database is 593 and the total votes cast was 760, in Gombe State the registered member was 348 and the votes cast was 1,431 and in Kwara State, the registered members is 55 while the vote cast was 82 votes, will not call for the nullification of the said primary election.” 

Delivering judgment in the case on Wednesday, the court held that the case of the plaintiff was without merit and subsequently dismissed it.

Ruling in the preliminary objection filed by the PRP and Duke, the court held that the case of the plaintiff was statute barred haven filed outside the time prescribed by the Constitution.

In the same vein, the court also considered the substantive issues raised by the plaintiff and resolved them in favour of the respondents.

On Duke’s alleged membership of the PRP, the court held that membership of a political party was an internal party matter and therefore, outside the court’s jurisdiction.

The court found that Kingsley failed to place before it the party guidelines, which he alleged had been breached during the party’s screening exercise.

On the allegation of over-voting in the PRP primary election in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states, the court held that the plaintiff failed to provide the party’s membership register, accreditation records and final primary election results to substantiate the claim.

 Consequently , the court dismissed the suit and resolved all the issues in favour of the PRP, Duke and INEC.

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), one of the sponsors of the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, will spotlight the ongoing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) during the company’s special day.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Unit and made available to journalists in Lokoja, Kogi State, yesterday.

The Dangote Special Day, scheduled for October 2, will feature a high-level fireside and business interactive session bringing together representatives of Dangote Group, governments, the organised private sector, and business leaders to examine the transformative role of the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria’s economic development.

According to the company, the interactive session will provide prospective investors, entrepreneurs, business operators and other participants with an opportunity to engage directly with representatives of the Dangote Group and gain a better understanding of the refinery’s ongoing IPO and its broader economic significance.

The session, with the theme: ‘Dangote Refinery, Vision 2030, ACCI and the Economy’, will examine the refinery’s contribution to Nigeria’s energy security, industrialisation, trade, employment generation, taxation, and economic growth.

Particular attention will be paid to how increased domestic refining capacity can reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, conserve foreign exchange, strengthen local value chains and create new opportunities for businesses across the petroleum, petrochemical, logistics, manufacturing and services sectors.

The IPO will also feature prominently in the discussions, with participants expected to explore how the public offer can broaden participation in the ownership of one of Africa’s most significant industrial assets, deepen Nigeria’s capital market and provide eligible investors with an opportunity to participate in the country’s ongoing industrial transformation.

The fireside session will bring together senior representatives of Dangote Group, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), government and the wider private sector.

The company said the session would also provide an opportunity to examine Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 and its implications for industrialisation, job creation, local content development, technology transfer, investment and economic diversification.

Beyond the fireside discussion, visitors to the Trade Fair will have the opportunity to engage with the Dangote Group at its pavilion, where the company will showcase a range of products and businesses spanning cement, sugar, salt and seasoning, packaging, and other sectors.

The Dangote Group’s sustained participation and sponsorship of the Abuja International Trade Fair reflects its continued support for platforms that promote trade, investment, entrepreneurship and stronger linkages between the private sector and government.

The 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is expected to bring together hundreds of exhibitors, businesses, investors, policymakers and members of the public, providing a platform for networking, market access, investment promotion, and business-to-business engagement.

The company said it looks forward to welcoming participants to the Dangote Special Day and its pavilion to explore the Group’s products, investment opportunities and potential areas of business collaboration.

Jonathan Eze

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abass Lawal, has charged charcoal merchants and other stakeholders in the forestry sector to embrace sustainable practices and support the federal government’s efforts to reverse deforestation and restore Nigeria’s degraded forest landscapes.

The minister gave the charge at the flag-off of the 2026 Operation One Million Trees Tree Planting Programme organised by the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants at the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan.

The programme, which brought together forestry practitioners, charcoal merchants, environmentalists, students, regulators and other stakeholders, is aimed at promoting afforestation and encouraging responsible management of Nigeria’s forest resources.

Speaking at the event, the minister described tree planting as one of the most practical measures for combating climate change, reversing deforestation, restoring biodiversity, controlling desertification and strengthening the resilience of the nation’s ecosystems.

He said Nigeria’s forests provide critical environmental, social and economic benefits, including biodiversity con-servation, regulation of water resources and livelihoods for millions of Nigerians, stressing that their protection must therefore remain a collective responsibility.

The minister said the Federal Ministry of Environment remained committed to sustainable forest management through programmes designed to restore degraded forests, increase forest cover and promote climate resilience across the country.

He noted that the ministry had, on June 8, 2026, flagged off the 2026 National Afforestation Programme as part of the implementation of the Federal Government’s Executive Order on the ban on the export of wood and charcoal.

According to him, the national programme underscores government’s commitment to restoring degraded forests, increasing Nigeria’s forest cover and ensuring sustainable management of forest resources.

He also highlighted several other initiatives of the ministry, including the Sovereign Green Bond Afforestation Programme, National Greening of Cities and Urban Areas for Climate Change Mitigation, agroforestry initiatives, protection of erosion-prone areas and marginal lands, as well as stakeholder and community engagement programmes.

The minister, who was represented by Dr Osakwe Igbinosa, said the Operation One Million Trees initiative complemented government’s broader environmental agenda, urging stakeholders to ensure that forestry activities were carried out in line with existing laws, environmental regulations and government policies.

He further stressed that the success of afforestation should not be measured merely by the number of seedlings planted but by the number that survive and mature into healthy forests.

“Tree planting is not just about putting seedlings into the soil. The real measure of success is their survival and growth into healthy forests,” the minister said.

For the Chairman of the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants, Mr Adeshola  Adebowale Idowu, the event carried a clear message for everyone involved in the charcoal business and, indeed, every Nigerian.

Idowu said stakeholders should develop the habit of replacing trees removed from the environment, encouraging Nigerians to plant trees around their homes and communities.

He advocated a practice of planting several trees for every tree cut down, stressing that trees remain indispensable to human existence because many products used by society are derived from them.

He also identified technology as a critical component of modern forest protection, pointing to the potential use of drones to plant seedlings in difficult-to-reach areas.

According to him, the use of technology could significantly accelerate afforestation efforts because drones could reach areas that might be difficult or dangerous for human beings to access.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ademola Aderinto, commended the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and praised his environmental policies that encourages afforestation as a potent way of fighting climate change. 

He assured stakeholders  that trees cutting is discouraged in the state and offenders are penalised. 

Also speaking, the Chief Strategy Officer of FOJ Multidynamic Interchange Nigeria Limited, Florence Omolola, said the event was part of a broader effort to ensure that the charcoal business operates sustainably and in compliance with environmental regulations.

Omolola said the ceremonial flag-off represented the beginning of an initiative designed to encourage charcoal merchants to play their part in combating deforestation and environmental degradation.

She explained that the three-day programme had been structured around sensitisation, youth engagement, tree planting and verification of the afforestation claims being made by participants.

According to her, the first day featured a youth festival and inter-departmental competitions involving students of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan.

She said the youth-focused activities were designed to expose students to the importance of environmental protection and technology-driven solutions while making them active participants in safeguarding the country’s natural resources.

She added that the awards and recognition for winners of the competitions formed part of the activities surrounding the programme.

Omolola said the following phase would involve on-site verification of the afforestation activities, with environmentalists, journalists, regulators, non-governmental organisations, international organisations, auditors and other independent stakeholders expected to participate.

She explained that the verification process was intended to provide physical evidence of the trees planted and strengthen transparency around the programme.

She also acknowledged the support of the Federal Ministry of Environment, saying the minister had deployed a five-member delegation to support the programme and ensure that its activities complied with established regulations.

She appealed for continued government support for sustainable forestry initiatives, stressing that collective efforts were necessary to achieve meaningful environmental restoration.

“Operation One Million Trees is just the beginning,” she said, expressing optimism that the initiative would expand beyond its present target in subsequent years.

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, Jonathan Eze examines the country’s turbulent journey, the changing character of its politics and the difficult choices that will determine whether the promise of independence can finally be translated into prosperity, stability and national confidence.

On October 1, 1960, Nigeria inherited the sovereignty for which generations of nationalists had agitated. Sixty-six years later, the question is no longer whether Nigeria can survive. It has survived wars, coups, economic crises, political upheavals and democratic reversals. It has endured moments when its very existence appeared precarious and yet emerged, sometimes battered but remarkably resilient.

The more consequential question now is whether survival can be converted into transformation.

That is the uncomfortable paradox of Nigeria at 66. The country possesses enormous human and natural resources, a youthful population, a formidable entrepreneurial spirit and considerable influence within Africa. Yet millions of its citizens continue to contend with poverty, insecurity, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure and declining purchasing power.

Nigeria’s anniversary, therefore, ought to be more than another ceremonial occasion punctuated by patriotic speeches. It should provoke a serious interrogation of the national journey: what was inherited, what was lost, what was achieved, what went wrong and what must change if the next generation is to inherit a country more confident than the one it received.

Nigeria We Inherited

The founding generation left behind a complicated inheritance: a vast territory, considerable agricultural and mineral wealth, a growing population and a society divided by geography, language, ethnicity and religion.

The challenge was never merely to govern this territory. It was to forge a political community out of its diversity.

Nigeria’s First Republic attempted that difficult task under a parliamentary system, with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as Governor-General, before the country became a republic in 1963 with Azikiwe as President.

But political competition soon became increasingly regional and ethnic in character. The crisis eventually produced the military coups of 1966, followed by a counter-coup, civil war and years of military rule.

That period left an enduring lesson. When institutions are too weak to mediate political competition, elections can become existential contests. Political opponents cease to be merely opponents; control of government becomes synonymous with access to the state itself.

Much of Nigeria’s subsequent political history can be understood against that background.

Military Years and Architecture of State

Nigeria’s military era cannot reasonably be compressed into a single verdict. Its different administrations left different legacies.

Yakubu Gowon’s government confronted the enormous task of rebuilding after the civil war. Murtala Muhammed brought a forceful reformist disposition to government before his assassination in 1976. Olusegun Obasanjo subsequently completed the transition programme that returned Nigeria to civilian rule in 1979.

The military governments that followed brought centralisation and authoritarianism, but they also shaped many of the administrative structures through which the Nigerian state continues to function.

The country eventually returned to civilian government in 1999 carrying the accumulated weight of military rule, political instability and institutional fragility.

Democracy’s Long Test

The return to democracy in 1999 was not simply another transfer of power. It was an attempt to make constitutional government a permanent feature of Nigerian political life.

Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration confronted debt, economic restructuring and the challenge of rebuilding institutions after years of military rule. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua placed considerable emphasis on the rule of law and his Seven-Point Agenda before his administration was cut short by illness and death.

Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency was marked by political and security challenges, but his administration also presided over the 2015 general election, during which an incumbent president conceded defeat to an opposition candidate. That episode became one of the notable moments in Nigeria’s democratic experience.

Muhammadu Buhari’s two terms placed considerable emphasis on anti-corruption, security and infrastructure while confronting economic difficulties, falling oil revenues and other structural problems.

Yet one weakness has persisted across administrations: too much of Nigeria’s development has remained tied to the personality and priorities of individual leaders.

Policies are introduced, renamed, abandoned or redesigned with changes of government. Institutions struggle to preserve continuity. National development consequently becomes episodic rather than cumstand

Nigeria too often begins again.

Tinubu and Politics of Structural Adjustment

President Bola Tinubu inherited a difficult economic environment in 2023 and embarked on reforms that included the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to foreign-exchange arrangements.

The reforms have produced sharply different assessments.

The Federal Government has defended them as necessary steps to correct structural weaknesses and establish a more sustainable economic foundation.

Critics, meanwhile, have concentrated on their immediate effect on households, particularly the rising cost of food, transportation and other essentials.

The International Monetary Fund’s June, 2026 assessment acknowledged improved macroeconomic outcomes and greater resilience following the reforms, while noting that conditions remained difficult for many Nigerians. It projected real GDP growth of 4.1 per cent for 2026.

That distinction deserves attention.

An economy can improve at the macro level while households remain under severe pressure. Better fiscal numbers do not automatically translate into cheaper food, affordable housing, reliable electricity or better healthcare.

The real measure of economic reform must ultimately be its capacity to expand production, create jobs, attract investment and improve the material circumstances of citizens.

The Federal Government has increasingly framed the next phase of its programme around production, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, enterprise, jobs and improved living standards.

That is where the political argument will eventually be settled, not merely in statistics or speeches, but in whether Nigerians can feel a meaningful improvement in their daily lives.

Nigeria’s Political Season Has Arrived Early

Nigeria is already entering the political atmosphere of the 2027 general election.

Political parties are reorganising. Alliances are shifting. Presidential ambitions are becoming more visible. Incumbents are defending their records while opposition forces are developing alternative narratives.

An August 2026 assessment by the International Republican Institute described Nigeria’s political environment as characterised by greater consolidation around the governing APC, weakening of the PDP and continuing fragmentation and realignment among opposition forces. It also identified economic hardship, insecurity and declining confidence in political institutions as significant challenges.

The importance of 2027 therefore extends beyond the personalities seeking office.

It will provide another major test of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and of the country’s evolving political choices.

But the quality of the election will depend considerably on the quality of the conversation surrounding it.

Nigeria deserves an electoral discourse that goes beyond the familiar language of ethnicity, religion, personality and political mobilisation. Questions of electricity, security, education, healthcare, agriculture, jobs, technology, productivity, constitutional reform and institutional accountability should occupy the centre of national debate.

Campaigns will come and go. Nigeria will remain.

Real Battle Is Beyond 2027

There is a tendency in Nigerian politics to treat every election as if it were a final destination. It is not.

The 2027 election is simply another junction in a much longer national journey.

Whoever governs after 2027 will inherit problems that cannot be resolved within four or eight years. Some policies will require continuity. Others will require correction. Some institutions will need reform rather than abandonment.

Nigeria needs a state capable of remembering what previous administrations have done, preserving what works and correcting what does not.

The economic imperative is equally clear. Nigeria must produce more of what it consumes and export more of what it produces. Dependence on crude oil cannot remain the principal foundation of national prosperity.

The country’s enormous youth population must become an economic asset rather than a permanent source of anxiety. Electricity must become sufficiently reliable for businesses to plan and invest. Education must prepare citizens for an economy increasingly defined by technology and knowledge. Agriculture must move beyond subsistence towards competitive commercial production.

And security must cease to be a perpetual emergency that interrupts development.

From Leaders to Institutions

Perhaps the most important lesson of Nigeria’s 66 years is that no individual, however gifted, can build a permanent nation alone.

Nigeria has had leaders with different temperaments, ideologies and governing philosophies. It has experienced military governments and civilian administrations. It has experimented with different economic policies and political arrangements.

Yet the institutional question remains.

A serious democracy requires institutions capable of surviving the personalities occupying public offices. The judiciary, police, electoral system, civil service, legislature, local governments and regulatory agencies must function according to rules that citizens can understand and trust.

Public policy cannot remain excessively dependent on the individual occupying the presidential office. The future of Nigeria will ultimately be determined not simply by who sits in Aso Rock, occupies the National Assembly or governs a state, but by whether ordinary citizens can obtain justice, start businesses, travel safely, educate their children, access healthcare and participate productively in the economy without political connections.

Generation After Founders

At 66, Nigeria is increasingly a country of people who were born after independence.

For millions of young Nigerians, October 1, 1960 is history rather than personal memory. Their worldview has been shaped by smartphones, social media, artificial intelligence, digital finance, global employment markets and international mobility.

They compare Nigeria not only with neighbouring African countries but with India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Europe and North America.

Their expectations of government are consequently changing.

The questions are increasingly direct.

Can a graduate find meaningful work? Can an entrepreneur obtain reliable electricity and affordable credit? Can a farmer reach markets? Can a child from a poor household receive quality education? Can a citizen travel across the country without fear? Can justice be obtained without influence or connections?

Those questions will define the next phase of the Nigerian project.

Nigeria at 66 should neither be romanticised nor dismissed.

The country has struggled, but it has also accomplished much. It has preserved its territorial union through enormous crises, sustained democratic government since 1999, produced globally competitive businesses and creative industries, nurtured a remarkably resilient entrepreneurial population and developed technological and diplomatic capacities that continue to command attention beyond its borders.

But potential is not achievement.

For too long, Nigeria has lived on the promise of what it could become. At some point, promise must give way to performance. The country cannot indefinitely celebrate its possibilities while postponing the difficult work required to realise them.

Projection

The Nigeria of 2092 will be shaped, in considerable measure, by decisions being made today.

Today’s choices on education, energy, security, public finance, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, technology and democratic institutions will become tomorrow’s inheritance.

The political season ahead should therefore be understood as more than another struggle for power. It is part of a much larger argument about the direction of the Nigerian state.

But responsibility does not belong exclusively to politicians.

Citizens must demand evidence rather than rhetoric, programmes rather than personalities, institutions rather than patronage, and accountability rather than excuses.

Political parties must understand that Nigeria’s problems cannot be solved merely by changing slogans. Leaders must recognise that governing a country of more than 200 million people requires a vision larger than electoral mobilisation. Citizens, too, must understand that democracy is not exhausted by the act of voting every four years. It requires sustained attention to how power is exercised between elections.

At 66, Nigeria has accumulated enough history to understand the cost of institutional collapse, enough experience to recognise the consequences of bad policy and enough human capital to know that its future need not be a repetition of its past.

The country enters its 67th year with an unfinished assignment.

The founding generation secured independence. The post-independence generation fought to preserve the federation. The democratic generation fought to consolidate civilian rule.

The emerging generation now faces the harder task: building a Nigeria in which independence is measured not merely by freedom from colonial rule, but by the capacity of the Nigerian citizen to live with dignity, security, opportunity and confidence in tomorrow.

That is the deeper meaning of Nigeria’s 66-year journey.

Nigeria has survived its history.

The challenge now is to transcend it.

Former National Vice-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, South-West, Mr Bankole Adefemi Oluwajana, in this interview, speaks on President Bola Tinubu’s performance, the state of Nigeria’s economy, agriculture, restructuring, and the 2027 general elections, among other national issues. Wale Igbintade brings excerpts.

What is your assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s vision and performance so far?

President Tinubu is very brilliant and knows what he is doing and where he is taking Nigeria. He means well for Nigeria. Presidents before him majorly had governance in mind. In addition to governance, the government of President Tinubu has introduced restructuring, growth and economic stability. If there are lapses and mistakes, they are not deliberate. Such hitches are not unusual, and the rough edges can be smoothened.

Obviously, President Tinubu wants a well-structured and better future for Nigeria. The naira deregulation and removal of subsidy are good policies. Now, Nigerians travel abroad with goods to sell there, earn income and return with empty boxes. Before now, it was the other way around—Nigerians would go abroad with empty boxes and return with boxes filled with goods. This was injurious to the economy. The reversal of this trend is good for the economy.

We are making good progress, as shown by the increase in our reserves from $28 billion under President Jonathan to $54 billion now, an increase of almost 100 per cent within a few years. Economically, we are moving forward, and there is global acknowledgement of this. It will be disastrous to reverse the course.

Looking at political dynamics, what caused the APC’s loss in Osun State?

On politics, the loss to the Accord Party in Osun State was expected. It couldn’t have been otherwise. The man who won, Governor Adeleke, is one of us. Our candidate, the candidate of the APC in the election, is good. The man who believes himself to be the leader of the APC structure in Osun State, the immediate former governor, doesn’t have what it takes to lead progressives. He is not charismatic, looks like an introvert, and his human relations are weak. He never would have been in politics but for his closeness to the President.

His deputy, Benedict Alabi, would have done better. Baba Akande would have done far better, even at his age. There are so many strong politicians in the APC—Bashiru, Omisore, Fadahunsi, Omoworare and many others. Oyetola was the weak link.

How do you evaluate the current state of opposition parties ahead of the forthcoming elections?

 On the forthcoming election, it is very obvious that there is no serious opposition, or the opposition parties are not serious. The supposedly biggest of them all, the ADC, has no governorship candidate in Abia, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kano, Katsina and Taraba States, comprising 159 LGAs, about 20 per cent of Nigeria. Kano alone has 44 LGAs and has the largest voting bloc in the North. Kano is one of the two swing states that decide presidential elections. The NDC is in an even worse dilemma.

The opposition candidates are in three categories. Some are dreamers, often misled by marabouts and prophets. The second category comprises serial contenders who gather together those who are angry with President Tinubu, those who do not like him, and some former associates who have fallen out with him. In this second group, we have strange bedfellows. How can we explain Aregbesola, a known progressive socialist, pairing up with an anti-democratic dictator like David Mark, who retired as a military irredentist, and an aggressive capitalist like Atiku? It is impossible to have a unified team from such a concoction.

The third group comprises unduly ambitious young men without structure. They assume that a riot, protest or upheaval can bring them to power, forgetting that the same upheaval may consume them.

Anywhere in the world, including the United States of America, you cannot be a serious contender in a democracy without a structure. It takes time and serious work by serious-minded people, acting with principles and without anger, envy or jealousy, to form a formidable team or party.

The election is just a few months away, and the understanding of major opposition figures of what a campaign means is to abuse President Tinubu on social media like kindergarten children fighting over a bar of chocolate or groundnuts. The battle has been won even before it started. There is no contest.

Is your party not threatened by the move by the opposition to field a single presidential candidate to challenge Tinubu?

It cannot work. This is why it cannot work. You see, many of them are people of ambition. And people of ambition don’t look at any other person’s interest. That explains why Peter Obi kept jumping from one party to another.

The same thing with Atiku. Atiku also is a man of ambition, and he has changed parties—virtually every available party that you have seen. So, you can see, at the end of the day, assuming they now say they want to work together, that means that they have already acknowledged that they have failed.

In other words, Atiku will work with Peter Obi when he knows that Obi cannot win, and Obi knows that Atiku cannot win. Are you getting the point? So, for me, all of them together constitute an opposition. They are sharing the number of people who are opposed, for instance, to Tinubu. But again, I will add that such a concoction cannot work. And I have not seen signs that they are telling us anything—anything that they didn’t say in 2023.

The only thing right now is that they are talking about the supposed case against Tinubu in the United States. Come on, was it not there in 2023? And how does that affect Nigeria? Are the votes to be cast by the international community, by Americans? It just doesn’t make sense. So, to me, whatever anybody is doing anywhere will not succeed.

The President has been distributing the subsidy savings to governors. What can Nigerians do to make the governors do more for the people?

Well, thank you so much. You know, if you observe the way Tinubu operates, he knows that, in a democracy, as the structure is in Nigeria, the governors hold a lot of power in the states. That wasn’t created by him. That was created by the Constitution. So, he’s trying to make the best of a seemingly bad situation. There’s nothing he could have done. He still has to use them to be able to reach the people as much as possible.

And, in his own way, as he’s counselling them, he recently spoke about, “Look, don’t spend too much money on bridges.” He’s telling them that, “Look, you have to do more than that. You have to reach the people. You have to find a way of making sure that you perform your role as a governor.” That’s the best he can do—we don’t have a unitary government in Nigeria.

We have a federal system, which Tinubu is even trying to improve. Are you getting the point? It’s still the best we can have. But I will also agree with you that the governors need to do much more than what they are doing.

Tinubu has been known to be an advocate of restructuring the body politic. How far has he been able to do that?

You know, in four years—I will say in three years—you can’t achieve the ultimate. But people would have observed that he is gradually restructuring Nigeria.

He’s doing what people before him never did. For example, it is now a known fact that the states are richer than they used to be. Another example is the fact that he’s trying to reach the nooks and crannies of the country with a network of roads, trains and every other thing.

So, for me, Tinubu has moved us forward in restructuring. But we are not yet there. By the time he finishes his second term, hopefully, we will have gotten there. He has shown us signs that he has restructuring in mind. And this is not a military regime that can just wake up one day and restructure through military fiat like what a former Head of State, Aguiyi-Ironsi, did or what another person did at that time. With democratic limitations, he’s definitely pursuing restructuring.

The issue of subsidy removal is criticised by opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar, who point out that other nations maintain subsidies and that Nigerians benefited from them. How do you respond to this argument?

Atiku is a political gangster! Who is a gangster? Somebody who wants to get what he wants by force. He’s saying whatever he could say to show that he could do something better. But his history does not justify that. The same Atiku spoke about subsidy when they were running the first election. Atiku will say anything just to try to—want to give the dog a bad name to hang it. And serious people will not take him seriously.

Leaving the messenger aside, what about the core message that everyday Nigerians actually need government subsidies?

Look, let me tell you. People like you and me, we belong to a supposedly elite group. Just listen. You have a large percentage of Nigerians who don’t have the opportunities that you have.

Subsidy has enriched the privileged because they have the network of friends. They know how to tap into it. If subsidy is returned, it will favour people like you and me. But it will further enlarge the gap between the rich and the poor. Why? Because the elite, the privileged people like you and me, capitalise on it.

Look at what was happening during the subsidy? There are two things: subsidy and deregulation. Those are two major things. I will tell you what happened, for instance, in deregulation.

Nigerians are very smart. The smartness of Nigerians is not limited to only the Yahoo boys. The only thing is that some people use it positively; some use it in a way that work against the system.

What people were doing was that they would incorporate a company in the United States, where they wanted to buy, say, a phone. So, the company they had incorporated in the US would raise an invoice saying that the item could be bought for $10,000. They would use the $10,000 to source foreign exchange here, and the foreign exchange would be taken to them. They would then buy the item for $2,000 over there. They would repatriate the $8,000 and sell it where people were struggling to obtain dollars here. They made money without working.

It even happened the other way before, when the naira was stronger than the pound. You know what used to happen? You would change sterling here, say £1,000. The £1,000 you had changed here, Nigerians would go to the UK and sell it on the streets. They would come back to Nigeria with naira worth £1,300. They wouldn’t bring in any goods at all. So, goods were not coming to Nigeria, yet formal transactions were going on.

So, people were buying—the rich people were buying houses in Potomac. We know them. They have houses in Potomac. Potomac is a very expensive place in Maryland, near Washington. They have houses there. Now, they can’t do that anymore; it’s tough.

Do you see ethnicity and religion shaping the outcome of the 2027 election like they did in 2023?

I would say that ethnicity and religion always have some effect, but this time around, the effect will be diminished more than what we witnessed in 2023 when there was so much talk about the muslim-muslim ticket. If you google it, that clamour has gone down for the president

In fact, a major advocate of the issue at the time is now a spokesman, Daniel Bwala. And the other major advocate has been silent, former SGF, Babachir Lawal. Lawal has suddenly realised that the issue has not really worked against Christians. If anything, else, he’s subtly praising Tinubu. It wasn’t like that before; he was so antagonistic. So, the noise-making about muslim-muslim at that time has gone down.

Now, when you talk about ethnicity, a majority of the governors in the North are all pro-Tinubu. I mean, are they not Northerners? The Fulani and the Fulani effect—you think it’s going to work against Tinubu one day? Is Senator Sani, the man in Kaduna, not a thoroughbred Fulani? Are you getting the point? But thank God for people like him. I think Nigeria is improving. We are not going to get there overnight, but one after another. Hopefully, by the time Tinubu is done with the additional four years, the person we will have there will also be as broad-minded as Tinubu has been.

Is there anything you would have loved the President to do differently during his tenure?

Well, I don’t know. I pray that—if you know Tinubu very well, if you have been following his trajectory, Tinubu is not one of those who sit down to share the national cake. What I mean by that is, he doesn’t look at somebody who is waiting for the budget or the money of the state and take a portion. For me, that is what I’m seeing in him.

In your state, Ondo, why is there political tension between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Minister Tunji-Ojo?

Well, I will make two comments. The first comment I’ll make is that, if you observe, the major leaders—leaders, I mean anybody I call a leader now, somebody who has held a position in the state. I’ve mentioned; I will mention my humble self because I was a former National Vice-Chairman. I will mention the former Governor, Mimiko. I will mention the deputies, Ali Olanusi and Mimiko’s deputy, Agboola Ajayi, yes.

Part of what leaders learn—mature leaders—is that you never criticise or work against your party openly. The man carries the flag of your party in the state. And this happens also in the United States. That’s why, no matter what Donald Trump does, you hardly see Republican senators criticising him openly.

As a matter of fact, they almost automatically give him the ticket for the next election. It’s cultural. Because when you diminish the image of that person, you are watering down the image of your party. This new generation of politicians don’t understand that. It does not necessarily mean that we approve of everything that he does. We’ll tell him. In his space, many of us don’t go—we have no business, we don’t get contracts from him. We are not expecting appointments from him. I can’t be commissioner again; I can’t be anything. Are you getting the point?

Secondly, as to whether he comes back, whether he wants to come back, that is not for me to decide. Is Tunji-Ojo an inexperienced person who will talk about such a thing? In politics, anybody is free to aspire to be anything. When the time comes, we will cross it. If we don’t cross it, law will cross it. If law has crossed it, it will be re-echoed again. So, why should that be an issue?

Finally, even Tunji-Ojo will not admit that they are fighting. Neither will the governor say they are fighting. So, who am I to say that they are fighting? It’s also just human speculation as to what is happening—but I think I’ve made enough comment for you to understand. Are you getting the point?

Even if I have reservations, I will see the governor and tell him. If he’s not doing right, I’m APC to the core. I will never come on the street and begin to clamour and make it a point. I will see the governor directly and tell him. That is why you see me in the Governor’s Advisory Council.

How do you view Nigeria’s shift away from its original agricultural base over the decades?

Nigerians need to understand that God created Nigeria in the world for a purpose. That purpose is to grow and supply food to the world. Activities shifting our focus away from agriculture and towards other areas are misplaced—we are simply on a frolic of our own. From the 1960s, it became a culture in Nigeria that every graduate must get a white-collar job, preferably in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt or Kano. Graduation became a walk away from farming, creativity and self-employment. Every other job, including farming, was abandoned.

When Nigeria gained independence in 1960, Nigeria supplied over 50 per cent of the palm oil consumed in the world. Today, Nigeria supplies about two per cent. Malaysia and Indonesia, which took seedlings from Nigeria, now supply 85 per cent. Cocoa, groundnuts, cashew nuts and several other farm products are suffering the same neglect.

How has urbanisation and the quest for white-collar employment affected cities like Lagos and the rural areas?

One of the negative effects of colonisation in Nigeria is that the vast majority of Nigerians aspire to take up white-collar jobs and become employees after graduation. Many followed that pattern and ended up in Lagos, which offered the best opportunities for white-collar employment.

At independence in 1960, the population of Lagos was less than 800,000, about the size of Ikorodu Local Government Area today. When I came to Lagos in 1978, the population was about two million. Lagos is now about 25 million. It is projected that Lagos alone will have more than 35 million people in a few years’ time.

Most of the industries established between 1970 and 2000 that offered thousands of job opportunities have folded up, yet many people are still limiting themselves to office jobs and employment, wearing coats and ties. Some will still come to Lagos this week looking for jobs that are no longer available. They will be compelled to live in slums and uncompleted buildings, just like the prodigal son.

Where they are migrating from, in the farmlands of the countryside, you don’t see mad people on the streets at night because family members can accommodate them, sometimes in an entire house.

What impact is foreign involvement having on Nigeria’s agricultural sector and cash crop economy?

While our people are rushing out for what they call greener pastures in foreign lands, the Chinese, Indians and fellow Africans are taking over our land for farm plantations—cocoa, oil palm, cashew, timber and so on. Virtually all the major oil palm plantations in Nigeria, with the exception of one or two, are indirectly owned by foreigners. These people are not producing for the local market. They get paid in dollars outside Nigeria, which they smartly keep outside Nigeria.

The majority of the cash crops now existing on farms—cocoa, kola nuts, bitter kola, cashew nuts and timber—were planted in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. They have now almost reached the end of their lifespan. No new plantations exist, even when there are now better hybrids that will bear fruit within three to four years. The market for agricultural products is inexhaustible, nationally and globally.

Where do you see the biggest potential for Nigerian agricultural exports going forward?

In a few years’ time, there will be scarcity of bitter kola, kola nuts and cocoa because most of the ones available now were planted by our grandfathers more than 70 years ago and will soon stop fruiting. Every economic tree has a lifespan.

In the meantime, the most populous nation on earth, China, has opened up to the world, and the Chinese are as traditional as Africans. They need roots, herbs, leaves and other items that cannot be grown on their soil.

The demand for bitter kola increased sharply and its value quadrupled during COVID, and it has remained high because some pharmaceutical companies now use it to compound medicines, following the immunity effect that was observed during COVID. Researchers are making discoveries every day that the plants around us are medicinal.