ABUJA, August 26, 2026 — Former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a fresh attack on the Tinubu administration, declaring that “we are competing with thieves” and vowing to boycott any political debate that does not include President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku made the remarks on Monday as political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections begins to gather momentum. He said Nigerians deserve transparency and accountability from those seeking to lead, and that avoiding direct engagement with the President would amount to a disservice to the electorate.
“We are not just competing with political parties. We are competing with thieves who have held this country down,” Atiku said. “Any debate for 2027 must have President Tinubu on that stage. Anything short of that, I will not participate.”
The statement comes on the same day Labour Party’s Peter Obi challenged Tinubu to “Stop Hiding In Aso Rock” and come out for an open debate on insecurity, the economy, and rising fuel prices.
Political observers say Atiku’s comments signal an early alignment among opposition leaders to pressure the government and set the tone for 2027. Both Atiku and Obi have maintained strong followings since the 2023 elections and are expected to remain key figures in the next election cycle.
The Presidency has not yet responded to Atiku’s remarks.
With fuel prices rising again this week and insecurity dominating headlines, analysts say the call for direct debate between the President and opposition leaders is likely to dominate political discourse in the coming months.
MABUJA, August 26, 2026 — Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has publicly challenged President Bola Tinubu to an open debate, urging him to “stop hiding in Aso Rock” and address Nigerians directly on pressing national issues.
Obi made the call on Tuesday amid growing public frustration over rising fuel prices, worsening insecurity, and economic hardship. The challenge comes as petrol prices climbed again this week, with NNPC raising the pump price to ₦1,270 per litre in Abuja, and Dangote Refinery adjusting its gantry price to ₦1,200 per litre.
“Leadership is about accountability and direct engagement with the people,” Obi said in a statement. “At a time when Nigerians are struggling with insecurity, inflation, and uncertainty, the President should come out and debate these issues openly, not govern from behind closed doors.”
The Labour Party leader said a televised debate would allow Nigerians to hear clear plans on how the government intends to tackle kidnapping, banditry, and the cost-of-living crisis.
His remarks immediately sparked reactions online and within political circles. The challenge also aligns with renewed 2027 election positioning, as opposition figures including former VP Atiku Abubakar have ramped up criticism of the Tinubu administration. Atiku on Monday said “We Are Competing With Thieves” and vowed to boycott any debate that does not include Tinubu.
The Presidency is yet to officially respond to Obi’s call.
Political analysts say Obi’s move is aimed at putting pressure on the government and reasserting his visibility ahead of 2027. Since the 2023 elections where he polled over 6 million votes, Obi has maintained a strong following among youths and urban voters who credit him for his message of frugality, accountability, and shifting Nigeria from “consumption to production.”
Whether the debate will hold remains uncertain, but Obi’s challenge has already set the tone for what is shaping up to be an early and heated build-up to the next general elections.
ENUGU — The Enugu State Job Centre has facilitated employment for over 5,000 youths across the state in the last 12 months, the management has announced.
The State Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Barr. Chika Ugwuoke, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing to mark the centre’s first year anniversary in Enugu.
He said the placements were achieved through strategic partnerships with private companies, SMEs, government agencies, and skills training partners aimed at reducing unemployment and youth restiveness.
“From the day we opened, our mandate was clear: connect Enugu youths to decent and dignifying work. Today we can report that over 5,000 young people have been successfully placed in jobs across manufacturing, tech, health, agriculture, and services,” Ugwuoke stated.
According to him, the Job Centre runs a digital portal where employers post vacancies and job seekers register their skills, qualifications, and location. Successful candidates are also linked to upskilling and entrepreneurship programs.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Job Creation, Mr. Ifeanyi Ozo, added that 60% of those placed are women, while over 1,200 beneficiaries were trained in digital skills, tailoring, plumbing, and agribusiness before being matched to employers.
“Governor Peter Mbah’s administration is focused on growing jobs, not just employment. We are tracking retention and performance, and early data shows over 80% of those placed are still in employment,” Ozo said.
Some beneficiaries who spoke at the event commended the government for the initiative, noting that the process was transparent and free.
The Commissioner urged more companies operating in Enugu to partner with the centre and encouraged youths to register on the portal to access new opportunities.
He added that the state government is targeting 20,000 placements in the next 18 months as part of efforts to make Enugu the premier destination for investment and talent in the South East.
AWKA — The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, has approved the suspension of Prof. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye of the Department of Chinese Studies for three months with half salary over alleged violations relating to an examination misconduct case.
The suspension was announced on Monday in a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Aloysius Attah. It takes effect following the submission of an interim report by a six-member Special Investigative Panel on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, approved the sanction based on recommendations in the preliminary report. The panel was chaired by the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma.
According to the university, the panel investigated five issues but addressed two in its preliminary report. Prof. Odinye was found to have contravened Sections 5.8.3 and 5.8.1(iv) of UNIZIK’s General and Academic Regulations.
Specifically, the panel found that he:
1. Failed to record and submit an alleged examination misconduct case involving Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, a student of the Department of Chinese Studies, on the prescribed Examination Misconduct Report Form.
2.Returned a phone recovered from the student during the examination to her on the same day, contrary to university regulations.
The student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, has been referred to the Students’ Examination Misconduct Committee for further investigation.
The university said the panel’s assignment has been extended by two weeks to address the remaining three issues: whether there was sexual harassment, the identities of those who assaulted Prof. Odinye on August 15, and whether there was any incident of kidnapping.
Prof. Odinye was physically assaulted and stripped by some students on August 15 following the allegation. Management condemned “jungle justice” and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct while insisting that all allegations must go through due process.
UNIZIK said a final verdict, including possible criminal prosecution, will be made after the panel concludes its work.
ENUGU — The Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, ESIRS, has announced a reduction in Land Use Charge rates and unveiled a new digital Property Identification, PID, App to improve tax collection and property documentation in the state.
The Executive Chairman of ESIRS, Mr. Emmanuel Nnamani, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Enugu.
He said the downward review of the Land Use Charge was part of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration effort to ease the cost of doing business and encourage property owners to comply voluntarily.
According to him, the new rates take effect immediately and cut across residential, commercial and industrial properties. He added that early payment incentives and installment options have also been introduced.
Nnamani also launched the ESIRS Property ID App, a digital platform designed to assign unique identification numbers to all properties in Enugu State. The app will capture property details, location, ownership and tax status in real time.
“The Property ID App will eliminate multiple taxation, block revenue leakages and make it easier for citizens to verify, paid and obtain receipts for their Land Use Charge from anywhere,” Nnamani stated.
He urged property owners, estate developers and business operators to register on the platform within 60 days to avoid penalties. ESIRS teams will also begin statewide enumeration and sensitization.
The ESIRS boss said the reforms align with the state’s goal of growing IGR to fund infrastructure, health and education without overburdening taxpayers.
ETHNO-LINGUISTIC REGIONAL AUTONOMY OR NOTHING
Emeka Emekesiri Reports on the Abuja Restructuring Conference.
By Ndubuisi Anaenugwu | BVI Channel 1 Online.
ABUJA — The debate over the restructuring of Nigeria took a fresh turn in Abuja as representatives of various ethnic and regional interests gathered for a Conference of Concerned Citizens Assembly (CCA) on the restructuring of Nigeria through Regional Autonomy.
The conference, held from 17th to 20th August 2026, was convened by the Citizens Rebirth and Awareness Initiative (C-RAIN) under the leadership of Deacon Owolabi Oladejo and his team.
According to a report presented by Barrister Emeka Emekesiri, Coordinator of the Forum for Igbo Position on Restructuring (FIPOR), the conference was attended by representatives of several regions, although the Ijaw delegation reportedly had grievances with the organisers and did not make its presentation.
Federal Government Participation.
Emekesiri said the Igbo delegation initially insisted that the Federal Government must be formally invited to participate in the conference because of what he described as the legal and constitutional implications of discussing the restructuring of the Nigerian state without formally notifying the Federal Government.
He reportedly likened the situation to an engineer attempting to restructure a building without informing its owner.
Following discussions with the organisers, the Federal Government was invited. The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) was said to have delegated Mrs. Doris Lar of the Federal Ministry of Justice to deliver the Federal Government’s opening speech and goodwill message.
The participation of a Federal Government representative, according to the report, gave the conference an important official dimension.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Position.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta Mbata, was invited as a Special Guest of Honour. He delegated Barr Emekesiri to represent him and deliver his goodwill message.
The message reportedly reaffirmed the position that Ndigbo support a Nigeria based on Regional Autonomy, democracy, equity, justice and shared prosperity.
The position envisages a federation in which the regions control their resources, secure their people and compete peacefully for development, while the Federal Government retains responsibility for areas such as defence, foreign affairs and currency.
Igbo Position: Ethno-Linguistic Regions.
The Igbo delegation was led by Prof. Obasi Igwe, with Dr. Katchi Ononuju serving as deputy leader.
According to Emekesiri’s report, the central argument of the Igbo delegation was that restructuring should be based on indigenous ethno-linguistic regions or groups of consenting indigenous ethno-linguistic nationalities.
The delegation opposed what it described as the balkanisation of ethnic nationalities through political boundaries created over the years.
A particularly contentious issue was the status of present-day Rivers State and the question of the Igbo people’s historical access to the Atlantic coast.
The Igbo delegation reportedly presented historical maps and documents which, in its interpretation, demonstrated that parts of present-day Rivers State had historically been connected to Igboland.
It consequently argued for the restoration of what it described as the historical territorial integrity of the Igbo Region.
Rivers State Controversy.
The question of Rivers State generated significant disagreement at the conference.
While the Igbo delegation argued for the inclusion of Igbo-speaking communities in the proposed Igbo Region, some representatives from Rivers State reportedly rejected the position and argued for a separate Rivers Region.
Emekesiri’s report particularly referenced the Ikwerre question.
According to the report, some Ikwerre delegates affirmed their Igbo identity and expressed a preference for remaining within the proposed Igbo Region, possibly as a province rather than a separate federating region.
The report also referred to the Willink Commission Report of 1958, particularly its observations concerning Port Harcourt and the surrounding communities.
The historical interpretation of these territories remains a deeply contested political and identity issue, and the conference did not resolve the disagreement.
The Question of King Jaja and Opobo.
The report also made historical claims concerning King Jaja of Opobo, identifying him as an Igbo from Amaigbo and presenting the history of the Opobo Kingdom as part of the broader Igbo historical narrative.
It similarly argued that communities including Ogba, Egbema, Ndoni, Etche and Ekpeye have significant historical and linguistic connections with Igbo society.
These claims form part of the wider argument advanced by the Igbo delegation for an ethno-linguistically defined Igbo Region.
14, 15 or 17 Regions?
The conference reportedly considered different proposals for the number and composition of federating regions.
The Igbo delegation initially supported a 14-region structure, while the demand for a separate Rivers Region would increase the number to 15.
Other proposals emerged from different parts of the country, including separate regions for Hausa, Fulani/Caliphate, Igala, Savannah, Cross River and Akwa Ibom interests.
According to Emekesiri, the organisers were considering a 17-region structure, although he stated that the final position had not been conclusively established at the time of his report.
The proposed inclusion of a separate Rivers Region remains one of the principal objections of the Igbo delegation.
Hausa and Fulani Positions.
The report stated that representatives identifying with the Hausa position expressed a desire for a separate Hausa Region, while representatives associated with the Fulani proposed what they described as a Caliphate Region.
During the discussions, Emekesiri reportedly questioned representatives of the proposed Caliphate Region over insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry and killings attributed to some Fulani groups.
According to the report, the response was that some of those responsible were foreign Fulani who had entered Nigeria from neighbouring countries.
This prompted a further question from Emekesiri concerning who facilitated or enabled their entry into Nigeria.
The Disputed Communiqué.
Another major controversy arose over the conference communiqué.
According to Emekesiri, Prof. Obasi Igwe and Dr. Katchi Ononuju subsequently granted interviews to Arise TV in which they alleged that a communiqué had been produced without the participation or approval of the Igbo delegation.
The Igbo representatives consequently rejected the communiqué and described the conference outcome as unacceptable to the Igbo position.
Emekesiri maintained that Ndigbo could not accept any restructuring arrangement that, in his view, would permanently divide Igbo communities among different federating regions.
Regional Autonomy and the Right of Exit
One of the most significant disagreements at the conference concerned the proposed Articles of Federation, particularly the provision dealing with withdrawal from the proposed federation.
Emekesiri said the draft contained an Exit Clause, which would allow a federating region to withdraw from the union after satisfying stipulated conditions.
He supported retaining the clause, arguing that a voluntary federation should recognise the right of its constituent units to exercise self-determination under agreed legal procedures.
However, another delegate reportedly argued that the exit provision was too loose and could encourage the disintegration of Nigeria.
A proposal was consequently made that withdrawal should require approval by all 17 regional parliaments.
Emekesiri rejected the proposal, arguing that such a provision could leave one region permanently trapped in the federation if the other regions refused to approve its withdrawal.
He reportedly cited the United Kingdom as an example of a multinational state in which questions concerning self-determination and withdrawal have been addressed through constitutional and political processes.
The disagreement became so serious that Emekesiri said he walked out of the review process and advised Igbo leaders not to sign any Articles of Federation requiring the approval of all 17 regional parliaments as a precondition for withdrawal.
“Regional Autonomy or Nothing”
The central message of the Igbo delegation, as contained in Emekesiri’s report, is that restructuring must produce a genuinely decentralised Nigerian federation based on ethno-linguistic nationalities and consenting groups.
The report insists that Ndigbo will not accept what it considers a restructuring arrangement designed to permanently divide Igbo communities or deny the proposed Igbo Region access to the sea.
Emekesiri further argued that the proposed Federated Regions of Nigeria (FRN) should be a voluntary union, with constitutional safeguards for self-determination and an agreed legal mechanism for withdrawal.
He described the Igbo position as a commitment to pursuing freedom and justice through law, constitutional methods and political diplomacy.
What Lies Ahead?
The Abuja conference has exposed the complexity of restructuring Nigeria along regional and ethno-linguistic lines.
While there appears to be broad interest across several groups in greater regional autonomy, fundamental disagreements remain over territorial boundaries, resource control, ethnic identity, access to the sea, security responsibilities and the constitutional right of a region to withdraw from the federation.
For the Igbo delegation, however, the position presented by Emekesiri is unequivocal: regional autonomy must be based on ethno-linguistic identity and consent, and Ndigbo will not accept a structure that, in its view, balkanises the Igbo nation.
The debate over the future structure of Nigeria is therefore far from concluded.
As the various groups continue consultations, the most important question may no longer be whether Nigeria should be restructured, but what kind of restructuring can guarantee justice, equity, security, economic freedom and a sense of belonging for all of Nigeria’s constituent peoples.
BVI Channel 1 Online will continue to follow the restructuring debate and bring readers developments from the various regional and national stakeholders.
UMUAHIA — Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has announced automatic employment for 19 graduates of the TechRise Innovation Hub, in a move aimed at boosting the state’s digital economy and youth employment.
The governor made the announcement on Monday during the graduation ceremony of the third cohort of TechRise fellows held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
He said the 19 graduands who emerged top of the 6-month intensive training program in software engineering, product design, data analytics and digital marketing will be absorbed directly into the Abia State ICT Agency and other government digital initiatives.
“Abia is positioning itself as the tech capital of Nigeria. We cannot train our young people and then leave them to roam the streets. These 19 of you have shown excellence, and government will give you immediate jobs to deploy your skills for the development of our state,” Otti stated.
TechRise Innovation Hub is a flagship program of the Otti administration designed to equip Abia youths with practical tech skills and connect them to job opportunities locally and globally.
The Commissioner for Digital Economy and SMEs, Mr. Nwaka Inem, said the graduands were selected after rigorous assessments and real-world projects executed during the training.
He added that over 200 youths have so far benefited from the program since it began in 2024, with many already working remotely for international firms.
Some of the newly employed graduands expressed appreciation to the governor, promising to use their skills to build solutions that will address challenges in health, education and governance in the state.
The governor also announced plans to expand the program to accommodate 500 youths in the next cohort and to establish TechRise hubs in Aba and Ohafia.
MY ADDRESS TO MARK THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2027 PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGNS
21 August 2026
Dear Compatriots,
Members of the Press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Wednesday, 19 August 2026, marked the official start of the campaign period for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
There is no doubt that this is a defining moment for our democracy. This moment gives Nigerians the opportunity to assess the records, ideas, and plans of those seeking their mandate to lead their country at a time of grave uncertainty in our rapidly changing world.
I consider myself quite privileged to be one of those seeking your mandate to deal with these challenges facing our country.
I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.
Nigeria faces several serious challenges. Some of them are indeed of existential proportions.
According to the IMF, 63%, or over 140 million Nigerians, live at or below the national poverty line, while humanitarian agencies estimate that 35 million people will need food assistance during the 2026 lean season. About 3.6 million Nigerians remain internally displaced, largely because of conflict and insecurity. Each year, millions of young people enter the labour market, yet too many struggle to find productive opportunities. Weak infrastructure, unreliable power, insecurity, and the excessive cost of doing business continue to burden households and constrain enterprise.
These are more than statistics. They reflect the daily realities of Nigerian families, farmers, workers, students, and businesses.
Yet I do not believe Nigeria lacks the ability to overcome these challenges. We have the people, resources, market, talent, and enterprise. What we must do now is turn these strengths into security, productivity, and shared prosperity.
LEADERSHIP MUST DELIVER RESULTS
My successful private-sector experience, studies in institutions of repute on policy and business matters, and my service as Governor of Anambra State have shaped my understanding of public leadership. Government must manage resources responsibly, set clear priorities, and measure the outcomes of its decisions. Public office is not a reward; it is a responsibility to the people.
In Anambra, I prioritised the foundations of long-term development: education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and institutional capacity. I do not present that record as perfect, but as an experience from which Nigerians can draw their own conclusions.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso brings a different but complementary governing experience.
As Governor of Kano State, he focused strongly on education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure, and human-capital development. His administration’s investments in education and skills showed an understanding that the people are a state’s most important long-term resource.
Our experiences are different, but our conclusion is the same: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline.
BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS
Nigeria needs more than reactive reforms. We must focus on the questions that matter:
Are Nigerians better off than they were four years ago? Can they afford food, education, and healthcare? Can businesses produce, expand, and create jobs? Can young people find productive work? Can farmers work safely and get their produce to market?
These are the measures that matter.
With your mandate, our economic agenda will put production, investment, enterprise, and human capital at the centre of how we lead.
We will raise agricultural productivity by securing farming communities, expanding irrigation, improving rural roads and storage, and linking farmers to finance and markets. We will also strengthen manufacturing and agro-processing so Nigeria can export more finished goods and capture greater value from its resources.
We will create a business environment where entrepreneurs can invest, hire, and grow without unnecessary regulatory or infrastructure barriers.
And we will manage public finances responsibly. Every naira should have a clear purpose, and major public investments should have measurable outcomes.
The goal is not growth for its own sake, but an economy that produces more, employs more people, creates wealth, and improves living standards.
SECURITY IS THE FOUNDATION
No nation can prosper when its people cannot live, farm, travel, or do business safely. Insecurity has displaced millions of Nigerians and continues to disrupt agriculture, education, trade, and investment. Our response must therefore be comprehensive.
We must improve intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies, strengthen policing and border management, and make better use of technology. We must also support lawful community-based systems that identify threats early and enable effective responses.
The imperative of decentralising security management, but with strong systems of coordination between the levels, is critical to our plans.
Security policy must also address the conditions that make vulnerable young people susceptible to criminal recruitment. Farmers cannot produce food if they cannot reach their farms safely. Children lose the chance to learn when they cannot attend school safely. Businesses cannot create jobs when they cannot move goods securely.
FROM CONSUMPTION TO PRODUCTION
Nigeria, with a population now above two hundred million and projected to continue growing rapidly, has one of Africa’s largest domestic markets and labour forces. That is an opportunity we must seize to turn the future of our country around.
Nigeria cannot import its way to prosperity. We will produce more of what we consume, process more of what we produce, and compete more effectively in global markets.
We will deploy our experiences in public funds management, the private sector, and the civil service to turn our population into productive human capital, our natural resources into value-added industries, and our domestic market into an engine for investment and enterprise.
Agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction, energy, creative industries, and services all have important roles to play. Nigeria does not lack opportunities; what it needs are the systems that enable its people to turn those opportunities into prosperity.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET
I reject the idea that Nigeria’s young population represents a burden. It represents an enormous opportunity, but only if we prepare young Nigerians to participate productively in the economy.
We will improve basic education, strengthen universities, and expand technical and vocational training. Nigeria needs doctors, engineers, scientists, and lawyers, as well as technicians, mechanics, builders, nurses, farmers, programmers, manufacturers, artisans, and entrepreneurs. Our goal is to secure a high demographic dividend from our youth bulge.
HEALTH IS HUMAN CAPITAL
A productive economy requires a healthy population, yet Nigeria’s health indicators remain deeply concerning. According to available data, Nigeria’s primary healthcare system is very poor, with infant and maternal mortality among the worst globally. We will strengthen healthcare, improve maternal and child health, expand access to essential medicines, and equip healthcare workers to serve effectively.
EVERY REGION MUST BECOME PRODUCTIVE AND PROSPER
Nigeria’s diversity is an economic strength. Each region has distinct assets, and national policy must unlock those assets while connecting them to one productive economy.
The North-West can expand agriculture, livestock, irrigation, agro-processing, and manufacturing while strengthening education and security.
The North-East can speed up reconstruction, restore livelihoods, and expand agriculture, education, enterprise, and regional trade.
The North-Central can strengthen food production and processing while developing its mineral resources responsibly.
The South-West can build on its strengths in manufacturing, technology, finance, trade, and the creative economy.
The South-East can expand its entrepreneurial and industrial strength through better infrastructure, stronger connectivity, and greater access to investment.
The South-South can derive greater value from oil and gas while expanding maritime services, fisheries, agriculture, and other productive sectors, supported by stronger environmental protection.
The Federal Capital Territory must demonstrate what efficient urban planning, transportation, housing, sanitation, security, and public services can achieve.
Every region must produce. Every region must contribute. Every region must benefit.
A DIFFERENT STANDARD OF GOVERNANCE
Sustainable development requires more than reactive reform. Reform is not the goal; better lives are. The World Bank’s April 2026 Nigeria Development Update makes clear that Nigeria’s challenge is to turn economic reform and stabilisation into improved livelihoods, stronger human capital, wider opportunities, and inclusive growth. We will pursue practical reforms that deliver lasting results, combining fiscal discipline with productive investment, as Senator Kwankwaso and I have demonstrated.
We will cut wasteful spending while protecting investments that create jobs and expand productive capacity. We will raise public revenue without stifling businesses and invest in education, healthcare, security, and infrastructure because they are foundations for future prosperity, not costs to defer. We will also build institutions that endure beyond any single administration. That is the standard by which every government should be judged.
Fellow Nigerians,
The campaign period gives every citizen an opportunity to join the national conversation. I urge Nigerians to examine each candidate’s record and proposals, ask tough questions, and demand evidence behind every promise.
We should debate ideas without hatred, compete without violence, and disagree without weakening the bonds that unite us. When Nigerians make their choice, that choice must be respected.
Democracy does not end on election day. Citizens must continue to demand transparency, accountability, and results from those entrusted with the mandate to govern.
Nigeria’s challenges are real, but so are its opportunities. We have the people, resources, enterprise, and creativity to build a safer, more productive country. Our task is to turn these possibilities into results. We have the credentials, experience, and record to collaborate with Nigerians on this transformative journey.
Our journey will be harder if we do not unite as one people and one nation. A united Nigeria, guided by shared purpose and a commitment to fairness, justice, and equity, will make transformation easier, strengthen our institutions, and help us hold our leaders accountable.
Finally, the 2027 election must be guided by capacity, competence, compassion, character, and commitment. Our campaign will focus on the urgent concerns of Nigerians and not on ethnicity or religion. Nigerians must reject and disregard any campaign driven by propaganda, ethnicity, religion, elitism, or cronyism.
As my team and I travel across the country, we will listen to Nigerians, understand their needs and concerns, and assure them that we have the competence, character, and compassion to lead and reset Nigeria for the benefit of all.
Nigerians deserve leaders who will engage them, listen to their concerns, and present clear solutions to unite the country, defeat insecurity, pull people out of poverty, drastically reduce hunger and the number of out-of-school children, improve education and healthcare, and build growth that serves everyone, especially the most vulnerable. Every candidate must be willing to present their credentials, defend their records, and subject their vision to open scrutiny.
No candidate should hide behind the high walls of power, send proxies or surrogates to the hustings, and expect Nigerians to entrust them with the leadership of the country. Every candidate seeking the presidency must have the courage to come before the people, answer their questions, defend their records, and subject their vision to public scrutiny.
True leadership requires presence and empathy. No one can lead from the front without standing with communities across Nigeria devastated by banditry, criminality, terrorism, and flooding. You cannot truly lead people you are unwilling to visit, listen to, and understand.
Today, I make this clear commitment: my running mate and I will take our message directly to Nigerians. We will listen to them, understand their concerns, and engage them openly. We will not delegate this duty to proxies. We will answer questions, defend our record and character, and present our plan to rebuild Nigeria. Any presidential candidate who lacks the resolve to travel across the country, meet the people, and respond to their questions lacks the capacity to govern it.
I commit to commencing the journey of resetting Nigeria by uniting it, securing it on the path of economic and inclusive growth, and moving our country from consumption to production.
WASHINGTON / ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has joined the United States government in asking a US court for more time to process and release records tied to a 1993 drug investigation.
According to court filings in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, lawyers for the US Department of Justice, FBI, DEA and for President Tinubu filed a joint request for an extension. They said the agencies need additional time to review a large volume of documents and carry out required redactions before public release.
The records are being sought under the Freedom of Information Act by transparency advocate Aaron Greenspan. The FOIA requests target documents related to a 1993 investigation in Chicago in which US authorities alleged that accounts linked to Tinubu received proceeds from heroin trafficking. That case ended with a civil forfeiture of $460,000 from accounts in First Heritage Bank and Citibank.
In supporting documents filed with US officials, the 1993 matter was described as the Department of Justice’s allegations relating to the then Nigerian president’s alleged involvement in a heroin trafficking investigation covering the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The All Progressives Congress has previously said the 1993 proceeding was civil, not criminal, and that Tinubu was never convicted. In 2003, a letter from the US Consulate in Lagos to the Inspector General of Police stated that FBI records showed no criminal arrest records, wants, or warrants for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The court is now expected to decide on the new timeline for releasing the documents. The US government has earlier been ordered to conduct searches and produce non-exempt records connected to the investigation.
As of press time, the Presidency in Abuja has not issued a separate statement on the latest filing.
Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has clashed with the member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, James Abiodun Faleke, over the outcome of the Osun State governorship election.
The exchange followed trail of accusations by Davido that Faleke was attempting to influence the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the election result in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Davido, who openly supported his uncle and Accord Party candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, had earlier called out Faleke on social media.
“Hon. James Faleke, stop putting pressure on INEC to change Osun election result. Respect the wishes of Osun people. We don’t want Oyetola and AMBO,” Davido wrote.
Faleke subsequently responded, explaining that his presence in Osun was to support his party’s candidate, while accusing Davido of doing the same for his uncle.
“I came to Osun to support my party’s candidate, while you supported your uncle’s party (Accord),” Faleke stated.
He dismissed Davido’s allegation that INEC could be influenced, insisting that the electoral body could not be manipulated by him or any other individual.
“INEC is a body that can’t be influenced by me or anyone else,” Faleke added.
The lawmaker also denied ever influencing or rigging an election, saying he had no intention of doing so.
“I have never influenced or rigged before and I don’t plan to start now. Face your music while we face our politics,” he said.
Davido, however, fired back at the lawmaker, telling him that politics should not be treated as a career.
“POLITICS is NOT A CAREER. Get a JOB!!!” the singer responded.
The heated exchange occurred against the backdrop of the keenly contested Osun governorship election, which ultimately saw Adeleke declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
The result has continued to generate political reactions from supporters of the competing parties, with social media becoming a major platform for exchanges among prominent figures involved in the election.
