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 Politics › 2027: Goodluck Jonathan Shouldn’t Run For President – Wike by Bobloco(op): 8:09am On Sep 02, 2025 |
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan against running for president in 2027. Wike warned that Jonathan was being misled by those who deceived and played him in the past. Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, he charged the former president not to allow himself to be used again by politicians who deceived him in the past. “I know Jonathan very well. He has international respect and should maintain that. These same people weighing Jonathan down are the ones who played him in 2015. “They are only trying to cause confusion in the party. “People pushing Jonathan, what strength do they have? Were they not the same people who worked against him in 2015? “Those calling for a Jonathan candidacy are the same political actors who ‘played him’ during the 2015 elections.” Wike also distanced himself from contesting for the presidency in 2027. He explained that he won’t run for president because he works for President Bola Tinubu and has integrity to protect. Wike said: “I have integrity, I have character. The person who appointed me is there. We are saying he should run. “Then I will turn around to say I want to run? What kind of thing is that? How will my children even look at me? I will not run for president https://dailypost.ng/2025/09/02/2027-goodluck-jonathan-shouldnt-run-for-president-wike/ |
| Politics › Re: You Proved Democracy Belongs To The People - Ibas Hails Riverians (Full Video) by Bobloco: 5:38am On Sep 02, 2025 |
Which democracy is this illegal sole Administrator referring to Obviously Tinubu APC democrazy 1 Like 1 Share |
| Politics › Re: $600 Million Monthly Diaspora Remittances Proof Of Reforms – FG by Bobloco: 5:33am On Sep 02, 2025 |
Which reforms are they referring to? What exactly did Tinubu and the APC reform that led Nigerians living abroad to increase the amount of money they send home to support their loved ones covering food, shelter, and other basic needs due to the economic hardship caused by Tinubu’s calamitous policies? 6 Likes 2 Shares |
| Politics › EXCLUSIVE: How Wike Secretly Transfered Three Multimillion-dollar Undeclared U.S by Bobloco(op): 9:37pm On Sep 01, 2025*. Modified: 10:09pm On Sep 01, 2025 |
EXCLUSIVE: How Wike secretly transferred three multimillion-dollar undeclared U.S. lakeside properties bought in cash to his three children Documents show that Mr Wike’s wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike of the Court of Appeal, executed quitclaim deeds transferring the lakeside assets to their children. Peoples Gazette has uncovered how Nyesom Wike secretly acquired three multimillion-dollar homes in the United States for his children, using illicit cash movement to secure the lush assets for his only three children in an exclusive lakeside community. Documents obtained by The Gazette show that Mr Wike’s wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike of the Court of Appeal, personally executed quitclaim deeds transferring ownership of three separate homes in the Reserve at Tuscawilla, an affluent lakeside neighbourhood in Winter Springs, Florida, to the couple’s three children. Documents stated that Mr Wike paid millions in cash to acquire the assets when he was Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, his intractable arch-rival in Rivers. Sources close to the FCT minister said he converted billions of naira he had previously stolen from fictitious public works contracts into U.S. dollars and moved the funds to Florida to execute the purchases. The Gazette also learnt that Mr Wike did not declare the properties either as his own or belonging to his children, Jordan, 25; Joaquin, 23; and Jazymine, 20, apparently in contravention of a longstanding statute on asset disclosure by federal appointees. Mr Wike did not return several requests seeking comments. His wife, Eberechi, who assisted him with recategorising the assets in 2021 and 2023, despite being a senior federal judge, also declined to comment. The Gazette started working on the story several months ago, and first contacted Mr Wike’s spokesman about it in June 2025, as part of its extensive look into Mr Wike’s illicit accumulation of public wealth. West Africa Weekly reported on one of the three Florida properties last week while The Gazette was finalising its reporting. The Gazette can confirm with documents that there were not just one, but three luxury homes acquired and transferred in succession to the minister’s heirs. The deals, completed between July 2021 and September 2023, were deliberately structured to keep the assets beyond the reach of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where the minister conspicuously failed to declare them. Nigerian law requires all public officials to disclose assets, both domestic and foreign. When The Gazette first reached out to Mr Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, in June, he acknowledged the request for comment but failed to provide any explanation weeks later. Since then, neither the minister nor his aide has addressed why he concealed the Florida estates or why they were acquired through opaque cash transactions. The pattern was calculated and precise. On July 22, 2021, while still governor of Rivers State, Mr Wike used his wife to quietly transfer a sprawling estate at 113 Springcreek Lane to their eldest son, Jordan Ezenwo Nyesom-Wike, now 25 years old. The property, a 5,000-square-foot mansion with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, was purchased outright for $535,000 cash — a mode of purchase often used by questionable characters and outlaws to tuck illicit assets around the world. The same day, another deed was executed for their second son, Joaquin Wike, aged 23, who received ownership of a 3,401-square-foot residence at 209 Hertherwood Court, also with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, bought in cash for $459,157. Two years later, in September 2023, just as Mr Wike was being sworn in as FCT minister under President Bola Tinubu, Eberechi Wike filed to transfer ownership of yet another home — a 3,901-square-foot estate at 208 Hertherwood Court, acquired for $465,000 in cash, to their only daughter, Jazmyne Nyesom-Wike, 20. Swimming pool Nyesom Wike's U.S Mansion photo (Credit: Peoples Gazette) Each of the three properties is now worth over $2 million, all registered under “joint tenancy with rights of survivorship,” a legal mechanism designed to cement ownership within the family while bypassing inheritance courts and, more crucially, public scrutiny. Each was completed as a cash transaction, a method that avoids banking oversight, sidesteps mortgage filings, and effectively erases any financial trail that might reveal the origin of the funds. By transferring the properties directly to his children, Mr Wike ensured they would be shielded from the declaration regime of the Code of Conduct Bureau. The dubious acquisitions further cement Mr Wike’s severely damaged reputation as a corrupt politician who has used his proximity to power since the 1990s to blindly loot public funds, even as everyday residents of his state languish in multi-generational poverty. In Port Harcourt, pensioners still lament unpaid entitlements from his administration, which lasted from 2015 to 2023. Major infrastructure projects touted as “legacy works” often remain abandoned or already in a state of decay. Hospitals lack essential equipment, and public schools remain underfunded. Yet, in the quiet cul-de-sacs of Tuscawilla, the Wike children now enjoy legal titles to sprawling mansions with lakefront views, private access roads, and manicured lawns — opulence financed in the shadows of public office. For years, Mr Wike has sought to muddle corruption allegations against him with bluster, projecting himself as a fearless enforcer and patriot in Nigeria’s turbulent politics. However, the deeds filed in American courts and The Gazette’s ongoing reporting on his mindless looting of Abuja’s lucrative lands have revealed the garulous politician in his true light Since late June, The Gazette has been running its series exposing Mr Wike’s corruption. First, his allocation of lands worth over $3.6 billion to his second son, Joaquin, was published on June 26. On July 4, another story was published that exposed how the minister used a similar pattern to secure lucrative lands for his first son, Jordan, across the Nigerian capital. On July 16, 2025, two weeks after The Gazette’s first story was published, and as a presidential probe into the matter was purportedly underway, Mr Wike signed 33 approvals for his 90-year-old father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike, and other family and friends, according to documents obtained by our reporters and published on July 22. Even though he was able to visit the U.S. in his early years in politics, and his wife gave birth to their three children there, Mr Wike has conspicuously avoided going to the U.S. again, with sources informing The Gazette he was among those barred for sponsoring political violence in Nigeria. A spokesman for Mr Wike did not address the question about why his principal couldn’t travel to the U.S. Still, Mr Wike has maintained his influence in Mr Tinubu’s circle. The president himself has long been associated with public graft, and he has not pretended to fight graft in public service since assuming office in May 2023. A presidential spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Mr Wike did not return a message on Sunday offering him a last opportunity to comment before this publication. Mrs Wike, the judge, also sidestepped efforts to obtain his comment, but the National Judicial Council, which oversees judges’ conduct nationwide, said asset declarations are not in its purview. “According to Section 153 of the Constitution, which establishes the NJC and other such institutions of government, asset declaration matters are not part of the functions of the NJC,” Kemi Ogedengbe, spokesperson for the Supreme Court body, told The Gazette on Sunday. A spokesperson for the Code of Conduct Bureau stated that she could not comment on Mr Wike’s alleged contravention of disclosure regulations, citing her illness. “I’ve been bedridden for the past six months, hence I can’t help with your inquiry,” Veronica Kato told The Gazette Sunday night. In May 2023, the CCB urged newly elected, re-elected, appointed, and outgoing public officers to declare their assets before and after their terms. Part I of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution mandates that all public officers — the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies, judges, and ministers — declare assets both in and out of office. Section 15(1) of the CCB and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act also requires asset declaration by public officials. Violations are subject to severe penalties, including removal from office, asset forfeiture, and a 10-year ban on holding public office. Public officers are legally obligated to declare their assets upon assuming office, at the end of their term, and every four years thereafter. While the CCB’s primary role is asset declaration and enforcing the code of conduct, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is primarily responsible for asset forfeiture through civil and criminal proceedings, as asset forfeiture is a part of the sentencing process and recovery of illicitly obtained property. A spokesman for the anti-graft office could not be reached for comment https://gazettengr.com/exclusive-how-wike-secretly-transferred-three-multimillion-dollar-undeclared-u-s-lakeside-properties-bought-in-cash-to-his-three-children/
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| Politics › Re: Nepotism: Tinubu Deletes Post After Backlash From Nigerians by Bobloco: 12:29pm On Sep 01, 2025 |
The most difficult task currently is to defend this Tinubu regime. 20 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › Rivers LG Election A Democratic Scam, Totally Illegal — Jake Epelle by Bobloco(op): 11:13am On Sep 01, 2025 |
The Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, has criticized the just concluded local government election in Rivers State, describing it as a democratic scam. Epelle made this statement on Monday, while responding to questions during an interview on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television. He stated that the exercise was totally unconstitutional, having been conducted by a government that was democratically elected. “It’s unfortunate we’re living in interesting times, especially politically speaking, and what played out in Rivers State on Saturday can only be described as unprecedented political manoeuvring, which is sort of a sham, and what looks like a democratic scam. “I say that to buttress that point. I say that everything about this election that was held on Saturday was totally illegal and unconstitutional. “The people of Rivers State, we are smart, we’re civilised. They probably thought that people would take to the streets, and I did call on the people, especially the good youth of Rivers State, not to fall into their trap. “It is absolutely a slap on the people of Rivers State, and we cannot continue the way we are going,” he added. https://dailypost.ng/2025/09/01/rivers-lg-election-a-democratic-scam-totally-illegal-jake-epelle/ |
| Politics › Re: rivers LG Election: Manufactured Charade Designed To Test The Limits Of Rigging by Bobloco: 4:26pm On Aug 31, 2025 |
helinues:You’re cheering like someone who is a direct beneficiary. You are suffering but don’t worry, reality will hit harder than my reply 2 Likes |
| Politics › Re: rivers LG Election: Manufactured Charade Designed To Test The Limits Of Rigging by Bobloco: 4:06pm On Aug 31, 2025 |
helinues:Relaxing while 2 million fake votes are cooked up in a LGA election? That’s not peace, that’s complacency. This isn’t about emotions; it’s about exposing fraud. If calling out blatant rigging sounds like “crying” to you, then you’re part of the problem. Enjoy your Sunday though I doubt you truly are. Just remember: stolen ballots today become stolen mandates tomorrow. 2 Likes |
| Politics › Re: rivers LG Election: Manufactured Charade Designed To Test The Limits Of Rigging by Bobloco: 3:50pm On Aug 31, 2025 |
helinues:helinus, your futile attempt to deflect from the real issue is textbook gaslighting. No one is disputing that other states have had questionable local elections, that’s part of the larger rot in the system. But let’s not pretend all manipulations are equal, or that silence in one place justifies fraud in another. Here’s the real issue you conveniently ignored: Over 2 million votes were allegedly cast in Rivers LG elections for chairmen and councillors when the state barely managed 550,000 votes during the presidential and governorship elections, the most hotly contested poll in Nigeria. That’s not just suspicious it’s mathematically insulting. This isn’t about APC or PDP, it’s about the mockery being made of democratic processes in plain sight. If you're defending a result that defies arithmetic and logic simply because it favors your party, you're not supporting democracy; you're endorsing rigging, a trample upon democracy. Democracy is being buried Nigeria won’t move forward if we keep excusing fraud based on where it happens or who benefits. Truth is truth, even when it’s inconvenient. Rivers people deserve better than to be reduced to voting statistics in someone’s 2027 blueprint for power. 2 Likes |
| Politics › Rivers LGA Election Of August 30, 2025: Tinubu, Wike Murdered Democracy by Bobloco(op): 2:25pm On Aug 31, 2025 |
The August 30th Rivers State LGA election wasn’t democracy, it was its funeral. Let’s not forget: earlier this year, the Supreme Court nullified the LGA elections conducted under Governor Fubara, ruling them unconstitutional and ordering the CBN and Accountant-General to halt funding to the state until a properly constituted House of Assembly was in place. Instead of complying, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers suspending the governor, lawmakers, and democratic institutions installing an unelected sole administrator. This administrator has now conducted a so-called "election" with no legal backing, no oversight, and no constitutional authority. Worse still, during this period, local government funds continued to be disbursed, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling and without elected LG chairmen in place. The fact that Wike remains complicit, supportive of this democratic backsliding only adds insult to injury. He is the only one talking, the only voter in the sham LG election This isn't governance, it’s authoritarianism in disguise. Democracy has been trampled, and Rivers State, Nigeria as a whole is paying the price. 1 Like |
| Politics › Under Tinubu: Economic Hardship, Naira Collapse– The New Definition Of Growth by Bobloco(op): 8:11am On Aug 31, 2025 |
There was a time when real economic growth meant good roads, affordable food, regular electricity, job opportunities, low inflation, and fuel prices that made sense. But under President Tinubu’s leadership, “growth” now means record-high inflation, skyrocketing fuel prices with unbearable transport costs, a collapsing naira, mass job losses, and citizens barely surviving while those in government clap for policies that are clearly strangling the masses. Since May 2023, Nigerians have been asked to be patient because reforms take time. But over two years later, what have we gained? Hunger, inflation, a diving naira, and growing despair. Naira Reform or Naira Burial? They called it exchange rate unification a fancy phrase that simply meant removing all controls on the dollar. And what was the result? The naira crashed from ₦450 to over ₦1,500 to the dollar, fuel pump price rose from below ₦200 to over ₦1000 per liter, Prices of everything followed suit: bread, rice, transport etc nothing was spared. And now, some media houses are calling the naira an “export engine.” Export engine for who? Even exporters are complaining about the unstable rates and policies that change often food inflation rate is high, families can barely feed yet somehow, government officials still talk about GDP growth and foreign reserve as if it fills empty stomach Growing what exactly? Poverty? Hunger? Or government propaganda? Subsidy Removal Without Strategy. Yes, we all knew the subsidy would go someday. But you don’t remove life support without providing oxygen. There was no concrete plan, just confusion and empty promises. Transport costs have tripled. Small businesses are dying. Nigerians are paying more just to survive, with nothing left to save or invest. As for the promised palliatives, especially the rice? Worst of all is the disconnect between the Tinubu government and the people. The government’s propaganda machine keeps celebrating "tough but necessary reforms" while ordinary Nigerians cry in silence. Tinubu may be getting praise from foreign institutions but Nigerians are suffering at home. If This Is “Growth,” We Need a New Dictionary. Growth that doesn’t touch lives, reduce prices, or strengthen the naira is just grammar. Until these reforms start to feed families, reduce hardship, and restore economic dignity, there's nothing to celebrate. Reforms that protect the elite while punishing the poor are not reforms, they are oppression by another name. Nigerians deserve more than propaganda headlines like there's no more corruption or the economy is bouncing back and endless lectures on patience. We deserve real results, visible relief, and meaningful change not a rebranding of suffering. |
| Politics › Re: How Tinubu’s Exchange Rate Reforms Turned Naira Into Nigeria’s Export Engine by Bobloco: 6:41am On Aug 31, 2025 |
If the naira’s collapse is now considered an export strategy, then economic hardship must be the new definition of growth. 6 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › Nigeria Ranked Below Average In Sdgs Performance by Bobloco(op): 6:37am On Aug 31, 2025 |
Mr Muhammed said that with 2030 in view, it is pertinent for African leaders to fast-track goals development and implementation The World Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Organisation has ranked Nigeria below average in the actualisation of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yahaya Muhammad, the African continental governor of the organisation, said this at the group’s maiden retreat on Saturday in Abuja with the theme “Sustainable Development in Nigeria”. Mr Muhammad called on all African leaders to accelerate the implementation of goals in their countries, especially at the grassroots levels, in line with the mandate of the UN 2030 SDGs agenda. The SDGs are 17 global goals adopted by all United Nations member-states in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs serve as a universal blueprint to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. “On our global ratings, Nigeria is currently below 30 per cent, but Africa as a whole is on average, which is not impressive as a continent. “There are many NGOs and CSOs that are complementing the government in every sector, which should make the SDGs achievable, but unfortunately, we are yet to make significant progress as a nation and a continent. “Mere verbal commitments are no longer enough, African leaders must demonstrate accountability through measurable actions that translate into improved livelihoods, job creation and sustainable development. “The success of the SDGs in Africa depends on strong political will, adequate funding, and active citizen participation,” he said. Mr Muhammad urged African governments, policymakers, civil society and the private sector to close ranks in accelerating the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. He urged the Nigerian government to overhaul all SDGs units and create a full department at the municipal and state levels to handle goals development. Mr Muhammed also urged the governments to tackle insecurity, attributing 70 per cent of the myriad of challenges bedevilling Nigeria and Africa to insecurity and lack of good governance. Fubes Danor, the group’s executive director for Africa, said black nations must move beyond rhetoric and champion the implementation of SDGs in the next five years. Mr Danor stressed that timely action would determine the continent’s chances of meeting the 2030 targets. Aliyu Abubakar, Director of Climate Action Agency-West Africa, said climate change remained one of the greatest threats to Africa’s development, and warned that failure to act decisively could reverse decades of progress. Umar Faruk, director, Zero Hunger Agency–West Africa, described the standard of living of the average African as unacceptably low, urging governments to take bold steps toward food security and inclusive development. “Addressing hunger and improving living standards are not just moral imperatives but also critical drivers of economic development and social stability across the continent,” he stated. https://gazettengr.com/nigeria-africa-rank-below-average-in-sdgs-performance/ |
| Politics › Police Claim El-Rufai Brought Thugs Who Fired Gunshots, Disrupted Meeting by Bobloco(op): 9:23pm On Aug 30, 2025 |
......Disrupted Coalition Meeting SaharaReporters had learnt that the SDP and ADC coalition meeting was held under the leadership of Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of the state.https://saharareporters.com/2025/08/30/nigerian-police-claim-ex-gov-el-rufai-brought-gangsters-thugs-who-fired-gunshots 5 Likes
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| Politics › Scores Wounded As Hoodlums Attack El-rufai’s ADC Coalition Meeting In Kaduna by Bobloco(op): 8:03pm On Aug 30, 2025 |
Scores of members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) were attacked by hoodlums during a transition meeting in Kaduna on Saturday.https://gazettengr.com/scores-wounded-as-hoodlums-attack-el-rufais-adc-coalition-meeting-in-kaduna/ 4 Likes 1 Share
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| Politics › Re: Rivers Emergency Rule Expires September 18 – Wike by Bobloco: 5:49pm On Aug 30, 2025 |
Can anyone honestly say what form of government this is? It’s clearly not democracy, and the rule of law is nowhere to be found. 2 Likes |
| Politics › Re: Coast Is Clear For Rivers Emergency Rule To End, Says Wike by Bobloco: 5:48pm On Aug 30, 2025 |
Can anyone honestly say what form of government this is? It’s clearly not democracy, and the rule of law is nowhere to be found. 7 Likes |
| Politics › Peter Obi: ‘i’ll Not Support Fraudulent Person, Your Evidence Will Help Us’ – by Bobloco(op): 1:29pm On Aug 30, 2025 |
– Yesufu to Adeyanju Activist, Aisha Yesufu has pleaded with Mr. Deji Adeyanju to provide Nigerians with proof of recent claims he is making against one of the 2027 presidential aspirants, Peter Obi. On more than one occasion, Adeyanju has used the word “fraud” against Peter Obi, saying he had valid evidence to prove the former Anambra Governor is not who he claims to be. He had also called Obi a manipulator and religious bigot in his recent outburst against the former presidential candidate which many Nigerians believe is allegedly being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, APC, government. Obi has already dragged Adeyanju to court to come and provide evidence of his alleged fraudulent activities. Aisha, a strong supporter of Peter Obi, said there was no need to exchange words with Adeyanju, adding that since he has evidence, he should present it in court. The former Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG, campaigner pointed out that the case will offer her and millions of other followers of Peter Obi the opportunity to have access to Deji’s evidence so that they will know whether to continue their support for Obi or withdraw it. “Barrister Deji Adeyanju @adeyanjudeji has repeatedly said that he has evidence to show that Mr Peter Obi @PeterObi is a fraud and that Mr Peter Obi should sue him. This is a lawyer speaking!” Aisha wrote on X. “As a supporter of Mr Peter Obi, I am interested in the evidence the Barrister has. I would not be one to give support to anyone that is fraudulent so this case will offer me and millions of others the opportunity to have access to the evidence Barrister Deji has so we know whether to continue our support for Mr Peter Obi or withdraw it. “Mr Peter Obi going to court is the civil thing to do. Where one is defamed especially from a LAWYER, then one should go to court. “If Mr Peter Obi had used machinery of the State to get Barrister Deji arrested and thrown into jail like many of the dictators we fight are doing then I would be leading a #FreeDejiAdeyanju and calling out Mr Peter Obi! “As for now, #LetsHaveTheEvidence https://dailypost.ng/2025/08/30/peter-obi-ill-not-support-fraudulent-person-your-evidence-will-help-us-yesufu-to-adeyanju/ |
| Politics › Re: I Was There, Obi Never Offered You Anything - Journalist Replies Adeyanju by Bobloco: 6:42am On Aug 30, 2025*. Modified: 1:31pm On Aug 30, 2025 |
Deji appears to be more of a cashtivist than a genuine human rights lawyer. The title of human rights lawyer seems to serve merely as a facade 38 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › Alaba Rago Market Demolition: Our Story, By Traders by Bobloco(op): 6:14am On Aug 30, 2025 |
On the morning of Saturday, August 16, 2025, a significant part of the popular Alaba Rago market in Lagos State was again demolished. The latest in a series of demolitions continued until Wednesday, August 20. Weekend Trust captures the pain, agony and losses of traders. Alaba Rago is a well-known commercial hub dominated by traders of northern extraction, who have been there for about five decades. As a popular food, livestock and scrap metal market in the Ojo area of Lagos State, Alaba Rago, which ‘never goes to sleep’, sees hundreds of scavengers and traders milling round buying and selling one item or another on a daily basis. According to reports, the market, which was established in the late 1970s, attracted Hausa and Fulani traders who specialised in cattle, grains, perishable food items and general merchandise. Overtime, it grew into a full community with mosques, shops, residential shanties and informal banking systems. Situated along the Lagos–Badagry corridor, Alaba Rago occupies a strategic location for goods entering Lagos from neighbouring West African countries through Seme border. Findings showed that the market became popular due to the rising and biting cost of food items. Interestingly, both the rich and poor now find solace in the market as varieties of goods are sold at cheaper rates. The market has also evolved for 48 years into a huge food and livestock hub, not because of rams, which only peaks at religious festive periods, but because restaurant owners now buy cheap meat from the place. Artisans too make their purchases here as used knots, bolts, spanners, tyre jacks, bottles, plastic of all sorts, iron, metals, roofing sheets, furniture of all kinds, generators, bicycles and even recycled food items are sold in the market. In May, 2024, officials of the state government task force stormed the market and pulled down a section, leaving behind debris from what was once wooden sharks used as stores. The task force that demolished part of the market explained that the exercise was carried out to remove shanties and illegal structures. It said a removal notice was issued after a previous one was served to occupants on May 19, 2022. Mrs Asemma Despite the demolition, traders continued their business until another round of demolition last week. Weekend Trust reports that the latest demolition began on August 17 till August 20, displacing many traders and destroying properties worth millions of naira. The state government said the market had grown beyond control, spilling into adjoining roads and contributing to traffic congestion, insecurity and environmental disorder. One trader lamented that 40 mosques were destroyed during the demolition exercise. An elderly man, Alhaji Hamidu Musa, disclosed that he was part of the early traders who built the market after they were relocated from Alaba Suru in 1979. “When Alaba Rago was allocated to us, it was a forest and slump with no road network, no settlement, except the village of Okoko Maiko. Their chief called Baale, Chief Okoko hosted and embraced us. “While struggling to build the market, we encountered all sorts of wild animals like snakes. The market was developed by the Hausa. Now, what we established in 50 years was demolished in just four hours,” Musa lamented. He said the three shops he had in the market, which he rented out to enable him take care of himself and his 16 children, were demolished. Another victim, Alhaji Muhammed Rabiu, who sells grains in the market, told Weekend Trust that the traders did not occupy the place illegally as the land was allocated by the government, adding that they also pay their dues through the host local government. “For 50 years, no building in the market had ever been erected by the government. The place was allocated to us and we sought approval to build shops. We paid our dues to the government at all levels, yet our market was demolished in broad daylight. This is like being evicted and sued at the same time. It is like stealing our mandate,” he said. One of the traders, Alhaji Mohammed, said there was a six-month demolition notice, but the officials of the government carried out the demolition less than a month after it was served. “The demolition began four days ago. As we speak, there is no place to sleep or rest. They demolished everything – shops, mosques, churches, offices. I have left everything to God because only him can intervene in this matter,” he said. He lamented that the Lagos State Government carried out the demolition which affected his means of livelihood despite voting for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “I don’t belong to any other party but the APC; however, you can see what the party did to us here now,” he lamented. [b]Situation after demolition[/b]k One of our correspondents who visited the market observed that traders in Alaba Rago were carrying out their business in an open space on the rubbles of blocks. Alhaji Ibrahim, who sells ropes, said he had spent 45 years in the market, adding that government entered the market in broad daylight without any notice and demolished their shops and destroyed their properties worth billions of naira. “Many of us do not have anywhere to go; that is why people have continued to trade on an open space after their shops were demolished. People are stranded. More than 3,000 shops and 40 mosques were demolished. We are managing under rain and sun. I shed tears on Saturday when it rained because I felt sorry for people here. Traders lost more than you can imagine,” he said. Another trader, Nura Dan Marayan Zaki, who sells beans, disclosed that officials of the government and security personnel with heavy weapons stormed the market with six bulldozers. He added that policemen sprayed teargas on traders. “They broke into our market without notice. We have lost huge properties, including the commodities we sell. They didn’t allow us to remove our goods. No one will pay us but God. We have been treated unfairly,” he said. A woman who sells yam at the market, Mrs Asema, told Weekend Trust that she has been at Alaba Rago for over 28 years earning money to take care of her children and pay their school fees. “Now, they have demolished our place and destroyed our properties; where do they want us to go? They came and demolished part of the market last year. Why are they trying to evict us? Why not develop the market in phase?” She asked. Sacks of grains at an open space ‘We lost over N20bn’ Malam Inusa Adamu Gaidam, a trader who also owns public toilets and shops in the market, said he lost two of his public toilets and 28 shops. He said that in his 30 years in Lagos, he had never seen the kind of suffer and calamity that befell the people of the northern part of the country who live in Lagos, as a result of demolition. “May God reward us, but we have been wronged and oppressed. We have submitted our case to God,” he said, adding that a large portion of the shops in the market and other properties belonged to orphans. ‘I know the man who was in charge of 9 public toilets belonging to some orphans. He is from my town. They were all demolished,” he said. Alhaji Adamu Katagum, the Waziri who is second in command to the Sarkin Kasuwar Alaba Rago, confirmed that over 3,000 shops and 40 mosques were demolished, estimating the losses suffered by traders at N20 billion. He said the market was established by northerners in 1979 when there was nobody in the area, adding that they invested heavily to develop the place. Katagum said, “The government has never spent a kobo here, nor has it provided any basic amenity, yet we pay taxes and dues at all levels. They came and demolished what we have been building for 50 years without following the rules or due process. This is a huge loss for us northerners who are trying to earn a living here. “They demolished everything in one day without prior notice. We will not agree. We must seek justice; we are also Nigerians; Lagos is part of Nigeria.” He recalled that before the 2023 general elections, the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was in the market twice to seek their votes during his campaigns. He also said that Vice President Kashim Shettima, as well as former national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other party stalwarts were also in the market asking for their votes and even promised to wipe away their tears. “Now, we voted for them and they have rewarded us by demolishing our market,” he said. Katagum further said that no emir in the North or any leader from the region had come to their rescue despite the fact that they had written several letters to them asking for assistance. Kwankwaso meets market leaders Weekend Trust reports that a former governor of Kano State, Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso met market leaders at a hotel in Lagos recently concerning the situation. In a video recorded during the meeting, the former governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya group and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections said he was more interested in the poor traders and not leaders of the market who failed to be united. According to him, the poor traders need justice Speaking on lack of unity among northern leaders in the market, Kwankwaso said, “If there was unity among the leaders, I would have asked you to write in one voice and I would convey it to the one in Abuja (President Bola Tinubu) and the one here (Lagos State governor), but there is no such unity.” The Sarkin Kasuwa of Alaba Rago, Alhaji Umar Nagoggo Sokoto, told Weekend Trust that the palace of the Emir of Kano and the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) had contacted him and promised to intervene. He recalled that he had a meeting with Governor Sanwo-Olu some years back. “The governor called me and I went to his office with 15 people – sectional leaders of the market. We had the meeting in his office in the presence of all the stakeholders, including traditional rulers and the contractor or developer. “I told the governor that we didn’t need a contractor in our market. I told him that we would develop our market by ourselves because they demolished Gatankowa market, and for more than four years they did not construct anything there. We don’t want that to happen to our market. The governor agreed with me and told the contractor to step back. He also promised to compensate him. “He urged us to put our demands on paper, which we did and sent the letter to him through our leaders – the Sarkin Hausawa and Sarkin Fulani of Lagos. That was the last meeting we had with the governor. We were not served any notice prior to the demolition. When I contacted the Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairman, he told me that he was not aware of the demolition and had no prior knowledge of it,” he said, adding that the state government is not fair to them. All efforts to get comments from the government on the demolition have proved abortive. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, did not pick several calls from our correspondent between Thursday and Friday. He also didn’t respond to text message sent to him as of the time of this report. Also contacted, the Special Adviser to the governor on on Media, Gboyega Akosile, also declined comment. He promised to reach out to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and get back to our correspondent but there was no response as of yesterday evening. Also, the Chairman of Ojo Local Government did not also pick his call. However, a source in government who spoke under anonymity because he is not in a position to speak with our correspondent challenged the traders in the market to produce document of building approval. He said the government would not have demolished the market if it hadn’t contravened the state’s physical planning regulations. Amnesty International condemns government’s action Amnesty International has condemned the demolition of Alaba Rago market. In a statement placed on its verified social media handle, the group noted that the demolition was carried out unlawfully, without adequate consultation and without plans to offer an alternative space to the victims. The group noted that carrying out the demolition exercise only one month into the six-month notice issued to the traders showed a deliberate contempt for the rule of law and due process. “The demolition has made hundreds of families homeless and destroyed the livelihood of thousands who have been trading in that space for decades. The violent way the demolition was carried out also left some people with injuries and entire businesses destroyed. Those who tried to salvage what remained of their businesses were tear-gassed. Hundreds of traders and residents of Alaba Rago watched in horror as their homes and possessions were destroyed. For the residents of these deprived communities, many of who rely on petty trading to make a living, Alaba Rago represents home, work and survival. “International law prohibits forced eviction and deliberate destruction of property. The traders at Alaba Rago have been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment for which suspected perpetrators must be brought to justice as a matter of urgency. “Lagos State authorities must immediately establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the shocking incident at Alaba Rago and provide adequate housing and compensation to all those who have lost their means of livelihood and homes,” the human rights group stated. Action violates Nigerian constitution – Lawyer Adam Bashir, a human rights lawyer who travelled from Kano to Lagos to sympathise with the victims of the demolition, described the exercise as illegal, saying, “While we are not unmindful of the fact that the governor has the power to revoke rights of occupancy, statutorily or otherwise, the constitution under section 44, as well as the land use act under sections 28 and 29, does not hand this power to the governor to be applied at whims and arbitrarily. “These sections of the law mandate that such revocation must be for an overriding public interest after giving the holder an adequate notice and compensation. “Coming to the issue of the occupants of Alaba Rago market, the question remains: Was their right of occupancy lawfully revoked or it was forcibly taken by the Lagos State governor? “To answer this question, we need to look at whether the Lagos governor abided by the following conditions as set out by the law: There must be a written revocation notice; the revocation notice must be signed by the governor or a public officer duly authorised to act on his behalf; the revocation must be for a permitted reason, such as an overriding public interest (for a public project) or a failure to comply with the conditions attached to the right of occupancy; the formal notice must be issued to the holder of the right of occupancy personally; the notice must clearly state the specific reason for the revocation and accurately describe the property or the subject matter of the revocation; the notice must be properly served on the holder, either through direct delivery to the person, leaving it at their usual or last known address, sending it via registered post to their address, for a company by delivering it to their secretary or clerk at the principal office or if the person’s address is unknown, by affixing the notice to a conspicuous part of the premises. “Lest we forget, there is no valid evidence of compliance with the above conditions as no written notice was ever served on any of the occupants; not at all. “This being the case, the Lagos State governor acted illegally and in total disregard to the rule of law by resorting to rule of force, which is against the established statutory and international practice,” he said. A political activist, Omoyele Sowore, described the demolition as an ethnic persecution, saying, “I condemn this act by the Lagos State Government led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu.” Traders praying at the site of a demolished mosque in the market ACF to Lagos gov’t: Halt further demolition of Alaba Rago market The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed sadness over the demolition of the market and urged the Lagos State Government to refrain from further action. In a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad, the ACF commiserated with all the people affected, directly and indirect. “Hopefully, the usual famed stoic resilience of our industrious people would come to play in helping those affected to cope with losses arising from the demolition,” the group stated. The ACF stated that it had initiated efforts to obtain details of the incident, its impact and the antecedents leading to it. “The outcome of the investigations should provide a basis for an engagement with the affected community and the Lagos State Government for a satisfactory resolution of the problem. “In the meantime, the ACF calls on Lagos State and federal authorities to extend aids to the victims of the incident and help them to rebuild their lives. “The ACF also calls on those affected and their sympathisers to remain calm and law-abiding. Alaba Rago has been a historic landmark in Lagos and the ACF believes it would remain so. In the fullness of time, the market will roar back to life and become even more vibrant and prosperous,” the group stated https://dailytrust.com/alaba-rago-market-demolition-our-story-by-traders/ |
| Politics › Goodluck Jonathan Seeks New Process For INEC Chair Emergence by Bobloco(op): 6:45pm On Aug 28, 2025 |
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a new process to appoint the next chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), proposing an independent screening and nomination mechanism to strengthen the commission’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections. Jonathan, represented by Ms Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the public presentation of the National Action Plan for Electoral Reforms, organised by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought. The intervention comes at a sensitive political moment, as the tenure of the current INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is due to expire around October this year. Yakubu, who oversaw the contentious 2019 and 2023 polls, has served two terms, and the choice of his successor is already generating quiet speculation. With President Bola Tinubu expected to seek reelection in 2027, analysts say whoever emerges as the next INEC chair will play a decisive role in shaping the credibility of that contest. With this background, Jonathan, who has also been in the news recently amid speculation that he may be eyeing a political comeback in the 2027 presidential election, stressed that public trust in elections rests largely on the impartiality and competence of the electoral umpire. He noted that the current practice, where the president directly nominates the INEC chairman, has continued to fuel questions about neutrality. “So many questions have continued to be raised on the propriety of the process of appointing the INEC chairman,” Jonathan said. “I believe that Nigeria can improve the process by establishing an independent screening and nomination mechanism, comprising representatives from the judiciary, civil society, academia and professional bodies. This body would vet and recommend a shortlist of qualified candidates from which the president may appoint the chairman. Such reform will reduce perceptions of bias, promote public trust in INEC and enhance the legitimacy of its decisions.” Under the 1999 Constitution, the president nominates the INEC chairman after consultation with the National Council of State (NCS), and the nominee must then be confirmed by the Senate. While the Council’s advisory role is not binding, in practice, presidents present their preferred candidate to the Council before forwarding a formal nomination to the upper chamber of the National Assembly for screening and confirmation. As such, Jonathan’s position is believed to be informed by experience. In June 2010, he nominated Prof. Attahiru Jega to succeed Prof. Maurice Iwu, who oversaw the contentious 2007 general elections. Jega conducted the 2011 general elections and also oversaw the 2015 polls, the first in which an incumbent Nigerian president, Jonathan himself, lost and peacefully handed over power. That history, he suggested, underscores both the weight of the office and the importance of a selection process that commands broad confidence. The former president argued that Nigeria, like many other countries, must be bold enough to reform its democratic institutions to reflect the will of the people and the principles of justice, accountability and inclusion. Beyond the appointment of the electoral umpire, Jonathan also revived his earlier proposal for the establishment of an independent office of the Registrar of Political Parties to address what he described as the “growing crisis of political party indiscipline”. According to him, political parties, which should serve as the bedrock of democracy, have become vulnerable to opportunism and instability. He cited the “disturbing rise” in cross-carpeting by elected officials who defect from the platforms on which they were elected, often without ideological justification. “To remedy this, we should strongly consider the establishment of an independent office of the registrar of political parties, charged with regulating party operations, promoting internal democracy and enforcing party discipline,” he said. “Crucially, the office should have the power to declare the seat of any defector vacant. This would affirm the principle that the electoral mandate belongs to the people and not to individual ambition,” he added. Jonathan, who has served as an election observer in several African countries since leaving office in 2015, said he had seen the registrar system work effectively in places such as Kenya and Malawi. He also urged reforms to ensure that all post-election litigations, especially those relating to final outcomes, are concluded before winners are sworn into office. The present system, where governors and lawmakers assume office with unresolved petitions, only to be unseated later by the courts, he said, creates confusion and undermines governance. “We must adopt a framework that compels the timely resolution of electoral disputes, possibly with specially designated election tribunals and timelines that align with the electoral calendar. Justice delayed in elections is justice denied, not just for the candidates, but for the electorate,” Jonathan said. Jonathan urged political leaders and citizens alike to embrace patriotism and courage in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. “Let us confront our democratic weaknesses with honesty and reform our system with courage,” he said. “Let us continue to work together to build a Nigeria where elections are credible, leaders are accountable, and democracy truly delivers for the people.” https://dailytrust.com/jonathan-seeks-new-process-for-inec-chair-emergence/ 2 Likes |
| Politics › Pictorial: Apc, Pdp Supporters Dump Parties For Adc In Damagun’s Hometown by Bobloco(op): 6:13pm On Aug 28, 2025 |
Over 2,000 youths from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Damagum local government area, the hometown of National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Umar Damagum have joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the State. LEADERSHIP gathered that membership cards of the ADC were issued to the new entrants across the 17 local government areas of the state. Speaking during the ceremony in Damagum, a former Minister of Police Affairs and leader of the coalition in the state, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri decried the rise of insecurity, inflation, poverty and unemployment in the country. Waziri said a lot of industries have collapsed since the inception of President Bola Tinubu-led administration, noting that the people are suffering due to the poor leadership. The defection was announced during the commissioning of new ADC party office in Fune Local Government Area of the state. Waziri said the Damagum town ADC office was the first to be commissioned after unveiling the coalition in the state. He said the milestone underscores the party’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the area. “What made the day even more remarkable was the mass defection of political heavyweights and grassroots supporters from other parties into the ADC.” He added that the commissioning demonstrates the growing strength and organisation of the ADC in the LGA. The defectors from the PDP attributed their exit to alleged poor leadership of the party under Damagum. One of the erstwhile PDP supporters, Bah Mai Mallam Algarno, expressed happiness in joining the ADC, calling on other youths in the country to join the coalition party in the interest of the people. He also blamed the ruling party of APC for poor performance, citing insecurity, poverty, mass killing, inflation and hardship. The event was attended by wife of a former governor of Adamawa State, Dr Zainab Harun; Engr. Abubakar Adamu Waziri; ADC National Auditor, Alhaji Mustapha Mai Adamu; Deputy National Secretary of the party, Hauwa Yusuf, ADC Yobe State Chairman Hon. Umar Kalli, Dr. Mamu Muhammad; Hon. Ilu Bello, among other key party chieftains https://leadership.ng/pictorial-apc-pdp-supporters-dump-parties-for-adc-in-damaguns-hometown/
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| Politics › Atiku Finally States Nine Conditions FG Must Fulfill Before 2027 Poll by Bobloco(op): 5:26pm On Aug 28, 2025 |
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has outlined nine conditions he said must be met by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to restore electoral integrity and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.https://dailypost.ng/2025/08/28/atiku-finally-states-nine-conditions-tinubus-govt-must-fulfill-before-2027-election/ 21 Likes 2 Shares
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| Politics › Re: Adc’s Exploitation Of Grief Insensitive, Opportunistic by Bobloco: 7:49pm On Aug 25, 2025 |
When a government consistently fails to protect its citizens, it forfeits the moral authority to lecture anyone about grief. The tragedy in Malumfashi is not just a statistic...it’s a damning indictment of the APC’s chronic failure to secure lives across this country. Calling out that failure is not exploitation; it is a civic duty. If the ruling party invested even half the energy and resources it spends on silencing dissent, recruiting media lackeys, MÁGÁ dógs, senior and junior domestic servants, keyboard mercenaries, Agbadoos armed with Amaechi-donated laptops, into actual governance, Malumfashi and countless other communities would not be plunged into mourning today. 1 Like |
| Politics › Resign If Tinubu Doesn’t Listen To You – Ozekhome Tells AGF Fagbemi by Bobloco(op): 7:58am On Aug 25, 2025 |
Nigerian frontline lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has asked the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Lateef Fagbemi to resign from the position if President Bola Tinubu does not listen to his legal guidance.https://dailypost.ng/2025/08/25/resign-if-tinubu-doesnt-listen-to-you-ozekhome-tells-agf-fagbemi/ 7 Likes 1 Share
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| Politics › Suspend Pay Rise For Politicians, SERAP Tells Tinubu by Bobloco(op): 4:46pm On Aug 24, 2025 |
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu “to direct the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to immediately suspend the patently unlawful and unconstitutional pay rise for political and public office holders in Nigeria particularly the president, vice-president, governors, their deputies, and the country’s lawmakers.”https://dailytrust.com/suspend-pay-rise-for-politicians-serap-tells-tinubu/ 2 Likes
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| Politics › Bago, Unseal Badeggi FM Now! - Punch Editorial by Bobloco(op): 11:50am On Aug 23, 2025 |
GOVERNOR Mohammed Bago’s shutdown of Badeggi 90.1 FM in Minna is an autocratic overreach and a grave assault on press freedom. No democratic government that respects the Nigerian Constitution should padlock a newsroom simply because it dislikes its editorial stance.https://punchng.com/bago-unseal-badeggi-fm-now/ 321 3 Likes
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| Foreign Affairs › Re: Famine Officially Declared In Gaza For The First Time by Bobloco: 10:43am On Aug 23, 2025 |
The UN rights chief declared that the famine in the Gaza Governorate is a direct result of Israeli actions. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, under the wicked and draconian Tinubu regime, more deaths have been recorded, and famine is also present, yet the UN has not declared a famine there. What is the UN waiting for? 8 Likes |
| Politics › TICAD9: ADC Says Tinubu Government’s Incompetence Followed Him To Japan by Bobloco(op): 6:32am On Aug 22, 2025 |
“The APC government’s incompetence has followed the President to Japan,” the ADC spokesman said. Spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has berated President Bola Tinubu’s administration over Nigeria’s deserted booth at the ongoing Tokyo International Conference in Japan, accusing the government of incompetence. In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Abdullahi wondered why no one manned the Nigerian booth despite the fact that Mr Tinubu traveled to the conference with a robust entourage. “The APC government’s incompetence has followed the President to Japan,” the politician said. “The resident travelled with a large entourage, yet there was no one at the Nigerian booth. After this jamboree, who will follow up to ensure that Nigeria actually benefits from #TICAD9?” Mr Abdullahi further berated the appointment of Fuji maestro Wasiu Ayinde as ambassador, accusing the Tinubu-led administration of being lopsided. “When we asked them to appoint ambassadors, they went ahead and appointed KWAM 1. Nigerians, this is what “anyhowness” looks like,” the ADC chieftain said. Mr Abdullahi’s statement came shortly after a Nigerian at the conference, Idris Ayodeji Bello, posted photos of a deserted Nigerian booth on social media on Wednesday, sparking reactions from Nigerians back home. “I hate to show negative things about Nigeria, but it is sad that Nigeria is the only unmanned booth at TICAD9 in Japan. Upon all the folks who probably got estacode for coming to Japan,” Mr Bello said. Reacting to Mr Bello’s post on X, the foreign affairs ministry said, “Contrary to a tweet made by a participant at TICAD, the Nigerian Booth at #TICAD9 has not yet been opened. The booth will be officially inaugurated on Thursday, 21st August 2025, after which it will become fully operational and serve the delegates of TICAD.” https://gazettengr.com/ticad9-adc-says-tinubu-governments-incompetence-followed-him-to-japan/
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| Politics › Re: NBA To Tinubu: Release Osun LG Funds, You Have No Power To Withhold Allocations by Bobloco: 4:55am On Aug 21, 2025 |
President Bola Tinubu currently represents the most significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy and its corporate existence. His repeated and wanton violations of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as his blatant disregard for the rule of law, are unprecedented in the nation’s history. It is imperative that the National Assembly initiates impeachment proceedings without delay. The time to act is now... not tomorrow, and certainly not in 2027. The future stability and continued coexistence of this country depend on swift and decisive action. President Tinubu has consistently demonstrated, through both words and actions, a lack of genuine commitment to the principle of a united and One Nigeria. 33 Likes
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| Politics › NGE Raises Alarm Over Economy, Insecurity, Education, Warns by Bobloco(op): 2:27am On Aug 19, 2025*. Modified: 2:58am On Aug 19, 2025 |
......warns against media suppression 'Intimidation undermines democracy'; Editors fault Gov Bago over Badeggi Radio The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of the nation’s economy, worsening insecurity, and the continued decline in the education sector, urging government at all levels to urgently address the challenges to avert a deeper national crisis. Rising from its Standing Committee meeting held in Owerri, Imo State, on August 15, 2025, the Guild highlighted key resolutions on critical national issues, especially as they affect the media and the wellbeing of Nigerians. In a communiqué jointly signed by the President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the editors lamented the hardship, rising inflation, unemployment, and growing poverty caused by high exchange rates and the high cost of petroleum products. They called on the Federal Government to strengthen social safety nets to cushion the effects on citizens. While noting the recent progress in the counter-terrorism war, including the arrest of top leaders of militant groups, the Guild urged the government to adopt a holistic approach to insecurity through enhanced intelligence gathering, community policing, and partnerships with key stakeholders to secure lives and property. It also warned that criminal herders, insurgents, kidnappers, and rampant banditry are crippling agriculture and could trigger a food crisis if farmers lack confidence to return to their farms. The editors decried the alarming state of education in the country, blaming underfunding, failing infrastructure, and poor welfare of teachers for the steady woes in the sector. They urged governments to adopt the United Nations benchmark of committing at least 26 percent of annual budgets to education for effective turnaround. The communiqué also condemned increasing hostility against media organisations and professionals by security agencies and non-state actors, warning that any attempt to weaken the media would erode democratic accountability and shrink public access to information. “A weak media may fail to hold those in power accountable, limit access to information, and create a disconnect between the public and reality,” the Guild cautioned. While calling for transparency, inclusiveness, and commitment to citizens’ welfare from all tiers of government, the editors appreciated Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State for hosting the meeting and urged him to continue partnering with the media in nation building and promotion of peace and unity. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/08/nge-raises-alarm-over-economy-insecurity-education-warns-against-media-suppression/ |
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