₦airaland Forum

The Director-General of the City Boy Movement (CBM), Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, has described the massive turnout of young Nigerians at Saturday’s flag- off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna as an affirmation of the Movement’s sustained grassroots enlightenment and mobilisation efforts in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Shoga said the impressive youth participation at the colourful political gathering demonstrated growing interest among young Nigerians in the President’s development agenda and their determination to participate actively in shaping the country’s political and economic future.

In a reflection titled, “Beyond the Road: Unlocking Opportunities, Empowering Young Nigerians, and Building a Prosperous Future,” the CBM Director-General attributed the enthusiasm witnessed at the Kaduna rally partly to sustained grassroots engagements, including the Movement’s mobilisation activities and street walk in Kano.

“The City Boy Movement was proudly on the ground, engaging with young Nigerians and grassroots supporters who came out to demonstrate their commitment to the future of our country.

“The enthusiasm witnessed in Kaduna, alongside our grassroots engagement and street walk in Kano, reinforces our conviction that young Nigerians want to be part of a national conversation about development, opportunity, and a more prosperous Nigeria”, he stated.

Shoga explained that the Movement’s activities extended beyond mobilising electoral support for Tinubu, stressing that its central mission was to educate and empower young people to understand government policies and take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.

He particularly hailed the commissioning of an 81-kilometre section of the Abuja–Kaduna highway during the campaign flag-off, describing the development as a demonstration of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and stimulating economic activities in the North-West.

According to him, the strategic road corridor linking Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano offers opportunities for agricultural transformation, industrial expansion, regional trade, private investment and employment generation.

He noted that improved connectivity could benefit farmers, traders, transport operators and young entrepreneurs by facilitating access to markets, reducing transportation difficulties and encouraging investments in logistics, manufacturing, food processing and related businesses.

“The objective is not simply to build infrastructure. It is to create the conditions in which people can build businesses, earn sustainable incomes, create jobs, and improve their standard of living”, Shoga said.

He, however, emphasised that infrastructure development must be complemented by sustained security operations, effective intelligence gathering, reliable electricity and investment-friendly policies to unlock the region’s full economic potential.

“A good road connects destinations. A secure road connects people to opportunity. Together, infrastructure and security can help unlock the economic potential of an entire region”, he declared.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Shoga said the City Boy Movement would intensify its grassroots engagements across the federation, educating young Nigerians about the administration’s reforms while encouraging peaceful democratic participation.

He commended the thousands of supporters who participated in the Kaduna rally and Kano mobilisation activities, describing their enthusiasm as an encouragement to the Movement’s nationwide efforts.

“Every conversation, every community engagement, and every effort to educate and mobilise people can contribute to a stronger national movement and a more informed citizenry”, he said.

Shoga urged young Nigerians to assess the administration’s achievements and challenges, acquire relevant skills, embrace entrepreneurship and make informed political decisions.

“Our message is simple: Do not sit on the sidelines while decisions that will shape your future are being made. Get informed, get involved, and make your voice count”, he declared.

He reaffirmed the Movement’s commitment to building a generation of informed, enterprising and responsible young Nigerians, stressing that the ultimate success of infrastructure development must be measured by the jobs, businesses and prosperity it creates for ordinary citizens.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his African Democratic Congress (ADC) of plotting to discredit its presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.

The council alleged that the opposition planned to deploy fake news, artificial intelligence-generated content and deepfake videos to undermine the rally, President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and APC leaders.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Dele Alake, spokesperson of the council, on Saturday, ahead of the campaign flag-off in Kaduna.

“We have uncovered a well-orchestrated, devious plan by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his party to discredit the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna today (Saturday),” he said.

Alake alleged that the opposition had used misleading narratives and manipulated reports to influence public opinion and portray the APC rally negatively.

He cited the circulation of a photograph showing a security vehicle on routine patrol near an APC campaign billboard in Kaduna metropolis.

According to him, the opposition allegedly misrepresents the photograph as evidence that security personnel are deployed to protect APC billboards.

He alleged that the narrative was subsequently published by a national newspaper and amplified by Atiku through his official social media accounts.

The APC presidential campaign council spokesman also accused the opposition of circulating a purported letter from the Kaduna state governor to Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the campaign council.

The alleged letter claims that the state government has released N2.3 trillion to host the rally.

“We are still at a loss as to how anyone can imagine and concoct this senseless and utterly baseless lie that defies logic and basic common sense,” he said.

He argued that the amount was inconsistent with the state’s annual budgets, noting that the Kaduna state budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026 totalled less than N2.3 trillion.

He puts the budgets at N458.271 billion for 2024, N790.439 billion for 2025 and N985.9 billion for 2026.


Alake further alleged that the opposition planned to circulate old, doctored and deepfake videos during the rally to create a false impression of public resentment.

“We hereby use this opportunity to alert the general public about this malicious and ignoble plan,” he added.

He described Atiku and the ADC’s alleged actions as attempts to undermine the APC’s electoral prospects and urged Nigerians to reject what it called disinformation.

He also called on the public to remain vigilant against misleading content circulating online and in the media.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his African Democratic Congress (ADC) of plotting to discredit its presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.

The council alleged that the opposition planned to deploy fake news, artificial intelligence-generated content and deepfake videos to undermine the rally, President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and APC leaders.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Dele Alake, spokesperson of the council, on Saturday, ahead of the campaign flag-off in Kaduna.

“We have uncovered a well-orchestrated, devious plan by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his party to discredit the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna today (Saturday),” he said.

Alake alleged that the opposition had used misleading narratives and manipulated reports to influence public opinion and portray the APC rally negatively.

He cited the circulation of a photograph showing a security vehicle on routine patrol near an APC campaign billboard in Kaduna metropolis.

According to him, the opposition allegedly misrepresents the photograph as evidence that security personnel are deployed to protect APC billboards.

The APC presidential campaign council spokesman also accused the opposition of circulating a purported letter from the Kaduna state governor to Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the campaign council.

The alleged letter claims that the state government has released N2.3 trillion to host the rally.

“We are still at a loss as to how anyone can imagine and concoct this senseless and utterly baseless lie that defies logic and basic common sense,” he said.

He argued that the amount was inconsistent with the state’s annual budgets, noting that the Kaduna state budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026 totalled less than N2.3 trillion.

He puts the budgets at N458.271 billion for 2024, N790.439 billion for 2025 and N985.9 billion for 2026.

Alake further alleged that the opposition planned to circulate old, doctored and deepfake videos during the rally to create a false impression of public resentment.

“We hereby use this opportunity to alert the general public about this malicious and ignoble plan,” he added.

He described Atiku and the ADC’s alleged actions as attempts to undermine the APC’s electoral prospects and urged Nigerians to reject what it called disinformation.

He also called on the public to remain vigilant against misleading content circulating online and in the media.

“Trying to claim “MY MESSAGE HAS BEEN TWISTED” won’t change what we all heard you say on video. “No one twisted your message, certainly not.

Your message, asking Nigerians abroad to stop sending money to their loved ones at home, is clear as day and a representation of the vileness in your heart and the hatred you harbour for Nigerians, whose only offence was rejecting you at the polls.

“You have chosen to go on another divisive route, which you are known for, for your campaign. You have set Christians against Muslims, Southerners against Northerners, children against parents, Nigerians against President Tinubu, and have now graduated to setting Nigerians abroad against Nigerians at home. Even by your standards, this is ridiculously low!

“You seek to govern the people you hate. You do not care about evil deeds as long as they advance your political ambitions.

“Unfortunately for you, Nigerians are wise and sophisticated people; they can read between the lines. Your divisive rhetoric did not work in 2023, and it certainly will not work in 2027.

“By the way, this has now been added to your long, inexhaustible list of flip- flopping, contradictory statements, lies, and denials of past statements and promises. “Nigerians are watching and taking stock!,”

The Presidency has rejected Peter Obi’s clarification of his controversial advice to Nigerians in the United Kingdom to refuse financial requests from people back home, insisting that his original remarks were neither misunderstood nor distorted.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, dismissed Obi’s explanation in a post on X, describing his statement at a Manchester town hall meeting as callous.

“Mr Peter Obi, you failed to clarify your Manchester callous statement. Nobody twisted your statement. Thank you for affirming it again,” Onanuga declared.

The presidential spokesman’s response followed Obi’s attempt to clarify remarks he made on Sunday, October 18, while addressing supporters in Manchester, United Kingdom.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) had urged Nigerians abroad to reject financial appeals from people at home and instead encourage them to support leaders with proven records of financial discipline.

“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” Obi had told the gathering.

He argued that Nigeria’s persistent economic difficulties were largely caused by poor leadership and corruption, which had left many citizens dependent on financial assistance from relatives overseas.

The remarks sparked controversy, prompting Obi’s media office to issue a clarification denying that he had asked Nigerians abroad to abandon their families.

Obi subsequently issued a personal statement titled

“My Message Has Been Twisted”, accusing political opponents of deliberately misrepresenting his position.

“Even though my media office has issued a responsible clarification on the situation, I still find it necessary to add my voice to address the distortion of my message by political opponents,” he stated.

The former Anambra State governor acknowledged the sacrifices made by Nigerians in the diaspora, noting that their remittances helped families pay school fees, hospital bills, rent and other essential expenses.

“I never asked them to abandon their loved ones. My concern is that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions depend on relatives abroad for basic survival,” Obi explained.

He maintained that his message was about building a country capable of providing jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education and economic opportunities.

“Political opponents may twist my message, but the truth remains clear: I am not asking Nigerians abroad to abandon their families. I am advocating for a Nigeria that will no longer abandon its own people,” he added.


Onanuga, however, rejected the explanation, maintaining that Obi had failed to clarify his original remarks. The exchange adds to the controversy surrounding Obi’s comments as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, declaring that Rivers State will support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Wike spoke on Tuesday while addressing youths of the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt, where he urged them to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu and other candidates associated with the coalition.

The minister questioned Atiku’s credibility, citing his past political association with the former vice-president.

“I have been in the same party with Atiku Abubakar. He is not a man who keeps to his words. What he says in the night is not what he says in the morning,” Wike said.

He also criticised Atiku’s repeated presidential bids, describing him as a political gambler and questioning whether his ambition would benefit Nigerians.

Wike also attacked Obi, describing him as a “social media president” and a “fake man”.

“You can make him the president of social media so that he can be going to IDP camps to be celebrating their birthdays and buying corn on the road,” the minister said.

“It’s fake. Who are you going to deceive? When you were a governor, you didn’t go to the IDP camp to do your birthday, you didn’t go to buy fuel by yourself. All of a sudden, just because you want to be president, you are now going. Who are you going to deceive?” he said.

He challenged opposition leaders to identify projects they had executed for the benefit of Rivers residents, arguing that political support should be based on tangible achievements rather than popularity.

Defending his support for Tinubu, Wike said Rivers State had benefited from federal appointments and infrastructure projects under the current administration.

He claimed that at least 49 indigenes of the state currently occupy prominent positions in the Federal Government, describing the figure as unprecedented in the current democratic dispensation.

The minister also cited the Bonny-Bodo Road and bridge network as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the state.

“We’re not looking for those who are fine or finer. We’re looking for those who will do something that will positively impact Nigerians and also impact Rivers people,” he said.

Wike urged the youths to take the campaign to communities and engage grassroots leaders in support of Tinubu.

“Whether you are Atiku, whether you are Obi, Rivers State is for Tinubu!” he declared.
He also announced that the Rivers Rainbow Coalition would unveil its candidates on October 27.

The APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, who spoke at the event, pledged to prioritise youth empowerment, vocational training and community development if elected.

Chinda said his proposed administration would restructure the state’s education system to give greater attention to technical and vocational skills from primary to secondary school.

He said the state should develop skilled workers in trades such as tiling, carpentry and electrical installation rather than depend on other locations for such services.

“There will be no compromise. We can only build the state if we build the youths,” he said.

He added that local government chairmen across the state’s 23 local government areas would be expected to prioritise youth welfare and vocational training centres.

Meanwhile, youth leaders at the gathering pledged to mobilise support for Tinubu and other candidates associated with the Rainbow Coalition.

Chima Aguma, coordinator of the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition Youth and South-South coordinator of City Boys, assured Wike of grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Bani Nwisabari, chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, presented a recognition plaque to Wike in acknowledgement of his role in political inclusion and youth empowerment.

Nwisabari, who said he had benefited from Wike’s appointment to the state’s Senior Secondary School Board, pledged continued support for the minister’s political initiative.

Similarly, Justice Uranta, president of the National Union of Rivers State Students, said students would mobilise across the state’s 23 local government areas, campuses and the diaspora to support Tinubu and Chinda.

He cited the establishment of a permanent NURSS secretariat as one of the initiatives aimed at improving student welfare.

Popular Anambra-based cleric, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, widely known as Odumeje, has criticised the Federal Government for not allocating any international airport or seaport to the Southeast despite the Igbos being the country's foremost traders.

Speaking in a recent episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, Odumeje claimed that Nigeria has done "a lot of damages" to the Igbos, warning that if Igbo people don't fight for their rights now, their children will question them in the future.

The cleric said it is unfair for embassies and consulates to be in the North and Southwest while the East has none despite being actively involved in international trade.

He also criticised the new seaport approved for Ogun State, arguing that Ogun indigenes were not as much into business like the Igbo and that the Southeast deserved it more.

He said, "Nigeria has done a lot of damages to Igbo people. We have embassies and international airports and sea ports in Lagos and in the North but none in Igbo land.

It is the Federal Government that approves embassies, international airports, seaports. What have we done?

"A new seaport has been approved for Ogun. Are Ogun state people business people? Igbo people are the business people," Odumeje lamented.

Olusegun dismissed Atiku’s submission as a cheap political stunt, reminding him of his recent visits to former President Buhari, who was in office during the Lekki incident.

Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, has attacked former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government’s handling of the 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shooting and the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

Olusegun, who is also the National Convener of the PBAT Media Centre, accused Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, of exploiting the tragedy for political gain and pursuing what he described as an insincere presidential ambition.

In a post on X, Olusegun questioned why Atiku waited six years after the shooting to demand answers from the government, arguing that the former vice-president had opportunities to raise the issue during his visits to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2024 and 2025.

Atiku had earlier issued a statement titled, "Six Years After Lekki, The APC Still Owes Nigerians Answers And Young People A Future," to mark the sixth anniversary of the incident, where he demanded to know who gave the order to shoot peaceful protesters and criticised the ruling APC for the country's worsening economic hardship.

However, Olusegun dismissed Atiku’s submission as a cheap political stunt, reminding him of his recent visits to former President Buhari, who was in office during the Lekki incident.

"In case you have forgotten, we have not. On the 22nd of June 2024, you visited late former President Buhari in his hometown of Daura,” Olusegun said.

“Less than a year later, on the 11th of April 2025, you visited him again at his retirement home in Kaduna, renovated by President Tinubu.

"Those two opportunities presented you with chances to ask former President Buhari, who was President at the time of the Lekki Toll Gate protests, the questions you are now asking President Tinubu."

He added: "That it took you six years to ask these questions is a testament to your insincerity and desperation to become President. Nigerians are not fools, they know you do not care about them; you only care about your inordinate ambition."

The presidential aide further defended his principal, noting that Tinubu was an ordinary citizen in 2020 and suffered immense personal losses during the protests.

"His Bourdillon home was almost razed, and he and his domestic staff fled for safety. He was harassed, cyberbullied, insulted, and cursed," Olusegun stated.

He also took a swipe at Atiku for using the phrase "Lekki Massacre," claiming that a definitive, legally established massacre remains unproven.

"Forensic evidence and multi-agency investigations heavily contradicting the initial social media casualty figures," he said, adding that twisting the tragedy to pin it on Tinubu, who was a primary financial and political victim of the fallout, was uncharitable.

"Twisting the complex tragedy of 2020 to pin it on a man who was himself a primary financial and political victim of the fallout is uncharitable and mean-spirited,” he said.

“This constant mudslinging is a transparent attempt to dust off your failed 'Economic Recovery Plan' and hijack historical grief for campaign leverage. This is your final attempt at the Presidency of Nigeria, and it is tragic to watch you throw everything against the wall just to see what sticks.”

The former Secretary to the Katsina State Government (SSG), Dr. Mustapha Mohammed Inuwa, has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after four years of criticism and political estrangement of the administration of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.

Inuwa’s return was formally announced on Sunday at a grand reception organised by the Zawiyyah Foundation in his honour at Capital Hall, Katsina.

The erstwhile government scribe renounced his APC membership in 2022 after losing the party’s governorship ticket to Radda and had, since then, been a vocal critic of the governor and his administration.

But while welcoming the former SSG back into the party, Governor Radda described his return as a significant boost to the APC’s unity and strength ahead of the 2027 general election.

Radda, who said his political relationship with Inuwa spanned more than three decades, urged politicians to prioritise public service and the welfare of the people rather than personal interests.

The governor said his administration remained committed to strengthening the APC as a united political family, adding that internal cohesion was essential to sustaining the government’s development agenda and delivering on its promises to the people.

Noting that his government’s doors remained open to working with political elders and stakeholders committed to Katsina’s development, Radda assured people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritise projects and programmes aimed at improving their livelihoods.

He called on party members to work collectively and assiduously towards the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

He said: “Politics should ultimately be about service to the people and not personal enrichment. The people have become politically conscious and they can assess the intentions, records and contributions of those seeking their support.

“We are ready to do everything possible to strengthen our political family. We will not allow the people of Katsina State to be disappointed because we are committed to implementing projects and programmes that will improve their lives.”

Responding, Inuwa described the APC as his political home and pledged his support for the Radda administration.

The former SSG said his return followed decades of political experience, struggles and relationships, stressing that the party’s collective interest should take precedence over personal differences.

“We do not have time for anything that will undermine our collective interest. Our concern should be how to win elections and ensure the success of the APC,” Inuwa said.

He urged APC members to work together to strengthen the party from the grassroots to the national level and sustain the development gains recorded in Katsina State.

Inuwa also acknowledged the support received by the Radda administration from the people, saying the recognition reflected the impact of its programmes and interventions.

The Director-General of the Zawiyyah Foundation, Hon. Hamisu Idris Kofar Bai, said the reception was organised to formally welcome Inuwa back into the APC and recognise his contributions to the state’s political development.

He highlighted the Radda administration’s interventions in security, agriculture and grassroots development, including the establishment of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, the Community Development Programme and the distribution of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs.

On his part, the state APC Chairman, Dr. Bishir Gambo Saulawa, described the reunion of political leaders within the party as a positive development, stressing that unity and reconciliation were essential to consolidating the achievements of the Radda administration.

Earlier, the member representing Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency, Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, traced the political evolution of Katsina State and acknowledged the contributions of successive administrations and political movements to its development.

Former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai’s staunch ally and ex-Chief of Staff, Bashir Sa’idu, has defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), promising to mobilise thousands of his supporters for Governor Uba Sani ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mr Sa’idu, who also served as Commissioner for Finance under Mr El-Rufai, made the pledge when the governor’s Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs, Isa Lawal, visited him at his residence on Wednesday.

He said his return to the APC was not an individual move, adding that he had brought along a large network of supporters who would demonstrate their political strength during the elections.

Mr Sa’idu specifically promised to deliver the 11 local government areas that make up the Zazzau Emirate to the APC.

“I will not boast about my capacity in other areas, but in the 11 local governments of Zazzau Emirate, we will show our strength, and no one has the kind of followers that we have,” he said.

He also said the APC would secure more votes in Zaria Local Government Area than the votes recorded for former President Muhammadu Buhari in previous elections.


WE DID NOT LEAVE ADC ALONE

Mr Sa’idu said his defection was intended to prove wrong those who believed he left the ADC alone.

He cited Lere Local Government Area, where he claimed about 3,091 ADC card-carrying members joined the APC. He further claimed that there were groups of about 4,000 supporters in some other local government areas.

The former Chief of Staff said he moved to the APC with about 10,000 supporters, describing them as people who had demonstrated political loyalty to his camp.

“We will prove that Allah has endowed us with supporters, and these people believe in us politically. We have been meeting and fashioning out modalities of how we will win elections,” he said.

He added that his political network extended beyond Zaria to Igabi and Kaduna South local government areas.

Mr Sa’idu, however, acknowledged that his mobilisation would not prevent the state government from conducting its own political planning.

He said his group could either work alongside the government’s political structure or operate independently and meet at the polls.


FROM El-RUFAI’s INNER CIRCLE TO UBA SANI’s CAMP

Mr Sa’idu’s latest move is significant because of his long relationship with Mr El-Rufai. The two knew each other since their days at Barewa College, Zaria.

During Mr El-Rufai’s eight-year administration in Kaduna, Mr Sa’idu held senior positions, including Commissioner for Finance and, later, Chief of Staff.

Mr Sa’idu was also among the prominent figures who followed Mr El-Rufai from the APC to the ADC.

Earlier in September, Mr Sa’idu and other El-Rufai associates announced their return to the APC and support for Governor Uba Sani.

Former commissioner Jafaru Sani confirmed that the group had returned to the APC, adding that they were bringing with them more than 150,000 registered ADC members.

The group also included former Kaduna North senator Abdu Kwari and other grassroots politicians previously associated with Mr El-Rufai.

The development came amid a broader realignment of Kaduna politicians ahead of the 2027 elections.


ADC PRIMARY DEEPENED DIVISIONS

The political rupture followed the ADC governorship primary in May, won by former House of Representatives member Isah Ashiru with 86,113 votes.

Jafaru Sani, a former Commissioner for Education under Mr El-Rufai, came second with 29,580 votes. He rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities in the process.

The disputed primary deepened tensions within the former governor’s political network, with reports at the time pointing to dissatisfaction among some of Mr El-Rufai’s loyalists with the outcome and the direction of the ADC.

Mr Ashiru has since positioned himself as the ADC’s principal challenger to Mr Uba Sani in the 2027 Kaduna governorship contest.

The national youth leader of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Sultan Bello, has resigned from the party with immediate effect.

Bello announced his resignation in a letter dated September 24, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Ja’oji Gyadi Gyadi Arewa Ward in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.

In the letter, Bello said his decision followed extensive consultations, careful consideration, and deep personal reflection.

The letter read, “After extensive consultations, careful consideration, and deep personal reflection, I write to formally tender my resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with immediate effect.

“This decision has not been taken lightly. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served and contributed to the growth and activities of the party during my time as a member. I sincerely appreciate the relationships, experiences, and lessons gained throughout my journey within the ADC.

“I would like to express my profound appreciation to my principal, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, CON, for his guidance, trust, support, and the opportunity to work alongside him. I remain grateful for his confidence in me and wish him continued success in all his future endeavours.

“I also extend my appreciation to the leadership, stakeholders, members, and supporters of the African Democratic Congress for the opportunity to serve and contribute to the party.

“I respectfully request that my resignation be accepted and that my name be removed from the membership records of the party with immediate effect.

“Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest esteem and regards.”

President Bola Tinubu has urged state governments to ensure that savings from cheaper CNG-powered transportation translate into lower fares for Nigerians ahead of October 1.

Tinubu gave the charge in a statement on Saturday, updating Nigerians on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, which was established following his August 27 meeting with the 36 state governors.

He said the objective agreed with the governors was for more Nigerians to begin experiencing “measurable reductions in transportation costs” from October 1.

“I encourage every state to maintain the momentum towards October 1. Work with transport unions and commercial operators. Support conversion and fleet deployment.

“Facilitate the infrastructure required. Above all, ensure that savings from cheaper energy reach Nigerian citizens through lower fares,” he said.

The President said several states were already recording reductions in transport fares through CNG-powered and electric buses.

He cited Borno, where CNG-powered and electric public transport services carry commuters for between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge between N300 and N600.

In Kaduna, he said 100 CNG-powered buses had provided free transportation on major routes, carrying about 3.2 million passengers in their first year and saving commuters more than N3.5bn in transport costs.

Tinubu also said CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport in Oyo reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about N8,000 to N3,200 during the initial deployment.

He said alternative-energy transit services in Adamawa had cut fares by as much as 50 per cent, from N8,000 to N4,000, while 100 CNG buses in Enugu had reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from N2,500 to N1,500.

In Plateau, government-supported buses carry about 13,000 commuters daily at N200, compared with more than N500 charged commercially, he said.

Tinubu also cited CNG-converted commercial vehicles operating on several Abuja routes through a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, saying passengers received a 40 per cent fare reduction.

According to him, fares from Area 1 to Gwagwalada had fallen from N1,500 to N900, Nyanya from N700 to N420, and Wuse from N400 to N240.

He said passengers on the Suleja-Abuja route in Niger paid N550, compared with about N800, while Abia had deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.

“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” Tinubu said.


The President said the Federal Government would support states to expand the programme, noting that disruptions to global energy supplies were putting pressure on petrol and diesel prices and increasing transportation costs.

“Through our partnership with the NURTW, passengers on CNG-converted commercial vehicles on several Abuja commuter routes receive a 40 per cent fare reduction,” he said.

Tinubu said Nigeria, as a gas-rich country, could reduce its exposure to global energy price shocks by expanding the use of alternative energy for transportation.

He said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to CNG over the past three years, while the country now had more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations.

He also highlighted CNG developments in Edo, Kano, Delta, Kwara, Lagos and Akwa Ibom. Tinubu said Edo had 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano had converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles.

He added that Delta, Kwara and Lagos were expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom had taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.

The President said the Federal Government would continue to support CNG infrastructure, conversion capacity and participation by transport operators, manufacturers and private investors.

“At a time like this, our answer cannot be to return to the ruinous petrol subsidy regime that consumed trillions of naira and left our economy exposed to every movement in international oil prices, as some have suggested.

“We must accelerate the cheaper alternatives we have been building at home,” he said. Tinubu added,

“Nigeria has the gas. We are building the infrastructure. We are already seeing the savings. “Now we must move faster and scale this so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day."

The Presidency has branded the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, ‘Diverter-in-Chief’ for dodging journalists’ questions on the alleged $500,000 Mambilla project bribe.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, the Presidency said Atiku is taking Nigerians for buffoons.

It said Atiku was at his evasive best, avoiding comment on his indictment in Paris by the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC, over the alleged illegal Mambilla Hydro Power Project contract.

The Presidency alleged that Atiku and former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, awarded the contract to Sunrise Power without authorisation from the Federal Executive Council and President Olusegun Obasanjo.

It claimed that, according to evidence at the hearings, Atiku collected a $500,000 bribe from Sunrise and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to approve the contract.

According to the Presidency, the money was sent in tranches to the US Citibank account of Atiku’s former wife, Jennifer Douglas, triggering red flags at Citibank and appearing, among other things, in the US Senate investigation into Atiku’s corruption and money laundering.


“A man who cares about his integrity and wants to offer himself for leadership ought to address the integrity issue first, but instead, he used his so-called world press conference to speak about his newfound campaign mantra, his pro-petrol subsidy stance.

“He also attacked the Tinubu administration, claiming it plans to withdraw electricity subsidies. The Power Minister, Joseph Tegbe, has already debunked that lie. But Atiku doesn’t care a hoot. He must weaponise everything in his desperation for power.

“Atiku, the diverter-in-chief, takes Nigerians for buffoons, thinking that his crimes against the Nigerian people do not matter. Nigerians should not be deceived: Atiku does not have the people’s interests at heart. He cares more about himself.

“Nigerians should also consider what was at stake for the public treasury if Atiku’s allies succeeded in Paris.

“Sunrise and Leno Adesanya would have walked away in Paris with $3.38 billion, including the $680 million settlement sum and interest, plus a claim of $2.7 billion as compensation and interest associated with the non-development of the Mambilla Hydro Power Project.

“A politician who aspires to lead Nigeria must be willing to answer questions about his integrity. Atiku should respond to the $500,000 bribe directly rather than divert public attention with unsupported allegations against the government,” the Presidency said in the statement.

The Anambra State Government says deductions are being made from the state’s monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, revenue to service loans it says were obtained by the administration of former Governor Peter Obi.

The Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, disclosed this on Friday while speaking on Arise Television, amid the ongoing dispute over the financial records of Obi’s tenure.

Mefor said the fact that some of the facilities were guaranteed by the Federal Government did not mean they were grants or funds that did not require repayment.

He said, “First and foremost, a loan is a loan, and whether it is sovereign or not, even an interest-free loan is still a loan. The FAAC allocations to Anambra State are being deducted every month to service the separate loans taken by the Peter Obi administration.”

The commissioner said the loans were among eight external facilities guaranteed by the Federal Government, adding that states had the option of participating in the lending programmes.

He cited Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision not to participate in the Nigeria CARES loan from the World Bank as an example of a state government choosing whether to take such facilities.

Mefor said, “So Obi had the opportunity to either take or not to take. So if you take, you take the responsibility.”

He put the external facilities attributed to Obi’s administration at 123 million dollars, arguing that the outstanding obligations should be included in any assessment of the former governor’s financial record.

Mefor said the loans were taken for various development programmes and insisted that the issue was not whether borrowing was inherently wrong, but whether Obi’s claim that he did not take loans was accurate.

“The point I’m trying to make is simple: he took loans, and he said he didn’t take,” the commissioner said.

Mefor also rejected Obi’s claim that he left no financial liabilities for his successor, saying some of the obligations from the loans remained outstanding.

“And he said also that he did not pass down any financial liabilities that accrued from loans that he took. That is also not correct,” Mefor added.

The latest exchange followed Obi’s denial that he left Anambra with outstanding debts, salaries, pensions, gratuities or obligations to contractors when he handed over power in 2014.

The Anambra government has maintained that records from the Debt Management Office show that eight external loans were contracted during Obi’s tenure, with the outstanding balance at about 127.4 billion naira as of June 30, 2026.

Obi had challenged the government to produce evidence contradicting his account, saying he would stop campaigning for the 2027 presidential election if it could establish that he left the state in debt.

The National Assembly on Wednesday confirmed that it has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state assemblies for consideration and approval.

Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, who disclosed this in a statement, said the bill was transmitted in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires a constitutional amendment to secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

The statement said the state legislatures were requested to consider the bill in line with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their consideration.

The National Assembly said the Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which state assemblies must communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration bill.

However, it said the state assemblies were expected, in the interest of an orderly and timely conclusion of the process, to consider the bill and communicate their resolutions within 30 days of receiving it.

The National Assembly clarified that the 30-day period was an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.

It also acknowledged the constitutional responsibility and independence of the state legislatures in considering the bill, saying the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of their role in the amendment process.

It added that upon receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly would proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the Constitution.

Meanwhile, further findings by Daily Trust yesterday indicated that only the State Police Bill was transmitted to the state assemblies for consideration and not the entire items contained in the 2026 constitution amendment bills under consideration.

A source in the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly told Daily Trust that the other constitution amendment bills under consideration are yet to be passed by the National Assembly.

Daily Trust reports that no fewer than 37 constitution amendment bills had undergone various legislative stages including public hearings at state, zonal and national items, waiting for voting by both chambers of the National Assembly for onward transmission to the states for concurrence.


PROVISIONS IN STATE POLICE Bill

The State Police Bill, which was sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was expeditiously considered and passed by the Senate on June 24, 2026 while the House of Representatives passed the same bill on July 23, 2026.

The passage of the executive bill officially sets the stage to dismantle the decades-old unitary structure of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and replace it with a dual model, comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

Under the newly substituted Section 214 of the Constitution, the Federal Police Service retains absolute monopoly over major security sectors, ensuring that the federal government remains the ultimate custodian of the nation’s territorial integrity.

The Federal Police will maintain exclusive jurisdiction over National security, terrorism, and cybercrime; inter-state crimes, arms-trafficking, and international crime syndicates.

The bill clarifies that while state police will manage domestic public safety, they are completely barred from cross-border law enforcement.

A State Police Service shall not exercise police powers outside the borders of the state for which it is established, except as specifically authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.

One of the most intensely debated aspects of the bill centres on the federal government’s veto power to override state control. The legislation empowers the president to bypass state governors and temporarily assume direct operational command of any State Police Service under strict exceptional metrics.

The conditions under which a federal takeover can occur are explicitly detailed to prevent arbitrary federal interference, while ensuring that rogue or incapacitated state police forces are quickly brought to heel.
These triggers include “where there is an actual or imminent breakdown of public order or public safety which the State Police Service is unable or unwilling to contain;

where the State Police Service is unable to function by reason of serious administrative, financial, operational or other incapacity;

where there is substantial evidence that the State Police Service is being used for egregious or systematic violation of fundamental rights, partisan or electoral intimidation, ethnic, religious or sectional persecution, or unlawful obstruction of this Constitution…”

The bill stipulates that such federal interventions must be authorised in writing by the president, stating the grounds, targeted territory, and expected duration of the takeover.

Furthermore, a formal notice of the intervention must be transmitted to the affected State Governor, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the National Police Council, and the National Assembly within 48 hours of execution.

The Federal Police Service will be headed by an Inspector-General of Police appointed by the President on the advice of the National Police Council, subject to Senate confirmation.

The President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, has invited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to visit Singapore as the country seeks to strengthen its relationship and deepen cooperation with Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement by the Nigerian Mission House at the United Nations, New York.

Ibrahim said Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, visited the Nigerian Permanent Mission House, where he delivered a letter from President Shanmugaratnam inviting Tinubu to Singapore.

Gafoor also congratulated Ibrahim on his emergence as Chairman of two prominent UN committees—the Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters and, more recently, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, also known as the Committee of 34 or C-34.

Receiving the letter, Ibrahim thanked Gafoor for the invitation and assured the people and government of Singapore that Tinubu would find time to visit the country in the nearest future.

He said the President’s economic reforms had attracted international attention and generated interest from countries such as Singapore in sharing experiences with Nigeria, particularly on multilateralism and national development.

Ibrahim compared the boldness of Tinubu’s reforms with the transformation associated with Singapore’s first Prime Minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is making bold economic reforms like the first Prime Minister of Singapore , Lee Kuan Yew. His achievements are enviable and continue to generate concern to countries like Singapore to share experience in multilateralism,” Ibrahim said.

He said Tinubu holds President Tharman in high esteem and congratulated Singapore on the reforms that transformed the country.

According to Ibrahim, Nigeria is also undergoing reforms aimed at transforming the country into a modern contemporary state where the interests of everyone would be protected and Nigerians would begin to enjoy a viable economic proposition.

“Nigeria is currently going through reform in order to transform herself to a modern contemporary state, where interests of everyone is protected and Nigerians begin to enjoy a viable proposition,” he said.

Ibrahim also disclosed that his office at the United Nations had witnessed increased diplomatic engagements in recent weeks.

He said the British Ambassador to the UN visited him last week, followed by the Ambassador of Guyana a few days later, before Gafoor’s visit.

The envoy said his leadership of the UN committees would be guided by fairness, accountability and efficiency.

On the Fifth Committee, Ibrahim assured member states of equitable treatment in the allocation of resources.

“I will be fair to all in allocation of resources under the Fifth Committee, and every country will have a say. The United Nations will be impartial to member states under the reform of accountability and efficiency,” he said.

The Fifth Committee is responsible for the administrative and budgetary matters of the United Nations, while the C-34 deals with issues relating to UN peacekeeping operations.