₦airaland Forum

givedemwotowoto:
Yes we want primaries by registered members of the ADC. Obidients get ready to register and support PO

Atiku Abubakar, former vice president has strongly rejected mounting calls from political leaders and stakeholders in Southern Nigeria urging him to step aside in favour of a Southern presidential candidate.

The demand, which has gained traction among members of the coalition, is anchored on the principle of equity, justice, and rotation of power, with many arguing that the South deserves to complete its turn at the presidency.

In a statement released after a closed-door meeting with leaders of ADC, the former vice president declared that he would not bow to pressure, and called on the coalition to uphold democracy by allowing open and transparent primaries.

“I will not be pressured into abandoning my constitutional right to aspire. Let every qualified member test their popularity through a credible primary. Zoning must not be used to silence competence,” Atiku stated emphatically.


However, this declaration appears to have rattled the fragile coalition, triggering a fierce backlash from members of the Obidient Movement, who insist that Peter Obi remains the only acceptable candidate.

Across social media platforms, Obidients have declared that it’s either Obi or we pull out.

Obidient are threatening to pull out of the coalition if Atiku insists on contesting.

What began as a strategic alliance against the ruling party now faces serious cracks, with party insiders warning that the coalition may collapse before it even begins.


While Atiku’s camp argues for merit-based contest, Obidients accuse him of attempting to hijack the structure and sabotage the collective dream.

Political watchers say the coalition is on the brink, as both sides refuse to shift ground. If not quickly addressed, this friction may derail efforts to build a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (BINL) has concluded plans to construct and operate a 500,000 barrel per day (BPD) refinery at the Sunshine Industrial Park in Ogboti, Eruuna and establish the Sunshine Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

[b]The refinery, a joint venture with the Ondo State Government represented by the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), will cost $15 billion, with phase one expected to be completed within 48 months.
BINL is exploring partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to facilitate the delivery of this ultra-modern crude oil refinery.

According to a statement on Wednesday. BINL has scheduled a courtesy visit to the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on July 14, 2025.

BINL and the Ondo State Government represented by ONDIPA, will then formally execute memoranda of understanding on July 15, 2025 to kick off the delivery of the projects.

According to BINL, a multi-sectoral infrastructure development company with offices in Abuja, London and Zug, this project will be phased commencing with a 100,000 refinery.

BINL’s Vice-President for Corporate Services, Mr Wale Adekola, said the BINL refinery will provide petroleum products for local consumption, feedstock for other local industries and petroleum products for the international market.

The refinery project includes the construction of roads, storage tanks, loading bays, terminals and handling equipment. The scope of the Free Trade Zone Project includes the development of the required infrastructure and facilities for the effective operation and management of the Free Trade Zone.

The development framework includes a comprehensive and strict governance structure for the development of the local community in compliance with international standards and relevant laws.

According to Adekola, these projects will contribute significantly to reducing Nigeria’s trade deficit, conserving foreign exchange reserves, increasing government revenue and economic development.

He said at the state and local levels, these projects will create local jobs, stimulate the local economy through increased demand for goods and services, noting that the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy includes community engagement programmes, such as education initiatives, local employment quotas and infrastructure development for surrounding communities.

He revealed that the company is engaging local stakeholders early to mitigate potential opposition to the project.[/b]

gidgiddy:
You guys are really funny. Not only is the photoshop terribly bad, Peter Obi did not even look like that 30 years ago when Abacha was still alive

Wickedlywicked:
This is what to expect when you are dull but enjoy talking to the media always. He brought this upon himself and no amount of press releases can control the damage he’s already done to himself.
In that gathering, Obi was seen bragging about how he got appointed by Abacha and even claimed that Abacha POINTED straight at him. Likeee, who asked him for heaven’s sake!!!! Obi talks too much ! Today, the story has change and dude is now claiming he’s never met or seen Abacha before😂

ArcSEMPECJ:
See as the truth is striving and struggling to leave your soul but what can a man in captivity do
You must always answer to your Master...

watchindelta:
You are talking rubbish. Is not still the same corruption that we are talking! 🤔. Aha you self aba. I told you corruption is the problem not subsidy aba! Now only nigeria they do subsidise for the whole world? Why is our different? ask yourself. It because you ppl are so corrupt🙄 !

nairalanda1:
But he has told the truth. You guys should stop being petty...really

Buhari that y'all supported, the guy was PTF meister for most of Abacha's rule, and all of you did not hold it against him.

watchindelta:
stop corruption. Subsidy is not Nigeria problem but corruption. Let the government stop mismanagement of funds. With all the billions n trillions everyone in government are stealing! You expect the country to do well? Our problem 💯 corruption. You know it bad system of government.

yarimo:
Hahahahaha OBI must participate in ADC primary election with ATIKU, obi like it or not. Nothing like consensus oo 🤣🤣🤣

jmoore:
Tinubu's poverty rate for Lagos was 69%. That's why he has made more Nigerians poorer since he became president.

jmoore:
You agreed Fashola failed as minister of power. So park one side.

Racoon:
Suddenly a greedy fact-checker political charlatan and psycophant has become a social crusader. Senseless fool! The current change in the political barometer of Nigeria is really giving these useless entities sleepless nights.

jmoore:
Is it same Fashola he's talking about here or another Fashola?

OgaTheTop2:
All I have to say is Nigerians like to suffer... Ah swear!

SeeWahala:
Mschew 😴 has he paid the guy who debunked his so called fact-chek-me tirade the $10,000 he pledged since over 2 years today? 🤡

Reno Omo Kiri-Kiri go suffer this season ajē 😏

Putindbutt:
seun, moderators are hiding this thread. It's supposed to be on FP.

SeeWahala:
Hehehe 😂🤣 are tilumbu's dense aids using twitter AI to attack obi now ? 🤡

At least nine women kidnapped and forcibly married to Boko Haram insurgents have been arrested by security operatives while relocating from their enclave in Alawa forest reserve, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State to areas bordering Benin Republic in neighbouring Kebbi State, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

This newspaper had reported how the Boko Haram faction led by Mallam Sadiku engaged in forced labour and child marriage.

While the exact reason for the women’s attempted relocation remains unclear, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the Sadiku-led faction is under pressure from external forces of the military and the rival Dogo Gide group.

Initially operating as a sleeper cell, the group has grown significantly, reportedly recruiting many fighters reportedly—some forcefully—from the Gbagyi communities in Shiroro LGA.


Kidnapped, married and enslaved

In addition to recruiting men and boys for combat, the group has abducted numerous girls, some as young as 15, and forced them into marriage and motherhood. PREMIUM TIMES confirmed that at least five girls—Zainab, Mary, two named Azeema, and Khadija—were forcibly married to senior commanders in Mr Sadiku’s group.

Zainab, abducted in 2021 at the age of 17, was the first to be married off, to a commander named Muhammad Kabeer. Mary was married to Ismail; Azeema to Mallam Shafi’i; the second Azeema to Suleiman; and Khadija to Umar.


These commanders, along with their “wives” and other non-combatants, live in makeshift camps scattered across the Alawa forest reserve, particularly around Kugu, Maganda, and Dogon Fili. The camps, sheltered with zinc roofing, also host informal Islamic schools that reportedly serve as radical indoctrination centres.


How they were caught

On Friday, three of the women were intercepted by the police in Tegina, a town infamous for the 2021 mass abduction of more than 100 Islamiya students. Local sources told our reporter that the women had boarded a commercial vehicle from Pandogari or Birnin Gwari to Tegina, where they planned to continue their trip to Kebbi through Kontagora.

“But a disagreement broke out among them during the trip,” one source with direct knowledge of their arrests told PREMIUM TIMES.
“One of them who hails from Kagara backed out of the journey and began arguing with the others,” he continued.

“She told them she couldn’t continue the journey since she had gotten to Tegina.”

“The commotion drew the attention of passers-by who alerted authorities,” he added.

According to the source, the woman who refused to continue the journey explained their background to residents, who then handed them over to the police.

The women later confessed to the police that their Boko Haram husbands had instructed them to relocate to Kebbi.

“They also told the police that more women were on their way,” the source added.

Indeed, the following day, six additional women were intercepted in Agwara, a border town in Niger State. All but one were carrying babies; the other woman was “heavily pregnant.”

One of the intercepted women was identified as a native of Alawa, a community the insurgents had previously captured after dislodging the military and displacing its residents. A family member confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that she was one of 25 women kidnapped on 14 February 2024 while en route to a local market.

“For now, I can’t say much about her condition,” the relative said. “She’s still in police custody.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said he would verify the arrests and provide updates.