₦airaland Forum

First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has disclosed that her time in the Senate’s Seventh, Eighth and Ninth National Assemblies was very good and memorable.

Mrs. Tinubu, who described her sessions at the NASS where she served as a senator representing Lagos State as “really, really good,” spoke penultimate Saturday in Minna, Niger State, during the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of farm inputs to farmers, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport.

At the event, the First Lady, acknowledged several former colleagues now serving in the Federal Executive Council, including the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abdullahi Sabi; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Malagi; and the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh

Although Mrs. Tinubu, who served in the Senate from 2015 to 2023, did not elaborate on her comment, not a few political analysts told Arewa PUNCH that it was a subtle comparison with the current 10th National Assembly.

Nwagbo explained, “The First Lady’s comment on her time in the upper legislative chamber is very powerful and buried with a lot of meanings. Nigerians should not just see it as prasing the then Senate it is actually a comparison between the 7th, 8th, and 9th Senate and the current Senate.

“First, she was trying to say that the present Senate is nothing compared to the Senate then. To a large extent, I agree with her. What we have presently is a mockery of democracy. The Senate is supposed to be a check on the Executive, but what do we call a Senate today where every request sent by the Executive gets express passage? It is nothing short of a rubber stamp Senate,” he said.

Also, the Executive Director of Nigerian Open Society for Good Governance, Niger State chapter, Mrs Maureen Mammam, clarified that the First Lady was simply honest in her assertion. She said the country’s democracy has nosedived and hijacked by persons who pretend to be leaders but are mere sea pirates.

“Nigerian democracy has nosedived. We now have politicians who put self-interest first before this country or the people’s advancement. This explains why the youths are fleeing this country and not looking back.[/i]
[i]“The level of corruption is enough to drive anybody crazy. Look at insecurity, and the government is patting the terrorists on the back by reintegration and rehabilitating them. The Senate of this 10th assembly is the worst.

“Majority of the so-called distinguished are stained with corruption cases at the EFCC or ICPC. Where do we run to for help,” she lamented.

Meanwhile, Mrs Tinubu later commended the Niger State Government for its strides in agricultural development, stressing that the state has emerged as a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.

“Today’s event is not just the commencement of another farming season; it is a bold statement that Nigeria is ready to feed herself. It signals a deliberate transition from subsistence farming to modern, mechanised, and commercially viable agriculture. The distribution of inputs would empower farmers to increase productivity and improve livelihoods,” she pointed out.

The Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, in his remarks, disclosed that the state has embraced mechanised agriculture as part of efforts to enhance food security.

He announced that the flag-off involved the deployment of 250 tractors of 75 horsepower each, 50 harvesters, and the distribution of 150,000 bags of fertiliser, among other inputs, to boost yields and reduce post-harvest losses.

“We have made significant progress across the agricultural value chain since the launch of this initiative in March 2024 with Mr. President. Niger State is now leading in agriculture, and we urge farmers to make judicious use of these inputs,” he said.

Bago noted further that the state’s efforts align with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agricultural and Food Security Programme.

Similarly, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, who attended the flag-off, said the proposed Sokoto-Badagry road project would include about 200 mini dams to support irrigation and boost agricultural productivity.

He assured that a significant number of the dams would be located in Niger State due to the extent of the project within the state and urged farmers to take advantage of the initiative to enhance food production and contribute to national food security.

"I inherited an economy [in tatters]. The subsidy that was a burden to the entire country was removed..."

At a high-level investor meeting in Paris, President Bola Tinubu says the removal of fuel subsidies has reduced fiscal strain and improved economic indicators in Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/i98k00t01l

— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) May 6, 2026

“If I don’t give you Constant Electricity for 4Years, Don’t vote for me when I come back for 2nd Term”
-Bola Tinubu, 2023.

Every time you see this video,
Please share, please repost, please retweet. Make sure every Nigerian sees this.

SHARE EVERYWHERE!!! pic.twitter.com/jHcKWMBfmQ

— OurFaveOnlineDoc 🇬🇧 🇳🇬 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) May 6, 2026

🇳🇬 Tinubu’s Promises: The President’s Tweets(2022).

I would prefer to go to South Africa..I also expressed the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs.

South Africa has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan African vision.

happney65:
"That is why people like you, who probably have been secret tribal bigots all these years can't understand any other reason why Obi is so popular"..

Dear Shehu Sani , it was widely reported yesterday how you said that the support Mr. Peter Obi has is tribalistic. This comment is not only factually incorrect and gravely false, but it also exposes a rather troubling pattern among those we thought could be viewed as credible and rational people even in the midst of the chaos and lies that have become a part of our political system. It is shameful that you have become a purveyor of false and divisive rhetoric.

How can you in good conscience say that Obi's support is tribalistic? A man who came out publicly to say that; don't vote for me because I am from the South East or a Christian. Vote for me because I have the character, competence and capacity. How many politicians in Nigeria today can publicly denounce ethnicity and religion in the way and manner Obi did?

Meanwhile, the man you support was the one that publicly said that it was his turn and that of his tribe to rule. Yet, according to your convulated understanding, his support is not tribalistic. What has happened to the fierce, radical and truthful Shehu Sani?

Using the official data of the 2023 election, Obi had a total of 6,101,533 votes in the Presidential election. Out of this, 2,005,589 votes representing 33% of the votes he got came from the 5 South East states. Meaning that a whooping 67% of his votes came outside the South East. How can you see this and say that his support is tribalistic?

What you and your co-travellers in this road of infamy do not know or capable of understanding is that; Obi not only inspired hope in millions of Nigerians, his past records of probity and integrity had endeared many to him. That is why people like you, who probably have been secret tribal bigots all these years can't understand any other reason why Obi is so popular.

Obi won election outside 7 none South East states and scored well over 25% in several others. He won in Nasarawa, where the then APC Chairman was from. He won in Plateau, where the director of campaign of the APC candidate was a sitting governor. He won in Lagos, where the candidate was from. He won in Abuja, Crossriver, Edo, Delta and was criminally rigged out of Rivers. How is such a support tribalistic?

Today, there is no South East governor or major politician from the region that supports Obi. In fact, some of them have openly said that no South East person is worthy of becoming president. Some of them have urged the South East not to waste their votes on Obi among other disparaging remarks. That is the same person Shehu Sani wants us to believe that his support is tribalistic.

You lie Shehu Sani and you have become a disgrace to those of us that saw you as a reasonable individual. Facts they say don't lie. The facts clearly shows that it is you and your enablers who can only thrive amidst tribal sentiments that are the tribalists and religious bigots. You need to retract and apologise for this obviously false and malicious comment.

I challenge you to a debate on any station, Channels Television , News Central TV , AIT Online or any other preferred TV station on this. Since you and others can't find a corruption toga to smear Obi, you have decided to peddle falsehood. But we are ready for people like you.

It is the hope that people see in Obi that drives this unprecedented support for him and not some useless tribal sentiments. In the days Buhari was contesting elections, did any northern governor come out to denounce him the way the South East governors are doing to Obi? Did Buhari ever say that people should not vote for him only because he is Fulani and a Muslim? Did you ever say that his support was tribalistic?

There is absolutely nothing wrong in supporting the re-election of the President, as it is well within your constitutional rights. However, you can do that without telling lies against others. Go back and tell those that sent you that this errand was a bad one. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

©️ Atsenokhai Aloy

I am not Femi Fani-Kayode. My principles, not my stomach, dictate my actions. I proved it today again. For those comparing, read my lips, I will NEVER join the APC. Don’t judge me by FFK’s actions. Judge me by my past. Loyalty and stability are my past!
#HARASSBUHARIOUTOFNEWYORK

Happening Now: Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode and I on day one of the induction course for Ambassadors and High Commissioners Designate at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

garykoeman:
What sani said is the plain truth.Most of his supporters are from his ethnicity. They are only trying to redefined his failures.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court Abuja, has adjourned hearing in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance (AA) over an alleged breach of Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Lifu fixed May 5 for a hearing after granting the NFFL leave to amend its originating summons to formally include other political parties allegedly found to be in breach of constitutional provisions alongside the ADC. The plaintiffs had sought the amendment, arguing that the affected political parties must be properly joined in the suit.

In a short ruling, Justice Lifu directed parties that had yet to respond to the amended originating summons to do so promptly, noting that the matter is time-sensitive and of significant public importance.

The judge observed that with party primaries approaching ahead of the 2027 general elections, there was a need for the case to be determined expeditiously.

He subsequently ordered all parties to file the necessary processes before May 1 and adjourned the matter until May 5 for hearing.

In the substantive suit, the former lawmakers are asking the court to invoke Order 7 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules to grant their request in the interest of justice. However, the application was opposed by the ADC, which argued that it (the application) was incompetent.

The plaintiffs are seeking declaratory orders compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce constitutional requirements for political parties.

They are also asking for mandatory and perpetual injunctions restraining INEC from recognising or giving effect to the political activities of the affected parties pending full compliance with the law.

According to the plaintiffs, allowing the parties to participate in the 2027 general elections would overcrowd ballot papers, waste public resources, and undermine electoral integrity.