₦airaland Forum

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has labelled the All Progressives Congress (APC), a group of “political vampires” that survives by “sucking the blood” of ordinary citizens while causing great suffering across Nigeria.

The PDP argues that the APC is a coalition of those who seek to grab power and steal the country’s wealth, leaving millions of Nigerians to struggle with severe hardships.

The main opposition party made the remarks in a statement from its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, during a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

The party also condemned the recent attacks by the APC on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who has been outspoken about the difficulties facing Nigerians under the APC government. The PDP described these attacks as “reckless, insensitive, and an arrogant display of failure.”

Ologunagba stated, “The APC’s attack on Governor Makinde confirms that they are jittery as their days are numbered. Nigerians have seen through the APC’s lies, manipulations, and suppressive policies that demonstrate incompetence in governance.” He emphasized that Governor Makinde is a credible and effective leader, pointing to his various development projects that benefit the people of Oyo State.

He stated that Makinde’s leadership, along with that of other PDP governors, shows a commitment to development and democracy, which resists the APC’s attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

Furthermore, Ologunagba expressed his outrage at the APC’s claim that Nigeria is “on the cusp of prosperity” while the country faces serious issues like insecurity, economic hardship, and poor infrastructure.

He blamed these problems on what he termed the APC’s “anti-people policies.” He added, “It’s absurd for the APC to think it can deceive Nigerians with false claims of performance when it has failed on all fronts, undoing the progress made during the PDP’s 16 years in power.”

Ologunagba also highlighted the economic decline under the APC. He said that the Naira, which was valued at N168 to the Dollar when the PDP was in power, has now dropped to almost N2,000 per Dollar. He pointed out that petrol prices have skyrocketed from N87 per litre to over N1,500, while the price of a bag of rice has increased from N8,000 to over N100,000. He noted that other essential food items, such as beans and garri, have also seen dramatic price hikes.

Ologunagba, therefore, accused APC leaders of “looting the nation’s treasury to fund their lavish lifestyles” while ordinary Nigerians face unprecedented difficulties. He suggested that the personal attacks and manipulation of data by the APC reflect a sense of desperation as the 2027 elections draw near.

“The APC should acknowledge its failures and prepare to exit in February 2027. The PDP, backed by Nigerians, will end the APC’s political journey, putting this contraption where it belongs—in political oblivion,” the PDP added.

Recall that during the commissioning of the Late Olusoji Adagunodo, the zonal secretariat of the PDP in Ibadan on Saturday, Makinde stated that the 2027 election would be a contest between the APC and Nigerians, adding that only he could set the agenda for his political career.

However, Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC described Makinde’s comments as “reckless” and “unbecoming” of a leader. Morka added that his party, the PDP is fading into irrelevance.

Morka added, “Makinde cannot even represent the future electoral choices of the people of Oyo, let alone speak for Nigerians. Makinde and his partisan allies are simply alarmed that the transformative potential of Tinubu’s economic policies could consign their 2027 ambitions and calculations to the dustbin of political irrelevance.”

Doyin Okupe, the controversial former Director-General of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, has again disclosed non-support for Peter Obi, LP’s former candidate.

Okupe made this. Monday declaration on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” in response to Obi’s recent comments on the economic situation in Nigeria.

Obi had stated, “Let us talk about what is happening today. Rice is about N100,000. We are not even sure where we are going to be. ‘It’s our turn’, ‘he is a Yoruba man’ — ask the people in Ogun, here is there any place you people buy bread cheaper?”

This statement generated mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting Obi and others criticizing him.

Okupe however joined the critics, describing Obi’s remark as an “insult” to people in the South-West.

He emphasized that Obi’s statement publicly belittled the South-West, despite receiving support from prominent Yoruba leaders during his presidential bid.

“When Obi made that statement, it insulted us. I am a Yoruba man; I left everything and followed Obi,” Okupe said.

“For the first time, Obasanjo left his circle of influence and deviated to support Obi…

“I do not regret supporting Peter Obi. But now I cannot do it again.”

Okupe attributed his initial support to the agreement that a southern president should emerge, specifically from the south-east.

However, he feels betrayed by Obi’s public criticism of the South-West.

“If all these eminent Yoruba people supported you, why now bring us down publicly? It is wrong,” Okupe concluded.

This development comes amidst Okupe’s reported resignation from the Labour Party due to ideological differences.

Zane2point4:
Who is paid highr, no be them dey rig election for ppl wey no go school?

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that Nigerian university lecturers and professors are the lowest-paid in the world.

The president of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, made the revelations in an exclusive interview.

He said since 2009, salaries of Nigerian lecturers have remained the same apart from the additional N40,000 consequential adjustment based on the previous minimum wage.

“I don’t know of any country in Africa, be it South, North, Central and even West, where university lecturers earn as low as Nigerian counterparts.

“No lecturer in some of those African countries earns less than $2,000 (about N3.3 million) per month and those in professorship cadre earn up to $10,000 (N16.5 million) per month.

“But here in Nigeria, a professor is earning $300 (N495,000) per month which is less than half a million naira.

“Look at the wide gap and that is why you can’t see any foreign lecturers in Nigerian universities because our universities are not attractive to them.

We’re the ones rushing to their countries and that is part of why our universities are ranked very low on global scale.

“So, we are the lowest paid lecturers as far as I know, in the whole world and those in government do not see this narrative as an issue that needs to be addressed.

“And the reason is simply because their children and family members are not in Nigeria. They don’t attend Nigerian public schools. That is the situation we find ourselves in,” Osodeke told Nigerian Tribune.

He revealed that his salary is just N420,000 (about $255) per month despite being a professor for 15 years.

He pointed out that even his seniors who have been professors for up to 20 years earn the same amount as him.

“It is only the vice chancellors for example, by virtue of their offices, who earn something higher only when they are in that office as their salaries will come back to the normal amount after leaving.

“Whereas a special assistant to the Speaker of the House, for example, earns more than N1 million ($606) per month, which is more than double of the salaries of the highest-paid professor in the country.

“After all, a senator confessed recently to be earning up to N14 million per month in this same country where the government is claiming there is no money and that the N14 million was not even enough for him.

“N14 million is about three years’ salaries of a highest paid professor,” Osodeke further lamented.

Anither563:
Hmmm. I don't know how true this is but I hope the media is not sensationalizing his comments.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, has branded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a “terrorist organisation,” accusing them of abusing their powers to instill fear among Nigerians.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Friday, Agbakoba expressed concern over the agency’s conduct and its overlapping responsibilities with other law enforcement bodies.

Agbakoba called for a reassessment of the EFCC’s role, pointing out the confusion between it and other agencies such as the Special Fraud Unit and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

“Why do we have the EFCC, Special Fraud Unit, and ICPC all doing the same thing, yet they are not catching anybody?” he questioned.

While acknowledging some of the EFCC’s achievements, Agbakoba also criticised its handling of prominent cases, including the treatment of former police officials.

“Even Tarfa, as rogue as he was, being dragged – was that correct?” he asked, suggesting that their tactics reflect poor judgement. “In a sane society, do you bring a former Inspector General of Police and drag him? That’s not right.”

Agbakoba’s strongest condemnation of the EFCC was his description of their approach: “These guys are terrorists. In my view, they terrorize us. They use their might, in their red coats, to terrorize us so that when you hear EFCC, you become scared. That’s not what a law enforcement agency should be.”

He urged the National Assembly to clarify the EFCC’s role and called for reforms to ensure the agency functions as intended.

CoronaVirusPro:
Return what! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

He will tell you that God told him to keep the money. Someone that claim to have had tea with God 🤣🤣🤣

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja envisaged localised thunderstorms over parts of Kebbi and Zamfara States in the northern region during the morning hours.

According to NiMet, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Zamfara, Kaduna, Bauchi, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Taraba States during afternoon/evening hours.

“In the North Central region, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Niger and Kwara States during the morning hours.

“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, and Plateau states.

” Localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, and Ondo States in the southern cities during the morning hours,” it said.

The agency anticipated localised thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Imo, Enugu, Ekiti, Edo, Ebonyi, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Lagos, and Akwa Ibom States later in the day.

“For Tuesday, morning localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States in the northern region.”

It forecast localised thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Borno and Gombe States later in the day.

According to NiMet, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Plateau and Nasarawa States during the morning hours.

“In the afternoon/evening hours, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Niger States.

” In the southern cities, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Delta, Edo, and Ondo States during the morning hours.

“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Ogun, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Lagos, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States,” it said.

The agency predicted morning localised thunderstorms over parts of Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi States in the northern region on Wednesday.

It envisaged localised thunderstorms over parts of Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Kano States.

”In the North Central region, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kogi States in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Benue States.

“Localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States in the southern cities during the morning hours,” the agency said.

According to it, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Bayelsa States later in the day.

NiMet urged residents to avoid flood-prone as there could be a high likelihood of urban flooding in major cities due to heavy downpours and strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.

“Adhere to safety advisories issued by relevant authorities.

The public is advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet.

“Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations,” it said.