₦airaland Forum

The Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, was at the Aso Rock Villa on Tuesday evening to see President Bola Tinubu.

Dangote, who arrived just minutes before 07:00pm, departed about 30 minutes later without briefing the press.

It would be their first face-to-face meeting at the Villa since the president toured the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery in Lagos on June 5.

No agenda was revealed, but the encounter follows a string of blunt comments from Africa’s richest man about the nation’s downstream sector and his plan to upend fuel distribution.

On July 11, Dangote told visiting executives that the state-owned plants in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna were beyond rescue despite roughly $18bn in rehabilitation spending.


“They may never operate properly again,” he warned, calling for bold policy shifts.

In mid-June, he revealed that Dangote Refinery will begin supplying petrol and diesel straight to retailers and large users from August 15, bypassing long-established fuel traders.

Industry groups such as the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria protested the move, citing potential job losses.

The 67-year-old billionaire built a continental empire in cement, sugar and flour before investing a reported $20bn into the Lekki-based refinery—Africa’s largest single-train plant.

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a ‘problem solver’ who is tackling Nigeria’s national security challenges through bold reforms in the livestock sector.

Jega made the remark on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Blueprint Impact Series and Awards held in Abuja.

The event, organised by Blueprint Newspapers Limited, recognised individuals and institutions making transformative contributions to governance, business, and social development.

Speaking in his capacity as Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Reforms and National Coordinator of the Presidential Livestock Reform Initiative, Jega presented a paper titled ‘Exploring the Potentials of Livestock Exports in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects.’

This initiative is designed to turn tragedy into opportunity,”Jega said, referring to the longstanding farmer-herder conflicts and insecurity associated with the livestock sector across many parts of the country.

“This is not just about agriculture. It is about national security, economic growth, and sustainable development. If we manage this properly, we can drastically reduce the farmer-herder conflicts, boost rural livelihoods, reduce poverty, and improve food security across the country. President Tinubu has shown courage by addressing a longstanding problem with a practical, forward-looking solution,” he added.

Jega noted that Nigeria’s livestock sector, estimated to be worth over $30 billion, remains largely underdeveloped due to weak investment, low productivity, and structural inefficiencies.

“This sector is not merely a subsector of agriculture. It is a fulcrum upon which rural livelihoods, nutrition security and inter-regional trade dynamics revolve,” he said.

He further revealed that Nigeria spends between $1.5 billion and $2 billion annually on milk imports, describing the situation as economically unsustainable.

“Our inability to transform the livestock sector has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic stagnation in agriculture. We are still importing over 60 percent of the milk we consume. Imagine the impact of developing our dairy sector to meet both domestic needs and export goals. This new ministry could be a game-changer, if we get it right,” Jega said.

He praised President Tinubu for creating a dedicated Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and reaffirmed that the livestock reform initiative aims to build a climate-smart, commercially viable, and conflict-resilient sector.

He called on stakeholders, including federal and state governments, private investors, and livestock professionals, to support the reform programme and align with the President’s vision for transformation.

“We must align policy with practice, invest in research, train our veterinarians, support ranching systems, and expand cold-chain logistics. This is how we can transform the sector into a true engine of inclusive growth. All hands must be on deck if we are to unlock the full value chain of the livestock industry and reduce insecurity linked to rural economic deprivation,” he said.

According to Jega, the initiative will prioritise improvements in veterinary services, breed quality, feed production, and innovative financing models to attract local and international investment.

He reiterated that livestock offers one of Nigeria’s best opportunities for economic diversification beyond

“With the right investments, policies, and partnerships, Nigeria can become a regional leader in livestock exports and an example of conflict-to-opportunity transformation,” Jega added.

The 2025 Blueprint Impact Series and Awards was attended by politicians, policymakers, business leaders, technocrats, and development partners from across the country.

Also speaking, Secretary to the Gover. ,nment of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who chaired the event, described the media as Nigeria’s :moral compass’ and a vital pillar of democracy.

“The media is an indispensable ally… a conscience keeper that informs public opinion, holds leaders accountable, and promotes national unity,” Akume said.

He lauded the event’s theme as relevant to the Tinubu administration’s priorities, noting that the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development signals a strategic move to reposition the sector as a driver of industrial growth, job creation, rural development, and foreign trade.

“Nigeria exports millions of livestock annually, yet we have barely scratched the surface of the economic opportunities available — from dairy and meat production to global value chain integration,” he stated.

In his remarks, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, urged journalists to uphold professional standards amid growing misinformation and sensationalism.

“We now see the unchecked spread of unverified information, driven by social media users who lack the necessary literacy and training,” Alake said.

He echoed Jega’s support for transitioning from open grazing to ranching, describing it as a modern solution that can both reduce conflict and enhance economic value.

The Enugu State Electricityv Regulatory Commission (EERC), has issued a new tariff to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, the utility that succeeded Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC), for electricity distribution in the state, reviewing electricity cost for Band A from N209/ kWh (per kiloWatt) to N160 kWh, effective from August 1, 2025.

This was contained in the Commission’s Order No. EERC/2025/003 entitled “Tariff Order for MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited 2025, issued by the Commission at the weekend.

It said its decision was cost reflective, insisting that tariff must reflect power generation subsidy by the federal government for the benefit of electricity consumers.


EERC predicated its action on the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023, which empowers the Commission to regulate the activities of operators in power generation, transmission, and distribution in and exclusively for the state.

This Law signed by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State in September 2023, is pursuant to the 2023 Constitutional Amendment which firmly established the legislative authority of the states on electricity matters within their states. This was followed by the passage of the Electricity Act 2023, that repealed the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, and introduced major changes such as the separation of distribution and supply operations, and empowers states to regulate their own electricity markets.


Throwing more light on the development, EERC Chairman, Chijioke Okonkwo, said that the reduction in tariff became imperative following the Commission’s review of MainPower’s tariff and licence applications as the new subsidiary company (SubCo) that operates in Enugu State.
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[b]“We reviewed their entire costs, using our Tariff Methodology Regulations 2024, and the supporting Distribution Tariff Model to get an average price of N94.

“The price is low because the Federal Government has been subsidising electricity generation cost which charges only N45 out of the actual cost of N112. That was how we came about the average tariff of N94 as cost reflective tariff at our level as a subnational electricity market.


“Breaking this across the various tariff bands means that Band A will be paying N160 while other Bands B, C, D, and E are frozen.

“Band A, at N160 will help MainPower to manage the rate shock, and if the subsidy is removed, the savings will assist them in stabilising the tariff over a defined period of time. Nevertheless, at all times, the tariff will be cost reflective and will not require any state subsidy,” Okonkwo stated.

He noted, however, that the N160 Band A tariff could be difficult to sustain should the Federal Government remove the generation tariff subsidy currently being enjoyed by electricity consumers throughout the country, as tariffs would most likely rise beyond these new rates.

“But until then, it is only right that Ndi Enugu – Band A customers enjoy the reduced tariff effective August 1, 2025,” the Commission’s Chairman added.

Meanwhile, EERC also said it had put in place monitoring and evaluation systems and guidelines to ensure MainPower’s compliance with service commitments so that its customers do not pay more for less power.

“MainPower is obliged to publish daily on its website a rolling seven-day average daily hours of supply on each Bank A feeder no later than 9am of the next day.

“Where MainPower fails to deliver on the committed level of service on Band A feeder for two consecutive days, MainPower shall report this to the Commission within 24 hours.

“Where MainPower fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder shall be automatically downgraded to the recorded level of supply.


“The Commission is committed to working with industry developers, investors, customers and Stakeholders to develop and implement strategies and solutions to provide access and improve electricity services to all the citizens of the state, as this is a win for the establishment,” the Commission concluded.

Nigeria’s total public debt could climb to N160.6tn by the end of 2025, a development that raises fresh concerns about the country’s rising fiscal vulnerability, according to a new outlook by CSL Stockbrokers Limited.

The financial services firm, a subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc, stated in its H2 2025 economic outlook that the Federal Government is likely to borrow an additional N9.3tn or more in the second half of the year to fund its widening fiscal deficit.

This could bring the country’s public debt to at least N160.6tn, representing about 50.2 per cent of the pre-rebased Gross Domestic Product.

The[b] report read, “We expect the government to ramp up its borrowing efforts in the second half of the year to bridge the widening fiscal gap. We believe the government could come to the market to raise around N9.3tn or more in the second half of the year, which could see the total public debt rise to at least N160.6tn (c.50.2 per cent of pre-rebased GDP) by the end of the year.”
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The report warned that the government’s fiscal position remains fragile, with oil revenues underperforming and planned tax reforms facing delays. Nigeria had projected a budget deficit of 3.9 per cent of GDP in the 2025 budget, but CSL forecasts that the actual deficit could widen to 5.8 per cent of GDP, due to shortfalls in both oil and non-oil revenue.

So far this year, Nigeria has struggled to meet its oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day, managing only an average of 1.67mbpd between January and May. Similarly, oil prices have fallen short of the $75 per barrel benchmark, averaging $70.82. These underwhelming figures have left a significant hole in expected government earnings.

In the non-oil segment, efforts to boost revenue through a proposed increase in the Value Added Tax rate from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent have stalled, as lawmakers pushed back on the plan. Moreover, the implementation of new tax legislation has been postponed until 2026, further limiting the government’s ability to raise funds through domestic means.


CSL also noted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is currently remitting only about half of the savings from the removal of fuel subsidies to the Federation Account.

This partial remittance is seen as another constraint on the government’s revenue mobilisation drive, making it more difficult to contain the growing fiscal deficit. To bridge the funding gap, the Federal Government is expected to intensify its borrowing activities.

The report pointed to a recently submitted $25bn medium-term borrowing plan, which includes the possibility of issuing foreign-currency-denominated local debt instruments. There is also the likelihood of a return to the international capital market to refinance the Eurobond maturity scheduled for November.

Despite the anticipated debt increase, Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio may appear lower at the end of 2025—around 50.7 per cent—mainly due to the recent GDP rebasing exercise.

However, analysts at CSL maintain that this cosmetic improvement in the ratio does not mask the underlying concerns over debt sustainability, especially in the absence of meaningful revenue growth.

The PUNCH earlier reported that Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N149.39tn as of March 31, 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of N27.72tn or 22.8 per cent compared to the N121.67tn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

The figure, released by the Debt Management Office, also showed a quarter-on-quarter increase of N4.72tn or 3.3 per cent from N144.67tn as at December 31, 2024. The persistent rise in debt stock is attributed to new borrowings by the Federal Government and the depreciation of the naira, which inflated the local currency value of external loans.


This surge comes against a backdrop of persistent fiscal pressures and continued reliance on both domestic and foreign borrowing to fund public expenditure.

The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has given reasons why he was unavoidably absent during President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to Kano on Friday, saying it was due to a pre-scheduled personal engagement in London.

The personal engagement commenced five days after Dr Ganduje’s resignation from the party’s leadership.

A former Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, Malam Muhammad Garba, made the clarification in a statement, a copy of which was made available to PUNCH Online on Saturday.

He said contrary to media speculations suggesting that Ganduje was either unwell or deliberately excluded from the President’s entourage, the former National Chairman had travelled to London for a personal engagement that had been arranged well in advance.

He explained that the visit by President Tinubu, which was aimed at paying condolences to the family of the late business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, was communicated to Ganduje “but unfortunately, despite frantic efforts to reschedule his flight and itinerary, the logistics made it impossible for him to return in time.”


“Dr Ganduje made every effort to adjust his plans but was unable to do so.

“However, despite being abroad, Dr Ganduje remained in constant communication virtually every hour or two with key party leaders, including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the APC Kano State Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, to ensure smooth coordination for the President’s visit,” Garba further explained.


Garba emphasised that Ganduje’s resignation as APC National Chairman in no way affects his cordial and longstanding relationship with President Tinubu, a bond built over years of mutual respect and political alignment.

“The APC in Kano remains fully united, loyal, and committed to the vision and leadership of President Tinubu,” he said, reaffirming the party’s strong support for the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Soldiers, on Monday, barred traditionalists believed to be members of the Osugbo cult from the Muslim funeral held for the late Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

The presence of cult members at the funeral caused some apprehension, but people around began shouting at them, while soldiers took control of the situation and escorted the traditionalists out of the royal father’s residence.

The remains of the monarch were later interred at his Ijebu Ode private residence around 6 pm on Monday, according to Islamic rites.

Recall that traditionalists in the state had rejected the Oba and Chiefs Law of 2021, which stipulated that traditional rulers could be buried according to their religious disposition.

The traditionalists opposed the provision of the law, arguing that to preserve tradition, royal fathers must be buried according to the established tradition.

The Osugbo cult member came on Monday to see if it was possible to take over the burial of the late monarch, who was reportedly instrumental to the amendment of the law in the state.

However, soldiers barred them from disrupting the funeral.

Oba Adetona, who reigned for 65 years, died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91 years.

He was buried beside his late father in what appeared like a family mausoleum where his mum was also buried.

The interment was preceded by Islamic prayers led by the Chief Imam of Ijebu land, Sheikh Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo.

Dignitaries at the burial were the immediate-past Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Governor Dapo Abiodun, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Oluwadaisi Elemide, former governors, Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, and Senator Adegbenga Kaka.

Also present were the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, Senator Solomon Adeola representing Ogun West senatorial district and his Ogun Central counterpart, Senator Salisu Shuaib, among others.

Speaking at the event, Governor Abiodun said “The reign of Oba Adetona was not only marked by longevity but by his towering wisdom, deep influence, enduring legacy of generosity, selflessness, progress and uncommon peace.”

The governor said Oba Adetona was not only a pride of Ijebu land but a proud son of Nigeria who devoted his 65 years of reign to serving the people.


The governor said the brilliance of the late royal father was recognised so early when he was appointed as a minister and a member of the Western Region executive council.

He said, “Kabiyesi was a bundle of intellect, he was principled, he was forthright, he was a philosopher, a social engineer, a transparent and incorruptible monarch and equitable judgement with a solid commitment to the Nigerian state.”

Abiodun said he would undoubtedly miss the monarch’s wise counsel and support to his government, even when there was stiff opposition to his ambition in the buildup to the 2019 general election.

He said though the royal father might have taken his bow after a very defining rule that brought so much development to Ijebu land and the country at large, his legacy of selfless service and love for the people would continue to serve as a guide to the generation coming behind.

Dangote hailed the late Awujale for his love for the people, irrespective of which part of the country they came from.

He described the late monarch as a man of influence and a leader who prioritised service to the people, describing his contribution to national development as invaluable and worthy of emulation.

The Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Sunny Kuku, speaking to journalists at the event, described Oba Adetona as a truly remarkable monarch who made royalty a source of envy.

Kuku, who will assume the role of regent until the new Awujale is appointed, added “Essentially, our Kabiyesi was a man of integrity, a man who spoke his mind, a man who had so much wisdom.

“He was devoted to education. In terms of poverty reduction, he really used his resources and throne to fight poverty in society and empower the people.

“He was a worthy ambassador of culture. He turned Ojude Oba into a global event and that has really impacted the economic fortune of Ijebu land. He was one man that could be trusted to defend the poor.

“He did not just love the people of Ijebu land, he loved the country and when the nation was in turmoil, he took the right step, he spoke his mind. We are missing him already.”

Similarly, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, hailed the deceased monarch’s rare leadership qualities of pure love and service to humanity.

Adebutu said Nigerians must imbibe Awujale’s qualitative leadership qualities and devotion to engineering socio-economic and sociocultural development which were tailored towards building a better life for the people.

Daniel hailed the forthright leadership of the late Awujale, describing him as a fearless monarch who never shied from speaking truth to power.


Daniel equally stated that one of the best ways to honour the late royal father who reigned for 65 years was to ensure the actualisation of the creation of a new state out of the old Ijebu Province because it was one of the long-cherished dreams of the late monarch.

Daniel said “I think it is common knowledge that in Kabiyesi Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, you have a personality who can speak truth to power at any time and who can be described as fearless, abhors people telling lies and straight forward to a fault.

“Kabiyesi is not anyone who used to be diplomatic. He says it as it is. In the course of that, he garnered some detractors but at the end of the day, people said that he had virtually won all the battles that life threw at him. He was indeed a forthright personality.”

He added that given the strong wish of the royal father to get a new state created out of the old Ijebu Province, all the powers that be must rally to ensure that the dream of a new state became a reality, to immortalise the revered traditional ruler.

“The entire community is good about the creation of the state. The argument has been that of the 24 provinces created in 1924, only Ijebu Province has not been made a state and on that account alone, everyone believes that this error needs to be corrected.

“We know that particularly in a democratic dispensation, it is not that easy to create a state, it involves lots of arguments, lobbying and all that.

“But we feel very strongly that once the course is just, I am hoping that sooner or later, especially now that Kabiyesi is no more, the power that be will seize this opportunity to honour and immortalise him with the state creation,” he said.

Osoba hailed the legendary reign of Oba Adetona, describing him as a monarch with so much wisdom who did his very best to move forward not only in Ijebu land but the whole country.

Osoba said the late Oba Adetona would be sorely missed for his forthright and sincere leadership.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday night paid tribute to the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, who died in London

Obasanjo described him as a patriot, who played his roles as a soldier, administrator and statesman.

Obasanjo, who spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said Buhari died when Nigeria needs experience of past leaders to pull the country out of its current crisis.

He said “It is with a heavy heart that I received this afternoon the passing to glory of a colleague, a comrade, co-patriot, General Muhammadu Buhari, who, as a soldier he played his role as soldier; as an administrator, he played his role as an administrator; as a statesman, he played his role as a statesman.


“His demise comes at a time like this that we need the totality of the experience and what I may call statesmanship of all of those who have had opportunity to run the affairs of this country in the past to get us out of the situation we are in.

“He will be sorely missed, and may his soul respect in perfect peace,” Obasanjo said.

Joe Igbokwe, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC has described opposition figures harboring plans to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 as appointment bandits.


Igbokwe alleged in a post on his Facebook page that some politicians thrown out of the previous administration over corruption were the ones plotting Tinubu’s removal.

He wrote, “All the bad politicians, all those PMB sent packing during his tenure for corruption, all those he sent away for none performance and all the appointment bandits are the ones who want to defeat PBAT in 2027 abi? Make we they play”.


DAILY POST reports that at least four former ministers, who served during Mohammadu Buhari’s tenure are key members of the coalition plotting Tinubu’s removal in 2027.

Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, Abubakar Malami, former Minister of Justice, Hadi Sirika, former Minister of Aviation, Rauf Aregbesola, former Minister of Interior are among the aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress working against Tinubu’s re-election.

ABUJA — The National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has cautioned critics of the Bola Tinubu administration against underestimating the President’s leadership and commitment to transforming Nigeria, insisting that such critics belong to the past era with outdated ideas and failed records. “We have quality leadership today in our country. Mr. President is a digital President.

People who underestimate him are doing so at their own peril,” Ribadu warned.

Ribadu spoke on a day the African Democratic Congress, ADC, accused the Presidency of fabricating claims of an alleged plot to overthrow President Tinubu’s administration, alleging that it was a deliberate strategy to justify the repression of opposition leaders.

This is as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, yesterday, claimed that some governors and senior figures within the All Progressives Congress, APC, are quietly backing the opposition coalition.

Also, the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Ireti Kingibe said though she remains a member of the Labour Party, she had aligned with the opposition coalition on the platform of African Democratic Congress, ADC.

However, the lawmaker representing Benue South Senatorial District, Senator Abba Moro, said he remains a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and has no intention of joining any coalition.

Similarly, leaders of the PDP in Ondo State yesterday disowned the former governorship candidates and members of the party who defected to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Also as a move to assert itself as a strong opposition, the PDP has dismissed claims of its declining relevance, saying it is consolidating internally and positioning itself for a strong comeback in the 2027 general elections.

Nigeria safer, better, says Ribadu

Speaking at the National Cybersecurity Conference 2025 held in Abuja yesterday, Ribadu declared that Nigeria is now safer, more stable, and increasingly attractive for investment, due to the reforms and strategic policies introduced under President Tinubu.

Ribadu dismissed ongoing criticisms from certain quarters as the rantings of “expired” political figures who felt entitled to perpetual relevance, warning that Nigerians are now more discerning and will not be swayed by propaganda.

“Things are changing. We are stabilising the country. Forget what some people are saying — Nigeria is safer and better every single day,” Ribadu stated.

He highlighted major improvements in the security situation across previously volatile regions, including the Niger Delta and the South-East, noting that a combination of proactive measures and collaborative efforts with security agencies and technology partners is yielding tangible results.

“Niger Delta is safer than ever before. The South-East is returning to normalcy. Those fueling unrest from abroad will be tracked and prosecuted. We will not allow external forces to destabilize our progress,” he said.

The NSA lauded President Tinubu’s capacity and leadership, describing him as a “digital, enlightened and visionary leader” whose administration is charting a clear path for economic recovery and national rebirth.

“We have quality leadership today in our country. Mr. President is a digital President. He is educated and deeply informed. People who underestimate him are doing so at their own peril,” Ribadu warned.

He took a swipe at opposition figures and media commentators who, he said, remain fixated on past politics and have contributed little to nation-building.

“These are people who looted and plundered this country. Now they are shouting on television. They are outdated. Nigeria has moved on — and Nigerians are wiser,” Ribadu remarked.

He called on telecommunication companies, tech innovators, and international investors to embrace the Nigerian market, saying the country is now positioned as Africa’s digital and economic hub.

Ribadu said: “We are working with major telecom operators. Our cybersecurity strategy is strong. Nigeria is safe and open for business. Investors should know that Nigeria is the future of Africa.’’

The NSA emphasized the need for unity and trust in the current leadership, urging citizens to focus on the nation’s collective progress, rather than being distracted by “expired” voices of the past.

Presidency crying wolf over overthrow plot — ADC
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress , ADC, yesterday accused the Presidency of fabricating claims of an alleged plot to overthrow President Tinubu’s administration, describing it as a deliberate strategy to justify the repression of opposition leaders.

The party described a recent tweet by Bayo Onanuga, an aide to the President, as a ‘reckless and malicious’ ploy designed to lay the groundwork for a systematic crackdown on dissent.

In a statement yesterday, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC and spokesperson for the Opposition Coalition, warned that such unsubstantiated claims signalled a broader campaign of intimidation and repression by the Tinubu administration.

The statement came just one week after the formal unveiling of the national opposition coalition in Abuja.

Onanuga’s tweet, which sparked the controversy, read: “Just two years after Tinubu began implementing the reforms, the haters of Nigeria’s progress are banding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused, most transformative in our history.”

Condemning the tweet, ADC stated: “Bayo Onanuga’s tweet is a textbook example of a political dog whistle.

‘’The APC-led federal government appears to be constructing a false narrative that is designed to justify potential clampdown on dissent, and to criminalise legitimate opposition activity under the guise of national security.”

The party emphasised its commitment to democratic processes, rejecting any notion of truncating democracy.

“We are not soldiers, we are politicians. We don’t have bullets; we only have the ballots. When the time comes, we will only present our solutions and an alternative vision of the future to the Nigerian people and leave them to make their choice,” the ADC declared.

The party expressed bewilderment at the ruling party’s alleged intolerance of opposition, noting that the APC itself emerged as the first opposition party to take power in Nigeria.

“We are left to wonder why the APC government is so jittery that it is so eager to betray its own heritage. APC is the first opposition party to come to power in Nigeria. It is, therefore, a great wonder that the same party now appears to find it strange that there is an opposition at all,” Abdullahi stated.

The party called on President Tinubu to caution his aides against making baseless allegations that could heighten political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.

“This manner of crying wolf where there is none does not make the president look good and only betrays a sense of panic,” the ADC warned.

It also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and reject what it described as underhand tactics to de-legitimise the opposition and silence alternative voices, saying “the health of our democracy depends on a free, open and competitive political environment.’’

ADC called on the international community, democratic governments, international observers, and human rights organisations to closely monitor Nigeria’s political environment.

“We call on them to hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any actions that undermine democratic freedoms or violate the political rights of Nigerian citizens,” the party noted.

The ADC reiterated its commitment to building a better Nigeria through peaceful and democratic means, emphasising its dedication to ‘’peace, participation, and the power of the people.’’

Govs, APC leaders quietly supporting coalition — ex-SGF

Speaking during an interview on Beyond the Headlines aired on TVC News Tuesday, Lawal said although these individuals had not publicly declared their support, they are aligned with the coalition’s goal of unseating the current administration.

The former SGF said: “Yes, there are (APC members working with the coalition], and they will speak for themselves. Some might not be brave or bold enough to do it the way I have, but there are very many — some tell me, including some governors.”

Lawal, who officially resigned from the ruling APC on June 29, stated that he had long worked against the party even as a member, insisting that the party had never been united and had a culture of intimidation and suppression of dissenting voices.

“We’re in a democracy; even if you’re in a political party, you can choose to support a better candidate in another political party. I’m learning a template from APC: this template of remaining in one party and working for another.

This is a script APC developed, which Wike has enhanced and grown beyond imagination. Wike is our leader in this type of politics.

“The APC has never been united; it’s been a party that has been intimidated and bullied into silence. No internal cohesion; you cannot even advise. Even advice is taken as anti-party. So, many people got frustrated that you cannot talk truth to power in APC,’’ the former SGF said.

He argued further that President Tinubu’s leadership had disappointed some of his former allies, prompting them to seek alternatives.

“A lot of us are people whose primary aim is to replace this government with a better government that serves Nigerians better. If you want to serve this country better, you need to do so from the angle of politics, policies, governance, and leadership.

“You need to replace the non-performing party. So, there’s nothing wrong if people who were hitherto in APC, allies of Tinubu, have been disappointed in the way he has chosen to run his government or allow others to run his government. There’s nothing wrong if we decide to come together to make a change,” he added.

While he mocked the recent trend of defections into the APC, the former SGF said many governors were only joining to secure their political future, not out of popular support.

He said: “It’s true the governors are decamping. Why are they decamping to the APC? Because they know the president has given himself an automatic ticket, there will be no primaries, and no other candidate will be allowed to raise his head.

Buhari4dullard:
How on earth do they expect a druglor to fix Nigeria?

The Nigerian presidency has fired back at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for what it described as a “very fatalistic” and destabilising assessment of the Bola Tinubu-led administration’s economic reforms.

The Tinubu government on Tuesday claimed that it is unrealistic to expect Nigeria’s deep-rooted problems to be solved in two years.

In a response delivered on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, accused the IMF of relentless and unfair criticism aimed at undermining Nigeria’s reform efforts.

“This administration under President Tinubu has done some of the deepest reforms that we have seen in a while. We only just got the tax bills signed into law—bills that offer relief to low-income earners and double the tax threshold for small businesses,” Fasua said.

“We haven’t even allowed those measures to settle, yet we’re hearing all sorts of very fatalistic statements from different places, including, unfortunately, the IMF,” he added.

The IMF recently released an article titled “How Nigeria Can Unleash Its Economic Potential,” where it raised the alarm over Nigeria’s skyrocketing inflation and the perceived sluggish impact of the government’s economic reforms.

But Fasua dismissed the report as part of a pattern of “heckling” from the Bretton Woods institution.

He claimed the IMF was bombarding Nigeria with near-weekly statements that were counterproductive and confusing.

“Sometimes one wants to think they go into overdrive, almost every week or every two to three days, there’s a statement on Nigeria. At the end of the day, it leaves everyone in a state of confusion,” he said.

The economic adviser revealed that Nigeria had already repaid $3 billion in loans to the IMF, a COVID-19 facility, while many other countries have not. Yet, according to him, the Fund continues to mount pressure without acknowledging the government’s progress.

“We’re not asking for a pat on the back; we’re just saying, you know what, give us a breather. Let us be able to implement the policies we’ve started. They acknowledge that the reforms are good, yet they keep demanding more, and it’s almost like being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea,” Fasua stated.

He warned that the IMF’s harsh tone could backfire by turning the Nigerian public against the government, given the already difficult economic realities being felt nationwide.

“Give us a break; let us be able to know where we are going before coming at us at every angle and generally throwing us off whack. It’s like a house that is completely dilapidated,” he said.

“And we’re being asked to provide full comfort in two years after removing the roof and working on the foundation. That’s not realistic.”