Politics
You’re reckless for wishing Nigeria’s break up, Tinubu blasts Obaseki
Tinubu was reacting to comments by Obaseki that Nigeria would break up should the APC win the next presidential election.
Obaseki had also reportedly described the APC as a failure, alleging that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration now prints money and gives to states as their monthly share from the Federation Account.
“While inaugurating the Edo State chapter of the already-destined-to-fail Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Council yesterday in Benin, the underperforming, ever loquacious Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki betrayed his oath of office by wishing for the break up of our country because of his brand of crass partisanship”, Tinubu stated.
Tinubu in the statement by the Director, Media and Publicity of his presidential campaign council, Mr Bayo Onanuga noted that Obaseki told “his band of jesters that Nigeria will break up if our party, the All Progressives Congress wins the 2023 presidential election”.
He said he and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima have demonstrated their combined capacities and competencies as Governors of Lagos and Borno States where they both provided purposeful and transformational leadership.
Speaking about Obaseki, Tinubu said; “For a man who swore an oath of allegiance to the sovereignty and unity of Nigeria to be a purveyor of ill-will towards the same country because of partisan politics smirks of total irresponsibility and recklessness unbecoming of a governor who has a constitutionally sanctioned duty to preserve the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.
“It is worth stating that we are not in any way surprised about Obaseki’s outburst about Nigeria’s breaking. He is, by nature, a divisive, obnoxious and toxic human being that lacks introspection and contemplation expected of a person occupying the office of a governor. He is obviously a man bereft of any iota of emotional intelligence and perhaps a misfit for the role he currently occupies.
“At his ill-fated event in Benin yesterday, Obaseki also repeated the earlier false claim he made in April 2021 on Nigeria’s debt and his accusation that CBN was printing money to share directly to state governments, as if state finance commissioners hauled the billions of naira that is due to them by cash from Abuja every month. Only a disconnected and diseased mind could imagine this scenario that Obaseki concocted. The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele debunked his lies in a manner that portrayed him as a nitwit, cheap liar and busybody who was just playing to the gallery. What a pity for a man who claimed to have financial background”.
Tinubu stated that the CBN has never printed money to pay Federal Allocations to states as claimed by Obaseki.
“This much was publicly stated by the Governor of CBN and Minister of Finance. In any case, there is nothing strange or unusual in a sovereign nation printing money when it has to be done because it is one of the core mandates of Central Banks all over the world as lender of last resort”, he said.
Tinubu explained that nations embark on such moves when they are in difficult fiscal situation, as the whole world has been confronted with since 2019 with COVID-19 pandemic that put the global economy on tailspin.
He said sovereign nations had to do what they needed to do in response to an existential crisis as COVID-19 ravaged economies, shut down factories and companies.
Tinubu said Obaseki while playing his politics without honour and integrity, didn’t remember to tell his crowd that Edo State benefited and took advantage of all the CBN/FGN windows and interventions via loans, restructuring of loans.
According to him, the policy has helped to save Edo and the other 35 states from economic cataclysm “because of their terrible fiscal positions, which made many of them unable to pay salaries and pensions for months”.
“This same Obaseki, along with other governors under the banner of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, has been putting pressure on CBN and Minister of Finance for more moratorium on their due obligations to CBN.
“We advise Obaseki to stop his scaremongering and concentrate on how to save his faltering, failing, disconnected and unpopular Government in Edo State. He should stop abusing his office and stooping so low into the dirty gutter of bitter politicking and crisis-baiting. After more than 5 years in office, Obaseki does not have any landmark achievement in Edo State other than paying those on whose shoulder he rose to political relevance in Nigeria with evil. One of his mentors, the energetic Governor Nyesom Wike has expressed the deepest regrets in ever helping Obaseki to retain power in Edo State.
“It is quite amusing when Obaseki said PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar will rescue and rebuild Nigeria. We want to ask them how? How can the same people that destroyed the country and created the mess which the APC-led Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is working day and night to clean up, rescue Nigeria? It is the height of absurdity that Obaseki would recommend to reasonable Nigerians that his party could add new value to Nigeria after it superintended over the looting of over $5b in arms procurement contracts when Boko Haram ravaged the country. How can a party that has failed to build its National Secretariat in 16 years despite raising over N26billion build anything, including our nation?. And of course, nothing is expected from the same people who wasted $16billion to procure darkness for Nigerians in 16 years.
“Obaseki should know by now that Nigerians do not want to have anything to do with his party and Atiku. And the signs are there for all to see: Obaseki’s PDP cannot even rescue itself from internal implosion”, Tinubu declared.
Politics
2027: Your votes do not count, the Courts Will Endorse It Unless We Do Something-Dele Farotimi warns
Human rights lawyer and political activist Dele Farotimi has called for a revolution to save Nigeria, urging citizens to unite behind a common national vision and push for fundamental changes to the country’s political and governance systems.
Farotimi made the remarks while expressing concerns about Nigeria’s democracy, the credibility of its electoral process and the role of the judiciary in resolving electoral disputes.
According to the activist, Nigerians risk losing confidence in democracy if their votes are not adequately protected and electoral outcomes are not respected. He warned that public passivity could create conditions for authoritarian rule.
“Your votes do not count and the judiciary will endorse it unless we decide to do something about it, because we are sleeping whilst a dictatorship is being installed in our country, demon-cratically,” he said.
Farotimi argued that Nigeria needs to be restructured and reimagined to address its persistent political challenges. He maintained that meaningful change would require citizens to come together around a clearly defined vision for the country’s future rather than placing their hopes solely in individual politicians.
He said a critical mass of Nigerians who are dissatisfied with the existing system must be mobilised to support an alternative approach to governance.
“The one thing I have never been shy about is to tell you what it will take to save Nigeria. It will take a revolution to save Nigeria,” Farotimi declared.
The activist suggested that such a revolution could be achieved through the ballot box, although he expressed doubts about whether the current political process, on its own, could deliver the transformation Nigeria needs.
He stressed that a credible national vision, backed by purposeful leadership, could encourage greater citizen participation and strengthen public resolve to defend electoral choices.
Farotimi’s remarks highlight broader concerns about electoral integrity, judicial accountability and the need for structural reforms in Nigeria. His call for a democratic revolution centres on collective action, political restructuring and the emergence of a shared vision capable of mobilising citizens towards meaningful change.
As the country approaches another general election cycle, debates over electoral credibility, institutional trust and the future of Nigeria’s democracy are likely to remain central to the national conversation.
By PETRUS OBI.
Veteran journalist and ARISE News presenter, Dr Reuben Abati, appeared uncertain about the name of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, during a live television interview with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks.
While questioning Odii on the political situation in Ebonyi ahead of the 2027 general elections, Abati, in a video which has gone viral on social media remarked:
“…Are you aware that Governor Nwifuru, I think that’s the name of Ebonyi Governor…”
Popular Ebonyi Guber Candidate ANYICHUKS
The remark, which appeared to be an attempt to confirm the governor’s name, has raised questions about Nwifuru’s visibility beyond Ebonyi State, particularly amid growing criticism of his administration over allegations of poor performance.
During the interview, Odii accused Governor Nwifuru of allegedly intimidating opposition parties in the state, claiming that incidents involving attacks on opposition supporters had been reported to security agencies.
He also criticised an alleged threat by the governor to sack local government chairmen who allow opposition parties to campaign in their council areas, describing such a move as unconstitutional and an affront to democratic principles.
Odii urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the governor has a constitutional responsibility to protect all residents, irrespective of their political affiliations.
Speaking on the PDP’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, the governorship candidate explained that the arrangement formed part of a broader political understanding involving factions of the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He dismissed suggestions that supporting Tinubu could undermine his governorship ambition, insisting that the presidential and governorship elections were separate political contests.
On his economic agenda, Odii pledged to attract ₦2 trillion in investments to Ebonyi within his first six months in office if elected governor.
He identified solid minerals, manufacturing, real estate, healthcare and hospitality as key sectors through which his administration would stimulate economic growth, attract investment and generate employment opportunities.
The PDP candidate maintained that his business experience, grassroots connections and record of community interventions had adequately prepared him to attract investors, create jobs and improve the living standards of Ebonyi residents.
President Bola Tinubu has said he will not attend every campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general election, explaining that he must balance his re-election campaign with the demands of governing Nigeria.
Tinubu made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, where he urged members to take the party’s message to Nigerians across the states, local government areas and wards.
The President said he agreed with concerns that the demands of campaigning should not distract him from his responsibilities as head of state, stressing that the country needed his attention at a critical time.
“You’ve warned me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance, I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now,” he said.
Tinubu explained that his decision to limit his attendance at campaign events was also influenced by the need to meet the country’s financial obligations.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” the President stated.
He also highlighted the importance of attracting investors who would make long-term commitments to Nigeria, noting that sustained investment was essential to building a better future for the country’s children.
“We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” he said.
Despite his plan to reduce his presence at campaign rallies, Tinubu assured Nigerians that he would still engage directly with voters during the campaign period.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas,” he added.
The President described the inauguration of the campaign council as more than a routine political event, saying it represented a renewed commitment to Nigerians and the responsibility entrusted to the APC as the ruling party.
“We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council. We have gathered to renew a covenant. A covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party,” Tinubu said.
He charged members of the council to communicate the administration’s vision, achievements and policy agenda to Nigerians nationwide, expressing confidence in their ability to mobilise support for the party at every level.
“This council will carry our vision, our records and our agenda to every Nigerian, and it will carry them to victory every ward of this country,” he said.
Tinubu also praised APC members for successfully completing the party’s congresses, recalling predictions that the exercise could trigger an internal crisis.
According to the President, the party overcame the anticipated challenges and completed the process with members participating from the ward level to the national leadership.
“They said there will be implosion. We passed through it. We did not fail. You didn’t let us down. We got here together,” he stated.
Tinubu’s remarks signal an approach to the 2027 election campaign in which he intends to maintain focus on governance and economic management while relying on the APC Presidential Campaign Council to coordinate nationwide mobilisation and promote the party’s message ahead of the polls.
Politics
Tinubu Inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council, Vows to Renew Covenant With Nigerians in 2027
ABUJA— President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the 2027 general election, declaring that the party is united and prepared to seek a renewed mandate from Nigerians.
Tinubu inaugurated the council on Wednesday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, charging members and party leaders to demonstrate unity, discipline and commitment while sustaining his administration’s governance priorities.
Addressing the gathering, the President expressed gratitude to party members for their support during the previous election but stressed that their political assignment would only be complete when they secured victory in the next polls.
“I thank all of you for the last election, but no one gets credit for an incomplete assignment until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your electoral wards, until you deliver the votes,” he said.
Tinubu acknowledged advice from Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, who urged him to remain focused on governance despite the demands of the election campaign.
The President said he would continue to engage directly with Nigerians while the campaign council coordinated mobilisation across states and local government areas.
He also highlighted the need to meet the country’s financial obligations and attract foreign investment, saying international creditors and investors remained important to Nigeria’s economic future.
“We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in and invest for the future of our children,” Tinubu said.
Shettima Defends Tinubu, Criticises Opposition Figures
Vice President Kashim Shettima praised Tinubu’s commitment to democracy, citing his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition in 2007 under the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.
Shettima also defended the dignity of the presidency in response to criticism of Tinubu, insisting that the office must be respected regardless of political differences.
“You can call him Bola, if you like, call him Adekunle, but he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The Vice President also criticised Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Movement, accusing him of using misleading statistics and making comparisons between Nigeria and other countries without sufficient context.
APC Promises Nationwide Mobilisation
APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said the inauguration reflected the party’s determination to build a better Nigeria and secure Tinubu’s re-election.
Yilwatda urged campaign council members to communicate the administration’s policies and achievements clearly, while demonstrating how its reforms could translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
He pledged that the party would intensify grassroots mobilisation across electoral wards, local government areas and states to ensure a strong voter turnout in 2027.
The APC chairman also called for a peaceful election focused on ideas, records and policies, rather than hostility.
Uzodimma Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
Uzodimma, who serves as secretary of the campaign council, expressed confidence that the administration’s policies would strengthen the campaign’s message.
He praised Tinubu for removing the petrol subsidy and reforming the foreign exchange system, arguing that previous administrations had avoided tackling the challenges because of their potential political consequences.
According to Uzodimma, the reforms had imposed hardships on Nigerians but were necessary to address longstanding economic weaknesses.
He also cited Nigeria’s economic growth, which he put at 4.43 per cent, compared with 4.23 per cent a year earlier, and praised the administration’s tax reforms.
Uzodimma maintained that the campaign would focus on issues and the government’s record rather than political rhetoric.
Adeleke, Soludo and Wike Back Tinubu’s Re-election
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike were among those who delivered goodwill messages in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Adeleke, who belongs to the Accord Party, drew cheers from attendees with his trademark dance moves during the event.
Wike, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he supported Tinubu because of what he described as the President’s bold leadership and willingness to address problems previous administrations had left unresolved.
He challenged governors to work towards delivering their states for Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The event also featured messages from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs Ibrahim Kabiru Masari and elder statesman Tanko Yakassai, who called for support for Tinubu’s second term.
Tinubu, meanwhile, urged the campaign council to conduct its activities responsibly, engage Nigerians constructively and promote the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda while ensuring that governance remains a priority.
The inauguration formally sets the APC’s campaign machinery in motion as the party prepares to seek another presidential mandate in 2027.
…Says Party’s Achievements at All Levels Make Opposition Unnecessary
A political support group, Kwashy and Friends for Peter Mbah, has pledged to mobilise massive grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Peter Mbah and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group said the achievements of the APC-led administrations at the federal, state and local government levels provided compelling reasons for Nigerians to support the party, insisting that good governance should be encouraged rather than opposed.
Speaking during the group’s bi-monthly meeting held on Sunday at Rockbase Hotels, Enugu, its Coordinator, Hon. Cletus Chigozie Akalusi, popularly known as Kwashy, said the platform, established in 2023, had consistently mobilised support for candidates seeking various political offices.
Akalusi explained that the meeting was convened to strengthen the group’s grassroots structures and develop strategies for communicating the achievements of the APC to voters across the state.
He urged members to sustain the top-to-bottom voting approach adopted during previous elections to guarantee victory for all APC candidates in 2027.
“Our bi-monthly meetings are avenues for us to strategise and re-strategise on how to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and all candidates of our party are massively voted for.
“Our support group is not filled with urban guerrillas. We are all grassroots soldiers, and we undoubtedly have the capacity to ensure a landslide victory for our party.
“Considering the achievements our party is recording at the federal, state and local government levels, I have never lost sleep over our victory in the 2027 general elections,” he declared.
Also speaking, the member representing Oji River/Awgu/Aninri Federal Constituency, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, who was accompanied by the member representing Oji River Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Osita Ezeh, expressed satisfaction with what he described as the growing acceptance of the APC across the state.
Onwuegbu charged members to intensify mobilisation at polling-unit and ward levels, stressing that the party’s developmental strides should translate into overwhelming electoral support.
“What enthrals me most is that you have agreed to vote for APC candidates from top to bottom. Just like our governor always says, we should take the message from polling unit to polling unit and ensure that no vote is lost.
“There is no ward you will go to in Enugu today without seeing a project worth about N2 billion ongoing. It has never happened in the history of this state. Our core mandate is to work towards victory because it is not over until it is over,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Hon. Greg Anyaegbudike, commended the group for its contributions to the party’s success in the last chairmanship and councillorship elections.
He maintained that the performance of President Tinubu, Governor Mbah and other APC leaders had provided sufficient justification for continued public support.
“The manner in which you supported us in the last elections is mind-blowing. If you look around, you will see reasons to support our party.
“There is no ward in Enugu State today without a Smart School, Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centre and other ongoing infrastructure.
“It is on this note that we should not only preach the gospel but also ensure that we protect the interest of our party wherever we find ourselves,” he stated.
The meeting reaffirmed the group’s commitment to expanding its grassroots mobilisation network and working towards securing victory for APC candidates at all levels in the 2027 general elections.
Make the headline more news-focused
Attribute all political performance claims
Tighten the report for publication
-
Politics2 days agoUNPOPULAR? Abati Seeks Confirmation of Ebonyi Gov’s Name During Interview With Anyichuks
-
News4 days agoMbah Calls for Impartial Probe into Violence at Political Gathering in Enugu
-
Politics3 days agoEbonyi Students Endorse ANYICHUKS, Declare ‘We Won’t Support a Failure’
-
News2 days ago2027: APC, APGA Rift Deepens Over Support for Tinubu’s Re-election
-
Crime4 days agoEnugu Police Investigate Viral Video of Alleged Torture of 60-Year-Old Woman in Nkanu East
-
Politics3 days ago2027: Kwashy and Friends For Peter Mbah Vows Landslide Victory for All APC Candidates
-
Politics3 days agoTinubu Inaugurates APC Presidential Campaign Council, Vows to Renew Covenant With Nigerians in 2027
-
News5 days ago
SEDC Prioritises Roads, Rural Electrification, Water and Education in South-East