The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • NCDMB, Jake Riley empower 250 youths with technical, digital skills

    NCDMB, Jake Riley empower 250 youths with technical, digital skills

    Nigerian youths have been urged to embrace skills acquisition as a viable pathway to self-reliance and national development.

     The Director, Capacity Building, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Abayomi Bamidele, an engineer, made this known at the graduation ceremony of over 250 industry-ready youths who recently completed month-long intensive training programme to equip them with full range of skills designed to enable them become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the industrial development of the country, in Lagos, yesterday.

     The training programme was sponsored by the NCDMB in partnership with Jake Riley Academy as part of a joint commitment by the partners to youth empowerment and sustainable skills development.

     Bamidele, who was represented by the Supervisor, Marine Vessel Categorisation and Technical Assistant to the Director, John Barigha, urged the graduands to take full advantage of the opportunity, stressing that their success would largely depend on how effectively they apply the skills acquired. He urged beneficiaries to utilise the starter packs given to them effectively, cautioning against selling the equipment provided.

     “We are not giving you fish; we are teaching you how to fish. What we have given you today is the net. It is now left for you to make meaningful use of it,” Barigha said, stressing that the Board invested heavily to ensure the programme delivered lasting impact.

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     In her keynote, the Chief Executive Officer, Jake Riley Limited, Mrs Funmi Ogbue, described the graduation as a defining moment for the young Nigerians, describing it as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, noting that NCDMB continues to demonstrate that human capital development is central to national growth.

     According to her, the programme reflected NCDMB’s expanding role in local content development, with youth empowerment central to economic transformation.

      “Today celebrates not just achievement, but a national vision positioning young people as drivers of Nigeria’s economic future,” Ogbue said.

     She further noted that the initiative as a strategic human capital investment aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s inclusive growth agenda as the training prioritised market-ready skills capable of generating immediate income across growth sectors.

  • Contractors laud Finance Minister over plans to clear debts by March

    Contractors laud Finance Minister over plans to clear debts by March

    Agroup representing local contractors across Nigeria has expressed new hope following a successful meeting with the Federal Government regarding years of unpaid debts.

    The delegation met with the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, to discuss the financial struggles they face due to these outstanding payments.

    The leader of the group, Mr. Innocent Asuelimehn, described the discussions as a major turning point. He praised the Minister for taking action just 24 hours after their first meeting, a move he says has brought much-needed relief to his members.

    “The engagement was fruitful and reassuring. The Minister’s response was timely and encouraging. Although there is still work to be done, particularly regarding contractors whose payments are yet to be batched, her actions have restored hope among members of the community” he said.

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    During the meeting, Mr. Asuelimehn also took a moment to apologize for a previous confrontation between the contractors and the Minister. He explained that the incident was not planned but was a result of the extreme pressure and hardship contractors have endured while waiting for their money.

    “It gave us hope that she is capable and dependable, and that her word can be trusted to get the job done. The prolonged debt situation has taken a heavy toll on contractors and their families.”

    Another member of the group, Mr. Akin Amu, shared more details about the government’s specific promises.

  • Fed Govt moves to settle Oil Well ownership disputes

    Fed Govt moves to settle Oil Well ownership disputes

    The Federal Government has begun a major process to settle long-standing questions over which states own newly producing and disputed oil and gas wells.

    This is a step that will determine how the constitutionally backed 13 per cent derivation funds are shared among oil-producing states.

     Speaking at the Coordinate Verification Exercise and plotting of crude oil and gas fields/wells in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu said the exercise covers all oil-producing areas, including Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, Delta and offshore locations.

     He explained that the law requires that states where minerals are produced must receive 13 percent of the revenue, especially from crude oil and gas. Because of this, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, asked RMAFC to help verify the exact locations of new and disputed oil wells.

     Shehu said the Commission responded by setting up an Interagency Technical Committee made up of NUPRC, the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, the National Boundary Commission and RMAFC itself.

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     “The committee was formed in July, and after months of preparation, the team moved into the field around September and October to begin taking physical coordinates of oil and gas wells.

     “I was there myself at the opening ceremony, and we went actually to the field to take those coordinates,” the Chairman said.

     He noted that the work was done alongside the Surveyors-General of all the oil-producing states so that every state could witness the process. According to him, the teams went to difficult places, including the open sea, creeks and deep-water areas, to make sure no location was left out.

     The fieldwork, he said, ended last week, and the next stage is to begin plotting the coordinates using the data collected. This stage, which is expected to take about five days, will help clearly show where each oil well is located and which state is entitled to receive the derivation funds linked to it.

     “There have been traditional disputes between states in terms of who owns what. Whenever new oil fields start producing, they want to know which state actually owns that or which state should get that 13 per cent. We intend to do this fairly, justly and equitably, without any bias,” he said.

     The RMAFC Chairman said the Commission is using advanced equipment, including drones, to capture coordinates in areas that are hard or unsafe to reach physically.

  • ‘Nigeria has not recovered from military rule’

    ‘Nigeria has not recovered from military rule’

    By Ayo Opadokun

    Could there have been Nigeria without the discovery of the gun? Could there have been Military insurrections without the gun? Could there have been an imposition of Military dictatorship that arrested Nigerians’ manifest hopes and aspirations as well as stunted its growth and development without the gun?

    Was the “Nigerian Army” a creation of Nigeria or that of the Imperialist Great Britain to suppress, intimidate, hound, repress and humiliate Nigerian ethnic groups in order to force the over 350 different groups into co-habitation so as to achieve the so-called amalgamated Nigeria?

    Who were the Principal Promoters of the First and Revenge coups? Who were the Principal Advisers of Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi in 1966 after supplanting the democratically-elected government? Could there have been the Nigerian Civil War without the ego contest between Col. Ojukwu and Major General Gowon? What are the consequences of the Civil War on the Igbo ethnic group and Nigeria generally?

    Could there have been a reprisal Military insurrection on July 29,1966 without the gun Furthermore, When Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, bluntly declared publicly that the execution of the coup in the South was tribalistic and his view was corroborated by Captain Emmanuel Nwobosi,Leader of operations in the Western Region that the operation in Lagos were compromised by nepotism,why did Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi dither for about six months without convening the appropriate Military bodies to decide the fates of the coup plotters?

    Why did General Aguiyi-Ironsi insist on the promulgation of  Decree 34 of 24th May 1966 despite the critical advice and suggestions to him by Lt.Col.Usman Katsina and others ?

    The above posers have not been adequately responded to by various writers even though the general public is repeatedly asking questions as to:

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    When and how did Nigeria start getting it wrong?

    What are the impacts of the Military’s dictatorship on the country’s socio-economic, political, social services, infrastructure and public institutions, like the police and the Nigerian Army itself?

    Why has Nigeria lost her cherished national ethos, values, standards, rules of engagement? And  Why has Nigeria become a country of opposites whereby while a number of those countries with which we were relatively at par at our political Independence in 1960 have become “developed” countries and  we remain an “under-developing” country in spite of our quantitative and qualitative natural and human resources advantages?

    What are the levers of alternative powers who collaborated or acquiesced to sustain Military dictatorship in Nigeria for so long and the consequences of their actions?

    The Gun Hegemony tackles all these posers. As a historical, educative and informative book, it attempts to provide answers and responses to the above posers. The book also challenges other interested observers to write on the consequences of Military dictatorship on our body politics and its enduring negative legacies. Nigerians should be able to appreciate why Nigeria remains a country rather than developing into a nation after 65 post-independence years.

    Where would Nigeria be today if the military did not stage the insurrection of January 15,1966?

    •Opadokun is the Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO)

  • Yusuf, Kano politics and national integration

    Yusuf, Kano politics and national integration

    By Gloria Fraser

    Kano State has long occupied a unique place in Nigeria’s political imagination. As the most electorally significant state in the North-West and one of the country’s most politically engaged societies, Kano’s voting choices often carry implications far beyond its borders.

    This is why reports suggesting that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may be moving toward alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have generated strong reactions — including claims that such a decision would be a “big mistake” because Kano, historically, is said to be “predominantly opposition.”

    Yet a closer reading of Kano’s political history suggests something more complex, and far more pragmatic: Kano is not ideologically committed to opposition. Kano is strategically committed to relevance, bargaining power, and local political ownership.

    The idea that Kano must always resist the party at the centre may be rhetorically appealing. But it is not supported by the full record of Nigerian electoral history.

    Beyond the Opposition Label.

    Critics often point to Kano’s support for NEPU in the First Republic, and the PRP in the Second Republic, as evidence that the state has always leaned opposition. There is no doubt that Kano did, at key moments, vote differently from the dominant northern establishment of those eras.

    But NEPU and PRP were not simply “opposition parties” in today’s sense. They were deeply indigenous movements rooted in Kano’s urban populism, anti-feudal sentiment, and local class politics.

    In other words, Kano’s choices were less a rejection of the centre, and more an assertion of identity — a desire to back platforms that expressed Kano’s internal political temperament and social aspirations.

    Kano was not voting against national power as a doctrine. Kano was voting for itself.

    A State That Has Backed the Centre When It Suits.

    Perhaps the most damaging flaw in the “permanent opposition” argument is that Kano has, in modern democratic history, overwhelmingly supported the ruling party at the centre when conditions aligned.

    In 2015 and even more decisively in 2019, Kano became one of the APC’s strongest electoral pillars.

    In the 2019 presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari won Kano with more than 1.46 million votes, representing over 77 per cent of the total.

    That was not opposition politics. That was Kano voting massively for the sitting president and the ruling national party.

    This single fact complicates any claim that Kano “never purposefully leaned toward the centre.”

    It has. And it did so emphatically.

    Kano Votes Structure and Ownership, Not Opposition Romance.

    The 2023 elections are often cited as Kano’s “return” to opposition, following the victory of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the state.

    But even this requires more careful interpretation.

    Kano did not simply vote for a fringe opposition platform. Kano voted for the Kwankwasiyya movement — a political identity with deep grassroots structure and emotional resonance.

    The NNPP’s strength was less about party ideology and more about political ownership: a feeling that Kano had found a vehicle that belonged to its internal political machinery, rather than one imposed from outside.

    As one political observer in Kano noted privately at the time, “The party was secondary. The movement was primary.”

    This is not unusual in Kano. Political labels often matter less than the networks beneath them.

    Adaptation, Not Permanence.

    Read Also: ‘Nigeria opposition politicians incoherent, lack imagination, alternative vision’

    Over the decades, Kano has shifted through multiple political alignments: NEPU, PRP, PDP, ANPP, APC, NNPP.

    Such fluidity is not evidence of ideological opposition.

    It is evidence of adaptability — the hallmark of a politically sophisticated electorate.

    A truly opposition-locked state does not deliver landslide victories to a ruling president in one cycle, and then switch to a regional movement in another. Kano does both, depending on circumstance.

    The Myth of Electoral Impossibility.

    Perhaps the most sweeping claim made by critics is that the APC cannot simultaneously win Kano and win nationally — that Kano must always vote against whoever holds power in Abuja.

    This is not grounded in political reality.

    Elections are shaped by measurable variables:

    candidate appeal; elite cohesion; grassroots mobilisation; performance in office; economic pressures; security dynamics; and federal-state relationships.

    There is no mystical law that Kano must oppose the centre.

    As the late British statesman Harold Macmillan once observed, “Politics is a matter of realities, not illusions.”

    Kano’s politics, above all, is a politics of realities.

    Federal Alignment and Development Incentives.

    Nigeria’s contemporary political economy has increasingly made federal alignment a practical consideration for many states.

    Access to major infrastructure partnerships, security coordination, industrial revival programmes and strategic appointments often flows more efficiently through cooperative centre-state relations.

    Neighbouring North-Western states such as Kaduna and Katsina have benefited from sustained federal attention partly because of political synchronisation with the centre.

    For Kano — Nigeria’s commercial hub of the North — the incentives of full federal integration are substantial.

    Supporters of Governor Yusuf’s potential APC move argue that Kano cannot indefinitely afford political distance from the centre if it seeks mega-projects, industrial expansion, enhanced security architecture, and sustained fiscal cooperation.

    In this sense, alignment is not surrender — it is strategy.

    Governor Yusuf’s Calculation: Risk, But Not Necessarily Error.

    Would joining the APC automatically guarantee victory in 2027? No.

    Would it automatically guarantee defeat? No.

    It would be a high-stakes recalibration — one that could succeed if matched by tangible governance outcomes and careful party integration.

    If Governor Yusuf moves with significant legislative backing, institutional cohesion, and visible federal dividends, Kano’s electorate is pragmatic enough to follow.

    But if the shift is viewed as elite manoeuvring without clear developmental benefit, Kano’s politically conscious electorate could respond harshly.

    Kano rewards strength. Kano punishes emptiness.

    A Politics of Negotiation, Not Opposition.

    The enduring truth about Kano is not that it is “predominantly opposition.”

    The truth is that Kano is predominantly power-conscious.

    It votes for relevance. It votes for ownership. It votes for political structures that can deliver both pride and progress.

    Governor Yusuf’s possible alignment with the ruling party may therefore not be a historical mistake, but an attempt to position Kano at the heart of national development bargaining ahead of 2027.

    In Kano, the centre is not automatically rejected.

    The centre is negotiated.

    And the outcome will depend not on mythology, but on performance.

    The National Patriots Movement notes that Kano’s full integration with the federal centre is not a surrender of identity, but a strategic pathway to accelerated development. As Nigeria’s commercial nerve of the North, Kano stands to gain from deeper synergy with Abuja in infrastructure, security coordination, and industrial growth. Sustainable progress often follows cooperative governance, not permanent political distance.

    •Fraser is an official of The National Patriots.

  • Kogi APC youths endorse Tinubu, Ododo

    Kogi APC youths endorse Tinubu, Ododo

    State Governor Usman Ododo has described President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s boldest reformer, declaring that his courage and results-driven leadership have earned him endorsement by Kogi youths ahead of 2027.

    Speaking on Saturday to a massive crowd at the President Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja, during the rally marking two years of his administration, Governor Ododo said the gathering was both a celebration of youth-focused governance in Kogi State and a clear vote of confidence in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    “The youths of Kogi State have spoken with one loud, clear and courageous voice,” Ododo declared. Your endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not emotional; it is informed. It is the decision of young people who can think, who can judge results, and who understand leadership”, he said.

    The governor described President Tinubu as the boldest President in the history of Nigeria, stressing that while many leaders would have chosen political safety over national interest, Tinubu took tough decisions to prevent economic collapse.

    “Any politician thinking only of re-election would have played safe,” Ododo said, adding “but Jagaban faced the storm, took the heat and led from the front. Today, we are seeing the results of courage: the naira is stabilising, food prices are responding, the cost of living is dropping, and the standard of living is rising. This is not propaganda; this is about results.”

    Governor Ododo told the youths that no administration in Nigeria’s history has prioritised youth empowerment like that of President Tinubu, citing expanded opportunities in agriculture, skills development, economic inclusion and youth participation in governance.

    He also spoke about his personal relationship with the President, describing Tinubu as a father figure whose guidance and support have strengthened his resolve to serve Kogi State faithfully.

    “I am lucky to be serving Kogi State at a time when Jagaban is serving Nigeria,” the governor said, adding that the youths’ endorsement showed they were “the best demographic coalition in Nigeria,” capable of recognising good governance when they see it.

    Ododo also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her compassion and the visible impact of the Renewed Hope Initiative in Kogi State, noting that thousands of families, women and vulnerable citizens have benefited. He acknowledged the contributions of Seyi Tinubu to youth empowerment across the country, describing the Tinubu family as “a family of vision, kindness and impact.”

    The governor praised the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, whom he described as a “game changer” quietly strengthening the party and positioning it for future victories.

    Accepting the youths’ endorsement with humility, Governor Ododo urged them to remain united and focused on the collective interest of the state and nation.

    “Whether you are from Ejuku or Obangede, Ajiolo or Anyigba, Okene or Kabba, we are all Kogites,” he said, adding “Our enemies are not our ethnic groups, but those who divide us while stealing our commonwealth.”

    Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to development, Ododo highlighted achievements in agriculture, healthcare, education, road infrastructure, security and economic growth, assuring the youths that their mandate and trust would never be betrayed.

    In a personal reflection that drew loud applause, the governor said, “I had no spoon as a child, not to talk of a silver or golden one. If I can be here today, you can be anywhere tomorrow. Your hope is alive, and we will never let you down.”

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     Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aridaojo Monday Anyebe, said the rally was a clear statement that Kogi youths were “awake, engaged and firmly aligned with purposeful leadership.” He described Governor Ododo as a leader who placed youths “not at the edge, but at the very heart of governance.”

    Anyebe outlined key achievements of the administration, including the strategic appointment of youths into government positions, training of over 3,000 youths in critical skills such as CNG conversion, welding, fabrication and engineering trades, the first-ever Kogi Youth Summit, statewide youth town hall meetings, regular ward-level engagements, monthly subventions to youth and student bodies, and sustained empowerment and vocational programmes.

    He also highlighted the timely payment of bursaries and scholarships, free healthcare for elderly citizens, welfare packages for corps members, and the repositioning of sports as a platform for unity, talent discovery and economic opportunity.

    “The Kogi youth see you, Your Excellency. We feel your impact and appreciate your consistency,” Anyebe said, while also acknowledging the role of the former governor of the state, Alh Yahaya Bello in pioneering youth leadership in Nigeria.

    Calling for party unity ahead of future elections, the commissioner urged stakeholders to set aside ego and division, stressing that the re-election of President Tinubu and the continued success of Governor Ododo’s administration require collective commitment.

    The rally ended with chants of solidarity for the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, as Kogi youths pledged sustained support for what they described as a shared journey of renewed hope, stability and progress.

  • Akwa Ibom APC expands frontier as SAN joins party

    Akwa Ibom APC expands frontier as SAN joins party

    Eno, Akpabio: Enoidem’s entry signifies peace, unity, growth

    Following the call by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, to advance his administration’s ARISE Agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has recorded a political realignment with the reception of Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN), former national legal adviser of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) into the party.

    Present to receive Enoidem at Etim Ekpo Stadium, Utu Etim Ekpo, were the governor, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, top government officials, party faithful, political leaders, and supporters.

    Eno thanked Enoidem for the ‘‘courageous and enlightened decision’’ in the interest of the state. The governor noted Enoidem’s role in his political journey, particularly his election as governor in 2023, and hoped the move would further strengthen peace and unity in the state.

    The governor noted that his administration had executed about 25 projects in Etim Ekpo coincil, adding with leaders like Enoidem, Senator Akpabio, and otherrs, Etim Ekpo would continue to witness accelerated development.

    Akpabio described the occasion as a personal reconnection with one of his political mentees. He said Enoidem’s entry into APC would usher in peace in Etim Ekpo, Abak Federal Constituency, and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, signalling an end to opposition politics in the area. Akpabio added that the development would make governance easier and more effective.

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    Earlier, council chair lauded Eno for his leadership and thanked Akpabio for being a beacon of hope to people. He lauded the governor’s development initiatives and praised Enoidem’s decision.

    Speakers described the ceremony as a testament to the purposeful and unifying leadership of Eno and Akpabio.

    They lauded Enoidem for joining APC in advancing the Renewed Hope Initiative of the Federal Government and ARISE Agenda of government. Highpoint of the ceremony was the induction of Enoidem,, his wife, and thousands of supporters into APC—a process conducted by the state party Chairman, Stephen Ntukekpo.

    Enoidem said the occasion is historic, saying while the decision was not easy, it was taken in the best interest of the state. Emphasising that politics is local, he said his move was driven by his love for Etim Ekpo and his desire for progress. The event was attended by Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi; lawmakers, etc.

    including Senator Ita Enang, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, and Senator Dr. Aloysius Etok; the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; members of the State Executive Council; and other top government dignitaries

  • Accord, APC, ADC ready for battle

    Accord, APC, ADC ready for battle

    With the conclusion of the Osun State governorship primaries on December 15, last year as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), candidates have been on the drawing board, plotting their winning strategies for the August 8 contest. TOBA ADEDEJI reports.

    Governorship candidates in Osun State are about to start campaigns.  Stakeholders and supporters are forging alliances and mobilising grassroots support in a keenly contested race that will determine who occupies the Bola Ige House for the next four years.

    There was a political uprising in 2025 when the major opposition forces in the state, comprising the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), were shopping for the best candidate to flag their parties’ banners in the contest. 

    In APC, agitation for the party to pick its governorship candidate from the Osun West District surged, as political groups and leaders advocated that the district be considered for the 2026 governorship ticket should the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, decide not to run again. 

    Subsequently, Oyetola dropped out of the governorship race, prompting nine aspirants to throw their hats into the ring to contest the party’s governorship ticket.

    Zones of the aspirants:

    Former Managing Director of NIWA, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (Ikire, Osun West) Former deputy governor, Iyiola Omisore (Ile-Ife, Osun East), Prince Dotun Babayemi (Gbongan, Osun West) ex-Deputy governor, Benedict Alabi (Ikire, Osun West), an Insurance magnate, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi (Ile-Oogbo, Osun West), Barrister Kunle Adegoke, SAN (Osogbo, Osun Central), Senator Babajide Omoworare (Ile-Ife, Osun East), ex-Osun House of Assembly member, Dr Mulikat Jimoh (Ikirun, Osun Central and Mr. Babatunde Hareter Oralusi (Ile-Ife, Osun East).

    These aspirants contested, but only Oyebamiji and Mulikat, the only female aspirants, passed the APC screening to contest in the primary. This raised dust within the party until President Bola Tinubu intervened. 

    Following, they agreed and presented Oyebamiji (AMBO) as a consensus candidate on December 13, 2025. 

    Since Oyebamiji emerged, there has been an uneasy calm within the party as Omisore grumbled over the development, faulting Oyetola for backing AMBO and using party mechanisms to favour him. 

    However, the party leaders held a partial reconciliatory meeting at the residence of Chief Bisi Akande in December 2025, where they directed all aspirants to collapse their structures into the APC to ensure the victory of Oyebamiji.

    Also, the State Working Committee (SWC) APC rallied the eight governorship aspirants to close ranks and work as a united front ahead of the poll.

    The party said the emergence of Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) as the party’s standard-bearer has sent jitters into the ruling party’s camp.

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    Speaking with the Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi, said that, following the APC maiden meeting in the new year, the state Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, was full of praise for the eight governorship aspirants, who embraced the emergence of Oyebamiji without resorting to crisis, rancour, or animosity.

    He said Lawal also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the leadership of Agba Osun, and other personalities whose roles contributed to the successful emergence of one of the qualified governorship aspirants.

    “The successful conduct of the party’s governorship election, which culminated in the seamless emergence of Asiwaju Oyebamiji, has sent jitters into the camp of the ruling party and others, as their hitherto sing-song had been that the exercise would be a recipe for imminent implosion.

    “The prevalent peace and tranquillity being enjoyed in the party today is due to the successful conduct of the governorship primary election, which was made possible by the embracing of the culture of supremacy of the party by the eight aspirants.”

    He said the names of the eight governorship aspirants, who did not allow their aspirations to bring down the roof of the party, shall be written in gold in the political history of the party in the state.

    He enjoined the aspirants to continue to inform their lieutenants and supporters on the need for the party to go into the August 8, 2026, governorship election as an indivisible and impenetrable team with a view to winning the election and chasing Governor Ademola Adeleke back to his Ede country home.”

    He said both formal and informal reconciliation exercises were ongoing in the party, but it was imperative for him to single out the governorship aspirants, who had proved by their actions and inactions that they were complete party men come rain or shine.

    APC’s strength:

    One of the major strengths of APC is that since they left government in 2022 in Osun State, they never lost any major member to the ruling party, except former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was expelled from the party alongside his allies over anti-party activities. 

    The APC has welcomed more strong politicians from the ruling party into its fold since 2022 to date, including Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), House of Representatives members; Oluwole Oke, Sanya Omirin, Taofeek Ajilesoro, and other notable members, including former National Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Shuib Oyedokun amongs others. 

    Similarly, the APC has strong leaders across the state’s nine federal constituencies who can muscle out votes for the party in the forthcoming poll. 

    The party has leaders in the major towns of Osun State, who normally determine who win election. 

    The party has NPA Executive Director, Olalekan Badmus, and Senator Ajibola Basiru, the party’s National Secretary, who are strong in Osogbo and Olorunda, Kayode Oduoye (Ikirun), Oyetola in Iragbiji (Boripe), Fadahunsi, Omirin, Ajilesoro in Ijesa land, Chief Akande and Fadeyi in Ila-Orangun, Babayemi in Gbongan, Oyebamiji (governorship candidate) in Ikire.

    APC’s weaknesses:

    One of the major weaknesses of the APC is the likelihood of being unable to secure genuine reconciliation from all the aspirants who were disqualified from the gubernatorial contest. Omisore, who is from the Ile-Ife kingdom, is not really pleased with the party, hence he may not work for the party’s victory in 2026. 

    Similarly, APC may suffer major losses if it fails to pick a strong deputy governorship candidate from one of the major towns, either Osogbo or Ile-Ife. 

    Also, APC may not have a good outing in Ede South and North because it is the hometown of the incumbent governor, Adeleke, who has done well in infrastructure for them. 

    Some local government areas, such as Egbedore, Orolu, Iwo, Ayedire, Odo-Otin, and Ola-Oluwa, may support the reelection of Ademola Adeleke because he garnered support from the councils for infrastructure.

    Chances of PDP, Adeleke’s Accord:

    Before the primary in 2025, the ruling PDP, through its chairman, Sunday Bisi, said the crises ravaging the party have made the conduct of the party’s governorship primary, earlier slated for December 2, impossible.

    He, however, said Adeleke’s decision may change with the resolution of crises ravaging the party, which must be recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission and reached within the commission’s timeline for the Osun governorship poll.

    He noted that, because of the internal crisis rocking the national leadership of the PDP, the information at his disposal is that Governor Ademola Adeleke may no longer be interested in seeking the PDP nomination for the 2026 Osun governorship election, unless a resolution recognised by INEC is reached within the INEC timeline. 

    Subsequently, Adeleke left the PDP and later joined the Accord Party, along with his cabinet members and appointees. 

    Adeleke, the sole governorship aspirant, later emerged as the party’s candidate, promising to win his second term on the platform.

    Accord Party’s strength:

    One of the major strengths of the Accord Party is that the two parties have fused into one, PDP and Accord. Despite that, Adeleke gave life to the party; the Accord party is strategically placed on the ballot as the first political party any electorate will see before the APC. 

    Also, Adeleke’s influence as the incumbent governor will go a long way toward securing the support of the people, especially civil servants in the state, whom he has prioritised in terms of their welfare, promotion, and the payment of salary arrears owed by the APC administration. 

    Similarly, Adeleke’s infrastructural drive in some parts of the state will win him votes in Ilesa, Ede, Osogbo, Ila-Orangun, Iwo, and other places where he is constructing rural roads. 

    The Accord Party will also pull votes, as the majority of PDP members will support Adeleke’s re-election bid. 

    The remaining federal lawmakers, Senator Lere Oyewumi and six members of the House of Representatives, and the 23 lawmakers of the state House of Assembly, will pull a lot of support for Adeleke in 2026.

    Accord Party’s weaknesses:

    One of the weaknesses of the Accord Party is its lack of voter education, as many local electorates may not know about it or its ideology. Also, many electors who know Adeleke from the PDP may not have been informed about his new political party. 

    Also, the party’s lack of political structure across the state will make it difficult to secure the necessary votes; hence, it will rely heavily on the PDP to re-elect Ademola Adeleke. 

    Some typical members of the PDP may not support Adeleke in the new party because of their loyalty to the party; hence, they will stay out of the election.

    Chances of Aregbesola’s ADC:

    The factor of Aregbesola, a two-term governor of Osun State and the National Secretary of ADC, will also influence the outcome of the 2026 election. 

    Aregbesola and his allies left the APC for ADC in 2025 after being rejected for alleged anti-party activities. 

    The political party has been mobilising in the state since 2025, with the support of ex-Osun State Speaker, Najeem Salam; ex-Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti; Senator Adelere Oriolowo; ex-APC chairman, Razaq Salinsile; ex-APC chairman, Adelowo Adebiyi, amongst others.

    Meanwhile, the camp suffered a setback when one of its key leaders, Adeoti, left the Aregbesola-backed ADC group, saying he would no longer participate in its activities.

    In a letter addressed to the group, he said, “My decision to withdraw was never an easy one, especially each time I look back and consider all my investments in ensuring the survival of the group throughout its turbulent period from inception till date.”

    Prior to his resignation letter, which began circulating on social media late Saturday, reports emerged that ex-Osun Speaker Najeem Salaam had been chosen as the preferred candidate for the ADC governorship ticket.

    Sources within the Omoluabi Progressives, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Adeoti left because he failed to secure the group’s support for the primary.

    The source said, “Our apex leaders are 15 in number. They met in Lagos over the weekend and held a mini-election to choose the aspirant the group would back for the ADC governorship primary. Three people showed interest, including Oriolowo, Salaam, and Adeoti. In the election, Najeem, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, received 11 votes; Adeoti, 3; and Oriolowo, 1.

    “He is leaving because of that. I recall that in 2022, a similar mini-election was held among Aregbesola’s supporters. Najeem won again, but our leaders prevailed on him, and he stepped down for Adeoti, and we all supported him in the APC primary.”

    Adeoti’s departure from the group may affect the party’s chances, as he is a strong politician under the chairmanship of Aregbesola, the incumbent governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

    Subsequently, Salam emerged as the party’s candidate.

    PDP as a game changer:

    Despite that, Adeleke joined the Accord Party, and Adebayo Adedamola, a close ally of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, emerged as the PDP candidate. 

    This development may divide the vote meant for Adeleke if, eventually, the party gets to the ballot in 2026.

  • Abandoned road sparks outrage in community

    Abandoned road sparks outrage in community

    Residents of Alaja/Olayemi Road in Ayobo-Ipaja in Lagos State have deplored abandonment of their road, which has been under construction for more than two decades, lamenting its impact on their health, livelihoods and daily activities.

    They protested to  the LCDA Chair, Lukman Agbaje, urging him to complete the project.

    According to the protesters, the deplorable state of the road has made homes inaccessible, damaged vehicles, disrupted businesses and posed challenges for the elderly, pupils and the physically challenged.

    Speaking for the community, a former Chairperson of a CDA, said residents had exhausted all options.

    She said: “I have been here for over 20 years. This road has been like this

    “Because of the condition of the road, we had to form a forum of about seven CDAs. We have been fighting for completion of this road since work stopped at Alaja.”

    She explained that the road was part of the 114 roads initiated during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2016, but construction stopped midway about 10 years ago.

    “When we didn’t see any intervention, we maintained the road ourselves, spending millions every year,” she added. “But now we are fed up and frustrated. People pay taxes, students cannot move when it rains, cars get damaged, the elderly cannot walk and the physically challenged struggle to get into their houses.”

    She noted that residents had written petitions to state agencies, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and their representatives at the House of Assembly, without success.

    “We contacted the new chairman and he promised to fix the road. He said he would do a palliative within two to three weeks, but it has been almost four months. All that was done was the dumping of hardcore and sand, which made the road worse,” she said.

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    Also speaking, 70-year-old Reverend Nat Atanda Olajide described the situation as inhumane.

    “I came here about 19 years ago. It was bad then, but far better than what we are experiencing now,” he said. “Many of us have cars but cannot use them. I am not supposed to be standing here under this sun.”

    Another resident, Babatunde Abraham, said the protest was not aimed at embarrassing the government but to seek urgent intervention.

    “We were happy when the local government started the road, but they stopped after the first phase and never returned,” he said.

    “The former governor even came to inaugurate the uncompleted road. We are calling on the state government to take over this project because it may be beyond the capacity of the LCDA.”

    He noted that the road serves as a major link to Igando and could help ease traffic on adjoining routes.

    “We are Lagosians. We pay our taxes and we vote. All we ask is for this road to be fixed,” he said.

    The residents appealed to the state and local governments to urgently intervene and bring an end to what they described as over 20 years of neglect.

  • Foundation Food Outreach supports vulnerable households

    Foundation Food Outreach supports vulnerable households

    Margaret Modinat Foundation has given food relief to more than 1,000 households in Ogun and Lagos states.

    The initiative, led by Founder, Olanrewaju Osibote, was carried out simultaneously in Ijebu Ife, Ogun, and communities in Lagos, including Akowonjo, Egbeda, Igando Road, Abaranje Road in Ikotun, Olowo Ira, and Ojodu Berger.

    According to Osibote, the exercise was designed to ease pressure of rising costs on low-income families and petty traders. Each state recorded almost 500 beneficiaries.

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    Residents received rice, tomato paste, spaghetti, and semovita, distributed in at the designated locations.

    Osibote explained that the foundation’s choice of communities was guided by the need to reach groups most affected by  hardship. She emphasised that the organisation is committed to sustaining such interventions, particularly during festive periods.

    “This outreach is part of our effort to support families,” she said, saying the foundation was established in memory of her late mother, whose compassion for humanity continues to inspire its work.

    Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the gesture, describing it as timely and impactful amid current economic challenges.