The Nation Newspaper

Category: News Update

  • Tinubu’s ambition to build one trillion dollars digital economy not rhetoric, says Minister

    Tinubu’s ambition to build one trillion dollars digital economy not rhetoric, says Minister

    The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, on Wednesday reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu towards building a one trillion dollars digital economy, saying that the commitment of the government was not a mere rhetoric.

    Dr Tijani said President Tinubu’s administration has remained clear, consistent and deliberate about its vision of achieving shared prosperity for Nigerians, including the ambition to build a trillion dollars economy.

    He said the government has within a short period built strong institutions with regulatory powers to support the commitment, stressing that the Nigerian Data Protection Commission, (NDPC) was one of such institutions with capacity for data protection and building digital trust as key pillars for Nigeria’s digital transformation and economic growth.

    The Minister made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering his address at the Global Privacy Day 2026 Press Conference, held at AATC Hotel, Abuja.

    Dr Tijani commended the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) for its leadership in driving conversations around data privacy and protection, noting that although the Commission has existed for less than three years, it has emerged as a strong institution within government and society.

    According to Dr Tijani, technology remains central to achieving the goal of a one trillion dollar economy as it enables economic growth, infrastructure development, job creation, and improved public services.

    “Our responsibility at the Ministry is to ensure that digital technology serves as an enabler of shared prosperity, not just prosperity for a few, but for every Nigerian,” he said.

    The minister highlighted several flagship projects under the Ministry, including the Bridge Project, which aims to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure nationwide, and MilCAP, an agro-connectivity initiative targeting the deployment of about 4,000 telecommunications towers in rural areas.

    He also disclosed plans to procure two additional communication satellites for the country through NigComSat, noting that Nigeria is currently the only country in West Africa with a functional communication satellite.

    Read Also: Ogoni leaders urge Tinubu to sustain ongoing dialogue process

    On human capital development, Dr Tijani said Nigeria runs the largest technology talent accelerator in Africa, designed to build a workforce capable of competing and creating value in the global digital economy.

    However, he stressed that increased connectivity comes with increased responsibility, especially in protecting citizens’ data.

    “Data protection and privacy are the foundation of trust. Without trust, our digital economy cannot succeed,” he said.

    In his address, the National Commissioner/CEO of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, outlined the achievements of the Commission within the past three years, saying over 5.2 billion naira has been generated through the Commission into government coffers.

    According to him, no fewer than 23,000 jobs have been created within the data privacy ecosystem, while the value of the data protection ecosystem now peaked at about 16.2 billion naira.

    He said the Commission has carried out and concluded investigations 246 data protection and privacy breaches by various institutions, while appropriate sanctions have been meted out to the affected institutions.

    According to the NDPC boss, about 8155 compliance audit returns have been filed by the Commission, while training programmes have been organised for various categories of Compliance Officers across the country.

    Dr Olatunji also said that the NDPC launched the Youth Data Protection Awareness & Training Program in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to empower 5,000 Nigerian youths with digital literacy and data privacy skills.

    He added that more collaborations are still ongoing with the governments of Bauchi, Benue, Ondo and Ekiti states for awareness creation and training programmes on data protection and privacy. 

  • ADC tasks Oyegun, Utomi, Lukman with policy, manifesto

    ADC tasks Oyegun, Utomi, Lukman with policy, manifesto

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has assigned former All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Prof. Pat Utomi and former APC National Vice Chairman (North West), Salihu Lukman, to lead the development of its policy document and manifesto ahead of 2027 elections.

    The trio will head a 50-member Policy and Manifesto Committee approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed by the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark.

    The party stated that the committee, scheduled for inauguration on Monday, is mandated to articulate a clear policy direction and produce a manifesto addressing key national issues, including governance, economic management, social development, security, and democratic reform.

    In a statement on Wednesday, the ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Odigie-Oyegun will serve as Chairman, with Utomi as Deputy Chairman and Lukman as Secretary.

    Other members of the committee include former Bauchi State APC governorship candidate, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (rtd), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Dr Usman Bugaje, Prof. Anthony Kila, Pastor Funke Awowolo, Madam Jumoke Olawuyi and Prof. Sam Amadi, among others.

    According to the party, committee members were drawn from diverse professional and political backgrounds, including former public office holders, academics, technocrats, policy experts and civil society leaders.

    The Nation reports that Abdullahi said earlier that the delay in the composition of the committee was due to internal political considerations.

    “You think it’s just about putting some names together, but people begin to look at how many Christians, how many Muslims, how many people from different regions,” he said, adding that the process reflected the political realities involved.

  • Tinubu directs FG to ease tax burden on small businesses — Oyedele

    Tinubu directs FG to ease tax burden on small businesses — Oyedele

    Nigerian economist, accountant, and public policy expert Taiwo Oyedele has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Government to ease the tax burden on small businesses and stop policies that worsen poverty.

    Oyedele, who chairs the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, made the disclosure during a Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) town hall meeting with artisans and traders in Abuja.

    According to him, the President has instructed that all stakeholders must work together to ensure the success of nano, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, rather than stifling them with multiple taxes.

    “You cannot build a society where businesses are not allowed to breathe,” Oyedele said. “The secret to the success of any society is enabling its 35 million nano, micro, small, and medium businesses to grow. Supporting MSMEs positively is essential because that is the real Nigeria.”

    He added that the President has also ordered an end to taxing poverty, capital, and seed, urging instead that government policies should support investment and business growth so that small enterprises can thrive.

    “The President directed that we should stop taxing poverty, capital, and seed. We should invest with the people so that the seed can turn into fruit,” he said.

    Read Also: Tax: Banks can’t debit account without owner’s consent

    Oyedele noted that most businesses in Nigeria operate at the nano level, expressing optimism that many could grow into billion-naira enterprises annually if given the right support.

    He also acknowledged growing public concerns about tax reforms, attributing them to misinformation. “There is a lot of negative misinformation about tax reform. Instead of excitement, people are afraid,” he said.

    “We understand that some of these accountants and payroll managers may not understand how to do the calculation on this new tax reform, so we are organising a virtual platform to put them through, so far twelve thousand people have registered. If the twelve thousand get it right which I know they will, millions of Nigerian workers will benefit. Before now anything goes, but it is not going to be business as usual”.

    He said, under this reform all the categorization apart from high earners in millions will be exempted from corporate income tax, again this is part of the Corporate Affairs Commission and SMEDAN partnership where the CAC is registering small businesses for free, Presently, CAC received five thousand applications everyday for free registration.

    “This is one of the deliberate policies of the government to encourage formalization of businesses. Formalization makes your businesses organise as you keep records. If your business is registered with CAC you enjoy a corporate tax rate at zero percent, you will also not pay the 4% development levy.

    Whether you are registered with the CAC or not, if your business does not make more than one hundred million naira a year you don’t need to charge VAT, BAT when anyone is paying you, you are not allowed to charge withholding tax or hold on to withholding tax either. Your money must be complete when you are being paid.

    Under this new reform tax law, employees are completely exempted from all forms of tax.

    For big companies, there is a provision to reduce their corporate tax rate from 30% to 25%. There are companies making more than one billion a year, there is good news for them too,  if you pay VAT on business products like manufacturing machines, vehicles, mobile phones including airtime that is used for business, these can be claimed back with receipts.

    Speaking the Director General SMEDAN, Charles Odii said, current Small Medium Enterprise right now stand at 39million as President Tinubu earmarked two hundred billion naira for SMEs. It is for them to access it as a single digit business loan. We will keep encouraging our small businesses on production of made in Nigeria. 

  • Senate to debate Electoral Act report Thursday, backs electronic transmission of results

    Senate to debate Electoral Act report Thursday, backs electronic transmission of results

    The Senate will on Thursday consider and debate, clause by clause, the report of its committee on electoral matters, with electronic transmission of election results topping key recommendations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    One of the major proposals in the report is a provision mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) immediately after vote counting.

    The decision to schedule the report for consideration was taken at plenary on Wednesday following a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti North), who informed lawmakers that copies of the report would be circulated in advance to allow for detailed scrutiny.

    Bamidele, with the approval of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, also disclosed that a brief closed-door session would precede the general consideration of the report at the Committee of the Whole.

    A copy of the report obtained by The Nation shows that a new subsection (3) has been introduced on page 45 of the Electoral Act 2022 (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at curbing result manipulation and ballot box snatching.

    The proposed provision states: “INEC shall electronically transmit election results from each polling unit to the IREV portal in real time, and such transmission shall be done simultaneously with the physical collation of results.”

    The committee further introduced a new subsection (2) to Section 77, making it an offence for presiding officers to fail to sign and stamp ballot papers and the results announced by them.

    In addition, Sections 47(2) and (3) were amended to replace the term “smart card reader” with “Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS),” in line with current electoral practice.

    To address abuse of the voting process involving persons with disabilities, the report amended Section 54(1) to bar political party agents, candidates or officials from accompanying visually impaired or incapacitated voters into the voting compartment.

    The committee also recommended stiffer penalties for the buying and selling of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), proposing an increase in the fine prescribed in Section 22 from N500,000 to N5 million.

    Describing the Electoral Act amendment as a sensitive and far-reaching legislation, Senate President Akpabio urged lawmakers to study the report thoroughly ahead of its final consideration.

    “Distinguished colleagues, as suggested by the Leader, please study the report very well ahead of tomorrow’s final consideration, first at the closed-door session and then at the Committee of the Whole,” Akpabio said.

  • Shettima preaches peace, tolerance during visit to Gbong Gwom Jos

    Shettima preaches peace, tolerance during visit to Gbong Gwom Jos

    • …says Nigerians are bound by common heritage, urges unity beyond differences
    • …hails Plateau political realignment as pathway to peace and development

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday called on Nigerians to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence, stressing that the country’s diversity should serve as a source of strength rather than division.

    Shettima said Nigeria has the potential to become one of the greatest nations in the world if citizens learn to live together in peace, noting that Nigerians are one people bound by a shared heritage that outweighs whatever differences may exist among them.

    The Vice President spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital, during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Jacob Gyang Buba.

    According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said, “We are all connected one way or the other. We must, therefore, continue to live together. What binds us together supersedes what separates us.”

    He was in Plateau State to attend the grand reception of Governor Caleb Mutfwang and other political leaders into the All Progressives Congress.

    During the palace visit, the Vice President described traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in nation-building, noting that beyond being custodians of culture, they play a vital role in promoting peace and stability within their domains.

    “They are not just the custodians of our cultural heritage. They help in upholding society by preaching peace among their subjects,” he said.

    Shettima lauded the improving relationship between the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and Governor Mutfwang, describing the political realignment as a positive development for Plateau State.

    According to him, their cooperation would translate into increased dividends of democracy for the people.

    Read Also: Mutfwang’s defection reaffirms APC as truly national party, says Shettima

    “The National Chairman was the opponent of the Governor at the last election, but today they have agreed to work together. There can be no development without peace,” he added, expressing confidence that the alliance would enhance peace and stability in the state and across the country.

    Earlier, Governor Mutfwang commended the cordial working relationship between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, saying it would continue to yield positive outcomes for the nation.

    In his remarks, the Gbong Gwom Jos appealed for strengthened security measures and genuine reconciliation efforts to address the challenges confronting Plateau State and other parts of the country.

    He urged Nigerians to respect one another, stressing that Islam and Christianity both reject violence and insurgency.

    The monarch thanked the Vice President, the APC National Chairman and the Plateau State Governor for the political realignment, describing it as a welcome development for both the state and the nation.

    The Vice President’s entourage included the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Idris Wase; members of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs; and other prominent indigenes of the state.

  • FG, Japan, UNESCO sign arrangement letters to address flood impacts in Niger

    FG, Japan, UNESCO sign arrangement letters to address flood impacts in Niger

    • …Japan commits 53,000 dollars to project

    The federal government, the Japanese government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, (UNESCO) on Wednesday signed letters of arrangement on a project designed to address the impacts of flood disasters in Niger state with specific attention to Mokwa local government.

    The letter of Arrangement which was signed at the United Nations Building in Abuja signalled the inauguration of the 12 months project aimed at addressing the impacts of climate-induced flooding in the state.

    The project proposal was titled “Strengthening Flood Resilience in Nigeria to foster long-term Societal Stability – Focus on Niger State.”  It is also expected to address parts of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) programmes.

    About five communities within the Mokwa axis in Niger state would benefit from the project which is expected to strengthen flood resilience within the area.

    According to the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Suzuki Hideo, the government of Japan would commit about 53,000 United States dollars to the project.

    Speaking at the event, Ambassador Hideo said the ceremony was not just a signature on paper, but a commitment to transforming vulnerability into strength and the crisis of flooding in Mokwa into opportunity.

    He recalled the 2025 flood disasters in Niger state which claimed about 500 human lives, displaced thousands of families and submerged critical infrastructures and farmlands, saying that his country is willing to support Nigeria and the people of Niger state to overcome the challenge of flooding.

    “In that incident, over 500 lives lost, thousands displaced, critical infrastructure and vast farmlands submerged, and these are not mere statistics but human stories of loss and hardship.

    Read Also: Fed govt partners UNESCO REF to empower 4.5 million in climate-smart agric

    “Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences for the loss. This is why the government of Japan is proud to support this UNESCO-led project with approximately 53,000 U.S. dollars,” Ambassador Hideo said.

    He called for a shift from a reactive disaster response to proactive climate resilient development, through capacity-building, youth engagement, and strengthening of early warning systems to address the challenges of flooding in the country.

    Providing details of the Project, the Ambassador of UNESCO to Nigeria, Dr Hajo Sani, said the proposal was developed to address the growing impact of climate-induced flooding in Nigeria, particularly in Niger State, by shifting from short-term emergency response to a more proactive, risk-informed, and climate-resilient development approach.

    He said, “The project aims to strengthen national and community capacities for flood preparedness and response through improved institutional coordination, climate-risk-informed decision-making, and targeted capacity development.

    “In full alignment with the priorities of the Japan Supplementary Budget on disaster risk reduction and human security, and Nigeria’s efforts to reduce loss of life, protect livelihoods, and safeguard critical infrastructure in flood-prone areas.”

    He said the Arrangement Letter Signing Ceremony marks the formalization of the partnership between the Government of Japan and UNESCO for the implementation of the project.

    The Permanent Secretary of Ecological project Office, Dr Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, commended the government of Japan for the project, saying that Japan had a history of collaboration with Nigeria to address critical challenges and offer assistance. 

  • Edo to build 25 CBT centres

    Edo to build 25 CBT centres

    • …Okpebholo partners Google, others

    The Edo State Government said it planned to build 25 Computer Based Test (CBT) centres across the 18 local government areas as part of its plan to deepen technological skills to the grassroots.

    It said it would begin construction of five CBT centres this year.

    Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, disclosed this at the flagging off of the training of 800 students in Artificial Intelligence.

    Iyamu said the students would be trained in Advanced Data Analysis and Visualisation, Data Science/Machine Learning, Data Architecture and Geospatial Data Science.

    He said the training was in partnership with Google international to certify the 800 students in technological skills.

    Dr. Iyamu said Governor Monday Okpebholo approved the training because he planned to give every child a seat at the table of success.

    Read Also: Edo records huge wins at teachers summit

    He said Governor Okpebholo does not plan to take money to buy houses in Dubai or America but to build schools and tech hubs to help the younger generation innovate.

    According to him, “This government means well for you. The Governor has approved the revamp of the tech hub at Shoprite. Do not let go of this opportunity.

    “The Governor is an IT expert. He has been developing software to provide solutions to challenges across the world. Many people do not know it.

    “He has said every child will be given a seat at the table of success. The things you will learn will put you at the international market. We want you to take advantage of what you are going to learn.

    “We are in discussion with CISCO. Conversation is in top gear. We want to make sure the majority of the youths are data ready. We are doing a serious drive in terms of building CBT centres so that we can train many of our students.”

  • Housing Ministry, ICPC launch nationwide hunt for abandoned, substandard constituency projects

    Housing Ministry, ICPC launch nationwide hunt for abandoned, substandard constituency projects

    ‎Federal Government has launched a nationwide hunt for abandoned, poorly executed and substandard constituency and zonal intervention projects, as the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development partners with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to tighten scrutiny and hold defaulting contractors accountable.

    ‎The joint verification and tracking exercise, which commenced in Kano on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, is being carried out simultaneously across states where the Ministry implemented constituency projects.

    ‎Teams drawn from both institutions have been deployed nationwide to conduct on-the-spot inspections, verify project status and quality, and assess compliance with approved specifications.

    ‎Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said the exercise was designed to ensure that public funds translate into tangible socio-economic benefits for Nigerians, while sending a strong warning to contractors who fail to deliver.

    ‎Speaking through the Director of the Special Projects Unit, Olatunde Ajayi, Belgore said the initiative underscores the Federal Government’s zero tolerance for waste and poor execution of public projects.

    ‎According to him, “This joint verification and tracking exercise with the ICPC is aimed at evaluating the impact of constituency projects and ensuring that they are executed to standard for the benefit of the people.”

    ‎He warned that contractors found to have delivered substandard or abandoned projects would be compelled to take corrective action or refund public funds.

    Read Also: JUST IN: AGF takes over Ozekhome’s alleged forgery case from ICPC

    ‎“The Ministry, working with relevant oversight agencies, will not hesitate to invite contractors for corrective action where deficiencies are identified, or demand refunds to government coffers where projects have clearly failed to meet contractual obligations,” Belgore stated.

    ‎He added that reports generated from the exercise will guide evidence-based decision-making, help assess the relevance and level of implementation of projects, and strengthen planning and delivery of future interventions.

    ‎Also speaking, ICPC Head of Constituency Projects Tracking, Bello Idris Bakori, said the Commission’s participation reflects its mandate to prevent corruption through proactive monitoring of government projects.

    ‎He noted that the exercise is intended to deter sharp practices, promote transparency and ensure that funds earmarked for constituency interventions result in visible development for communities.

    ‎Bakori assured that findings from the tracking exercise would be properly documented and followed up in line with extant laws to safeguard public interest.

    ‎Projects inspected during the Kano flag-off include the provision and installation of solar streetlights at GGSS Kwa in Bichi and Rimingado Local Government Areas; construction of a sporting facility comprising an indoor complex, football pitch and pavilion in Gwarzo town; and the construction of the Badume–Kyauta road linking Dawakin Tofa and Bichi Local Government Areas.

    ‎The joint verification and tracking exercise continues nationwide as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to eliminate waste, enforce accountability and restore public confidence in constituency projects.

  • Senate urges FG to fix collapsed Okija Bridge, restore Anambra Spur Road

    Senate urges FG to fix collapsed Okija Bridge, restore Anambra Spur Road

    The Senate on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the collapsed old bridge and failing sections of the Okija Spur Road in Anambra State, directing immediate engineering inspection and emergency remedial works to restore safe connectivity to affected communities.

    The resolution followed the consideration of a motion titled “Need for the Rehabilitation of Okija Spur–Ihembosi–Ukpor–Ebenator–Ezinifite Road”, sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu (APGA, Anambra South).

    Specifically, the upper legislative chamber called on the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to carry out an urgent engineering assessment of the collapsed bridge and all failed sections of the road, while initiating emergency measures to ensure at least temporary and safe passage for road users.

    The Senate also mandated its Committee on Works to oversee all intervention activities on the Okija Spur Road, the collapsed old bridge and the completion of the new bridge currently under construction.

    Presenting the motion, Senator Nwachukwu described the Okija Spur–Okija–Afor Ukpor–Ebenator–Ezinifite Road as one of the most critical intra-regional corridors in Anambra South Senatorial District, serving as a vital link for commerce, agriculture, education, healthcare and other socio-economic activities across several communities.

    He told the chamber that the old bridge along the corridor collapsed on March 5, 2025, “completely shutting down movement, endangering lives and severely disrupting economic and social connectivity across the affected communities.”

    Read Also: Senate to pass ₦58.47trn 2026 Budget, Electoral, Constitution Reforms in final 16 months

    According to him, the situation has been worsened by the prolonged delay in completing the new bridge over the Ulasi Stream, which has been under construction for more than a decade.

    “The new bridge is only about 70 per cent completed, with pillars erected and deck components fabricated but not installed. This has left the structure non-operational and the entire corridor effectively impassable,” Nwachukwu said.

    The lawmaker expressed concern that the collapsed bridge, combined with the incomplete status of the new bridge and the deteriorating condition of several sections of the Okija Spur Road—particularly between Ukpor and Ebenator—has heightened safety risks, increased transportation costs and compounded hardship for residents.

    He stressed that the urgent completion of the new bridge, alongside immediate intervention on the collapsed old bridge, represents the most critical step towards restoring movement, pending the full rehabilitation of the remaining failed portions of the road.

    Nwachukwu emphasised that swift federal intervention is required to stabilise the corridor, restore access, support local livelihoods and prevent further deterioration of the infrastructure.

    In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Committee on Works to liaise closely with the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to ensure timely completion of the project.

    Akpabio noted that restoring access along the corridor was also important for public safety, particularly in curbing the activities of kidnappers and bandits who exploit poor road conditions and isolated communities.

  • Presidency slams Atiku over ‘inflammatory exaggerated’ claims on Tinubu’s government

    Presidency slams Atiku over ‘inflammatory exaggerated’ claims on Tinubu’s government

    • …says former VP’s comparison of democracy to military rule is a distortion of history
    • …accuses him of exaggeration aimed at delegitimising democratic outcomes

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has sharply criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of resorting to inflammatory exaggeration and historical revisionism in a bid to stir public discontent after repeated electoral failures.

    Dare’s reaction followed comments credited to Atiku at a public event in Abuja on Tuesday, where the former Vice President and multiple-time presidential candidate reportedly described governance under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as worse than military dictatorship.

    Atiku was also quoted as saying that the APC-led administration represents the worst form of governance he has witnessed in nearly four decades of political engagement.

    The remarks were made during the launch of a book authored by the spokesman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi.

    However, in a strongly worded post on his verified X handle, @SundayDareSD, Dare dismissed Atiku’s assertions as reckless, misleading and dangerous to democratic stability.

    Read Also: Atiku’s son hails Tinubu’s economic policies, backs re-election

    “For a man who once occupied the office of Vice President under a constitutional democracy, Atiku Abubakar’s persistent inability, or refusal, to distinguish between democratic governance and military dictatorship is no longer ironic; it is alarming,” Dare wrote.

    He described the comments as “a willful distortion of history and a further slide into senile dementia.”

    According to Dare, comparing a democratically elected government to military rule trivialises the trauma suffered by Nigerians during periods of authoritarianism.

    He noted that under military regimes, citizens were jailed, exiled or killed under decrees, stressing that such experiences should not be casually equated with policy disagreements in a democracy.

    “The absurdity of Atiku’s ‘dictatorship’ narrative collapses under minimal scrutiny,” Dare argued, pointing out that the former Vice President continues to enjoy freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, including unrestricted movement, political meetings and open criticism of the President and government.

    Dare further accused Atiku of turning post-election defeat into a recurring grievance strategy, alleging that the former Vice President seeks to delegitimize democratic outcomes whenever electoral results do not favour him.

    He said likening the economic reforms of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to military repression exposes what he called a desperation driven by unfulfilled ambition.

    “To argue that a ballot-produced government is worse than one imposed by bullets is reckless and corrosive,” Dare said, warning that such rhetoric insults the legacy of June 12 and flirts with democratic sabotage.

    The presidential aide noted that Atiku’s comments reflect not statesmanship but political frustration, adding that Nigeria has moved beyond the era of military authoritarianism and remains firmly committed to democratic governance, regardless of opposition narratives.