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Tag: Peter Obi

  • We will police our votes in 2027, Obi vows

    We will police our votes in 2027, Obi vows

    Former Anmabra State Governor Peter Obi has charged his supporters to ensure that their votes are properly counted during 2027 election.

    Obi said the party would look for credible people to carry out this assignment, cautioning that “those who will think that they will not count it, we will count them.”

    He also said that if his administration had implemented the twin policies of subsidy removal and flotation of the naira, petrol prices would have been between N500 – N600 per litre and naira at N1,000/$.

    Obi said he would have achieved this by “removing illicit money from circulation and dismantling the criminality associated with petrol subsidy.”

    Obi made the remarks during the presentation of the book titled, “Obi, the Political Change Agent” authored by former Group Political Editor of ThisDay and pioneer Deputy Managing Director of New Telegraph, Mr Ike Abonyi in Abuja yesterday.

    The book was reviewed by a former diplomat Oseloka Obaze.

    Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, said: “Let us continue to sacrifice. There is no short cut to it. If we use short cut we will not get there. We are going to look for people all over; those who will be in the houses of assembly, House of Representatives. That is what we didn’t do the last time. We want genuine people who want to be in the house. If you want to make money from politics know that you are part of this problem.

    “This time around, we will make sure that we are everywhere. We will vote, the votes will count and those who will think that they will not count it, we will count them. We will make it work.”

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    Obi added: “I would have done it in an organised manner. If you remove the illicit and criminal money around you will be able to get the value (of the naira) in the right space. But because everybody is stealing, pursuing the same dollar, nobody knows the rate. If I have stolen N1 million and I go to buy dollars will I think about the rate? No because for me it is still part of the stolen money that I have but we have huge illicit money pursuing the dollar so the rate is irrelevant. That is what we want to dismantle so that it can work.

    “I said I will remove fuel subsidy by first removing the criminality in it. If we removed the criminality, today, fuel would have been between N500 and N600 and dollar rate had no reason to be above N1,000.

    “When you start production, it will start coming down. It has happened in Angola and it is happening in Ghana. In December, Ghana’s money was 14 Cedi to the dollar. Today it is 10 Cedi to the dollar because they are now beginning to see a transparent government but when you have illicit money chasing the dollar it will not work. That is what we want to dismantle.”

    Obi lamented that Nigerians have been turned into refugees (Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs) in their own country.

    He said that Nigerians must rise and change the current political system, adding that the current structure does not care about the people.

    The former Anambra State governor listed what he said are the elements of sufferings by Nigerians as insecurity, poverty, theft, lack of accountability by public officials, among others.

    Obi said: “Today in Nigeria, we are not at war but Nigerians are in refugee camps in their own country. Nigerians are refugees in Chad, in Cameroon and we are not at war. The only reason is that we don’t have government that cares for the people. People are being killed every day and nobody goes to them to say we are sorry. Nobody visits them; nobody cares.

    “Nigerians are dying everyday. All we are doing is to use resources to renovate houses and build mansions. That’s what we are doing. If they make you Local Government Chairman, Govornor, Vice President or President, all they want to do is to renovate a house that doesn’t need renovation so that it will be more comfortable for them at the expense of other people. It is to go and build a conference centre in a place women are dying. 

    “People are dying every seven minutes yet we have sophisticated buildings and mansions. That is what we want to dismantle so that it will be easy for everybody.

    “I am assuring you people that if we work together we will dismantle them. Go back to your village and tell them that what we have today, we must gang up to remove it. Because it is not sustainable. People will come as usual, telling you stories; please ask about their background; ask who they are so that we will know how we can fix this country and make it work.”

  • Obi, Otti responsible for our crisis not FG – LP

    Obi, Otti responsible for our crisis not FG – LP

    The Labour Party (LP) led by the National Chairman, Julius Abure, has accused its former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia Governor, Alex Otti of being responsible for the leadership crisis in the party. 

    The party absolved the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)-led Federal Government of any blame in the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    It further argued that the LP was at peace until governor Otti and Obi went to Abia State to set up a caretaker committee while the tenure of the Abure leadership subsisted.

    Obi in an interview on national television on Monday, blamed the crisis in the LP on the Federal Government, whom he accused of using infiltrators to destabilise the party.

    “This is what you get, always, right? This is what you always get in Nigeria, because we now live in a country of propaganda and lies, and they manufacture it.

    “The problem we have in Labour Party is a problem instigated and sustained by the government of today.

    “I don’t need to tell you when you have a party chairman who calls a state governor a dwarf and dwarf thinking. Forget about me, so it’s not weak.

    “Okay, I’m weak, but it’s not weak. Is every other person there weak? So we’re not sincere with ourselves.

    “You speak the truth and they call you names. And we now live in a country of propaganda and lies. They are trying to put problems everywhere, they want to even put problems in families”, he said in a response to a direct question on the cause of the crisis in the LP.

    In a statement on Tuesday, the National Secretary of the Abure faction, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, downed what he said was Obi’s penchant for “misinformation” on the state of affairs in the LP by not telling the truth.

    The camp challenged Obi to provide proof of how the federal government or the APC was responsible for the crisis.

    It stated: “It is therefore pertinent to put on record that the problem with the Labour Party was not created by the ruling party, (APC), rather the problem in the Labour Party was created and sustained by Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, who is presently serving suspension for anti-party activities.

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    “We dare Obi to produce any tangible or intangible evidence which suggests remotely or otherwise that the Abure leadership of the Labour Party is in bed with the APC-led government.

    “Nobody is infallible and it behooves on anyone who makes mistakes to be bold enough to own it. When good leaders fail, they should own up to their responsibilities. Obi failed in providing leadership for the party. He should own up to his mistakes. It is therefore shameful for Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti to continue to accuse the government of infiltrating the Labour Party and by so doing demarketing the party.”

    The camp recalled the sacrifices the LP had to make in the past in order to accommodate Obi to contest the election in 2023, expressing surprise how he did not complain at the time that there were infiltrators in the party.

    “This same government was in existence in 2022 when the party made six aspirants, including Prof. Pat Utomi to step down for Peter Obi as the party’s candidate. The government was in existence when the party criss crossed all the nooks and crannies of the country including the insecurity prone areas campaigning for Peter Obi in 2022 and 2023.

    “The government was in existence when the national chairman, Julius Abure travelled across Europe and the United States to galvanise support for Peter Obi. The government was also in existence when the party leadership mobilised its members across the state leading to over six million votes won during the election”, it said.

    The party also went down memory lane to recount the efforts made to challenge the outcome of the 2023 polls.

    The statement added: “It was the same leadership that you claimed has been infiltrated that stood with Peter Obi throughout the tribunal and up to the Supreme Court. The same Abure appeared in court more than Obi refusing to be cowed when a splinter group wanted to hijack the process. The government was in existence when Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti were given sole tickets for 2023 even against the status book.

    “For the record, there was no problem in the Labour Party until Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti went to Umuahia, Abia State to create an illegal and unconstitutional Caretaker Committee that polarized the party. And may I ask, is it the ruling party that sent Obi and Otti to Umuahia to create a division in the party? 

    “They were also aware that the courts; from the lower court up to the Supreme Court clearly affirmed the leadership of the party, but Peter Obi and Alex Otti surreptitiously plotted to hijack the leadership of the party by instigating the division. Again, is it the government in power that created the division or forced them to march to INEC headquarters to exhibit their ignorance?

    “For Peter Obi to be responding to the comment where the National Chairman referred to the governor as being dwarfy in knowledge, we want to say clearly that there is no action without a reaction. The National Chairman was only responding to a pejorative comment made by the governor wherein he referred to the National Chairman as ‘masturbating’. 

    “The governor neither retracted nor apologised for that reckless statement. He showed utter disrespect to the constituted authority of the party; to the man who went out of his way to help him achieve his ambition to be a governor. 

    “If the governor is not limited or dwarfy in knowledge, he would have appreciated the import of the Supreme Court judgement which practically resolved the crisis in the party but these men were only blinded by their inordinate desire to wrestle the party from the present leadership. 

    “The party leadership has moved on since the Supreme Court judgement and we are working hard to reposition the party, to restore confidence in our members, and prevent further membership hemorrhage being witnessed across virtually all opposition parties in Nigeria today. We therefore think that it is improper for any member of the party, who means well for the party, to continue to make such unguided statements.

    “Labour Party will never go into any alliance with any other party to betray our candidates. We had every opportunity in 2023 to do so, but we chose to stand by Peter Obi and even Alex Otti before and even after the general election, when their matters were in court, but we were very consistent because of the bigger picture. And now that they have failed in their plot to dislodge a lawful leadership, they have simply resorted to blackmail instead of showing gratitude. 

    “One takeaway from Obi’s interview is that he has acknowledged that Abure is the National Chairman of the Labour Party as he clearly stated. We are therefore calling on Peter Obi and other aggrieved members of the party to understand and digest the fact that Barrister Julius Abure leadership has come to stay and nothing can change.”

  • Obi, Bwala clash on economy, politics

    Obi, Bwala clash on economy, politics

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, Peter Obi, and Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, yesterday disagreed on the nation’s economic policy and governance.

    Obi, in an interview on a national television, insisted that he  would have  removed the subsidy on petrol  and floated the naira but not in the ‘haphazard way’ the current administration implemented it.

    But Bwala kicked against Obi’s positon.

    He said the former governor of Anambra State has shallow knowledge of economics and politics.

     Obi said while he supports the reforms in principle, he would have approached them in a ‘gradual and organised’ manner with clear goals and measurable outcomes.

    He said: “I have consistently maintained that I would have removed the fuel subsidy. If you go to my manifesto, it is there and the steps I would have taken in an organised manner.

    “There is nothing wrong with the removal of fuel subsidy. What is wrong is the haphazard way in which it was announced and implemented.”

    President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on May 29, 2023  announced the withdrawal of  subsidy on petrol.

     Following the announcement, petrol prices spiked from around N190 to over N500 per litre and have since soared past N850 in many parts of the country.

    Obi criticised the lack of visible improvements in sectors meant to benefit from the removal.

     He said the Federal Government promised to reinvest the money saved from the subsidy removal  into critical infrastructure but has yet to show meaningful impacts.

    “Since we were told that we removed it because we don’t want to borrow and that the funds will allow for investments in critical infrastructure. Billions saved. Where is it? Where is it invested in critical areas of development, ? Obi asked.

    “Everybody knows critical areas of development — education, health, and pulling people out of poverty. Have any of these three improved? No.”

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    The former Anambra State governor also backed the idea of floating the naira, a policy the Tinubu administration adopted weeks after ending the subsidy but stressed that currency liberalisation only works when matched with strong domestic production.

    He said: “There is nothing wrong in floating and devaluing your currency. You do this when you have productivity. In all of this, I would have done the same thing in an organised manner.”

    Obi argued that a government focused on reform should first stimulate production, especially in agriculture and manufacturing, to cushion the impact of economic changes on citizens.

     He also noted the importance of negotiating a fair pricing template for petrol with operators before policy shifts.

     Bwala, in a post shared yesterday on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, said the former   governor offered no credible alternatives while conceding agreement with the Tinubu administration’s broad economic direction.

    “He seems to have very shallow knowledge of economics and governance. Anybody with a rational mind knows these guys are just looking for ways  to grab power; but they don’t have any alternative agenda”, Bwala wrote.

    He dismissed Obi’s claim, suggesting the former candidate merely danced around the issue when pressed for specifics.

    “He agreed with our policy of removal of subsidy and unifications of the foreign exchange; he claimed he would have done it better than us in an ‘organized manner’. He was asked what is the ‘organized manner.’ He played with words yet to arrive at agreeing with us”, Bwala said.

  • He has very shallow knowledge of economics, politics, Bwala slams Obi

    He has very shallow knowledge of economics, politics, Bwala slams Obi

    The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has sharply criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, accusing him of lacking a deep understanding of economic policy and governance. 

    Bwala made the remarks in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, following Obi’s interview on Arise Television earlier in the day.

    Reacting to Obi’s comments on key policy issues—particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of Nigeria’s foreign exchange rates—Bwala said the former Anambra Governor offered no credible alternatives while conceding agreement with the Tinubu administration’s broad economic direction.

    “He seems to have very shallow knowledge of economics and governance. Anybody with a rational mind knows these guys are just looking to grab power; but they don’t have any alternative agenda,” Bwala wrote.

    In the interview, Obi stated that he supported the removal of fuel subsidy, a major reform undertaken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2023, but insisted he would have handled it differently.

    “I have consistently maintained that I would have removed the fuel subsidy. If you go to my manifesto, it is there and the steps I would have taken in an organised manner,” Obi said.

    Bwala, however, dismissed Obi’s claim, suggesting the former candidate merely danced around the issue when pressed for specifics. 

    Read Also: Tinubu committed to inclusive governance — Bwala

    “He agreed with our policy of removal of subsidy and unifications of the foreign exchange; he claimed he would have done it better than us in an ‘organized manner’. He was asked what is the ‘organized manner.’ He played with words yet to arrive at agreeing with us,” Bwala wrote.

    Obi, in his interview, had emphasized that the real problem was not the removal of subsidy itself but the way the policy was executed.

    The former presidential hopeful questioned the Tinubu administration’s use of the supposed savings from the subsidy removal.

    “Since we were told that we removed it because we don’t want to borrow and that the funds will allow for investments in critical infrastructure—billions saved—where is it? Where is it invested in critical areas of development?” Obi asked.

    Bwala’s criticism extended to the tone and nature of the interview itself, claiming that the Arise TV host, whom he referred to as “a member of his Obidient movement,” had given Obi an easy ride. 

  • Obi, Atiku, others pay tributes to late Mike Ejeagha

    Obi, Atiku, others pay tributes to late Mike Ejeagha

    Tributes have continued to pour in for late veteran Nigerian highlife musician and cultural icon, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, who passed away at the age of 95.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that his eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, confirmed that the revered artiste died around 8 p.m. on Friday following a prolonged illness.

    Born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, Enugu State, Ejeagha carved a timeless legacy with his unique blend of traditional Igbo folk music and storytelling.

    His musical journey began in the 1960s, and by the 1980s, he had become a household name with classics like Omekagu, Uwa Mgbede Ka Mma, and Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche (Gwo gwo gwo ngwo).

    Before his passing, Ejeagha’s music experienced a powerful resurgence in 2024, when comedian and content creator, Brain Jotter, used his 1983 track, Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche, in a viral dance video.

    This propelled the song to #81 on Apple Music Nigeria, making Ejeagha the oldest Nigerian artiste to ever chart.

    His 1983 album, Akụkọ N’egwu Original Vol. 1, also re-entered the spotlight, breaking into the Spotify Nigeria Top 100 Albums, four decades after its release.

    Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I just read the sad news of the passing of the legendary highlife musician, songwriter, folklorist, and cultural custodian, Pa Mike Ejeagha.

    “His transition marks the end of an era, but not the end of his voice — his songs will continue to echo through generations as testaments to wisdom, culture, and truth, “he said.

    He praised Ejeagha for using music as a tool for teaching, healing, and preserving the philosophical depth of Igbo culture.

    “For over six decades, Pa Ejeagha, popularly known as Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, used music not merely as art, but as a medium for teaching, healing, and preserving the moral and philosophical wealth of the people.

    Read Also: Tinubu mourns folklore legend Mike Ejeagha

    “His lyrics, rich with proverbs and folk wisdom, were moral compasses for both young and old… He immortalised the essence of life—its humour, discipline, spirituality, and resilience,”  he said.

    Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Ndubuisi, on X, also expressed deep sorrow: “Mike Ejeagha was a legend, a cultural ambassador, and a revered son of Enugu State. His fan-base transcended boundaries, and he was one of the most recognisable voices in music.

    “Ejeagha’s immense talent and genius lay in how he took simple indigenous folktales and turned them into unforgettable songs that resonate across cultures,”  he said.

    The governor pledged the state’s commitment to immortalising Ejeagha’s memory, assuring the family of full support.

    “On behalf of the Enugu State Government, I offer heartfelt condolences to the Ejeagha family and assure them of our support.

    “As a government, we will ensure that his memory is duly immortalised. Above all, I pray that his family experiences the comforting grace of God’s love, and the fortitude to bear the loss.”

    On social media, sentiments were equally heartfelt. Cultural commentator, Anafulogo, remarked: “We Igbo people lost a special one in Gentleman Mike Ejeagha.

    “Do you know how level-headed a man will be for ‘Gentleman’ to be a part of his identity?”

    Aldo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reflected on the resurgence of Ejeagha’s music, thanks to Brain jotter: “It is heartwarming to note that thanks to Brain Jotter, highlife maestro Mike Ejeagha had his ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ encore dance before the curtain was drawn.

    “Rest in music, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha.”

    Brain jotter, whose viral video reintroduced Ejeagha to a new generation, wrote: “39 years ago, he made magic, 39 years later, we dance to it again. Now he rests but his melody lives forever. Rest on, legend.”

    (NAN)

  • Coalition forces face uncertain future

    Coalition forces face uncertain future

     Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has hinted that he will not be part of any emerging opposition coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

    Instead, he has declared his intention to once again seek the presidency on the platform of the LP.

    In a video circulating on the party’s WhatsApp platform and recorded by a television station, Obi was seen to be addressing a group of young supporters, assuring them of his continued political commitment through the Labour Party.

    The former Anambra State governor also suggested that the internal crises currently affecting both the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are being fueled by external interference from the federal government.

    He described these divisions as deliberate tactics aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the next general election.

    Responding to a question on which platform he intended to contest the 2027 elections, Obi said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”

    Answering another question from a youth who was apparently disturbed about what appears to be Obi’s indifference towards the LP’s crisis, Obi said, “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere.

    “We had a problem in our party before, in the past, (Umaru) Yar’Adua was the president. I went to him then.  He called the (then) INEC Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.

    “But today, in all the parties, there are problems. These are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity. Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”

    He urged Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring that their votes count, because even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about the people’s votes counting rests with voters.

    He also urged Nigerian youths and the electorate not to be discouraged because positive change will also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order.

    The former Anambra State governor said that, left to him, there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office.

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    He said by the time the 2027 election holds, he would be 65 years old, and that he would not want to be contesting for elections in his 70s.

    Obi’s comments come amid reports of a potential opposition coalition involving political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and others.

    The proposed coalition was allegedly leaning toward adopting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for 2027 elections.

    Meanwhile, a North-Central Region of Nigeria Supporters for Peter Obi, has categorically told the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, to reject the purported vice presidential slot offer by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 polls.

    Its Chairman, Bitrus Samuel and Secretary Murtala Ndagi, in a statement, raised ethical and political concerns about such an alliance, describing it “as a threat to Obi’s credibility” and the movement for a new Nigeria.

    They expressed deep unease over the implications of Obi partnering with Atiku, particularly in light of his political inconsistency in switching political parties.

    Samuel said: “The North-Central region of Nigeria supporters for Mr. Peter Obi Group, feel compelled to address a matter of significant urgency and concern regarding the future of our nation and the political integrity of a leader we believe in.

    “As the political landscape in Nigeria continues to evolve, we wish to caution Mr. Obi against accepting the offer of a vice-presidential role in a proposed joint single-term ticket with Atiku Abubakar.

    “Mr. Obi, your unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the upliftment of the Nigerian populace stands in stark contrast to the allegations and controversies surrounding Mr. Abubakar.

    “Integrity is paramount in a nation striving for reform and renewal. Your supporters view your integrity as a beacon of hope in a political landscape often characterized by greed and betrayal.

    “Moreover, the implications of such an alliance extend beyond personal reputation. It is essential to consider the potential fallout among your supporters, particularly in the North-Central region, where trust in political leaders has been severely eroded by years of mismanagement and corruption.

    “Many of us have placed our faith in you as a leader who embodies the values of honesty and accountability. Accepting a vice-presidential role under Atiku’s banner could alienate your base, leaving us disillusioned and disheartened.

    “The relationship between Atiku Abubakar and the United States further complicates matters.

    “The perception of a leader with such a checkered past could have dire consequences for our collective security and stability.

    “As supporters, we have witnessed the devastating impact of corruption on our communities. We have seen how it perpetuates poverty, stifles economic growth, and erodes the fabric of our society.

    “We cannot, in good conscience, support a ticket that may inadvertently endorse a legacy of corruption and mismanagement.

    “Our collective aspiration for a new Nigeria, one built on the tenets of good governance, must not be compromised.

    “We urge Mr. Obi to reflect on the long-term implications of this potential alliance. While the allure of power and political expediency may tempt him to accept the vice-presidential offer, we implore him to consider the broader picture.

    “The path to true leadership is often fraught with difficult decisions, and it is essential to remain steadfast in the commitment to the principles that have guided him thus far.”

    He concluded by reiterated their continued support for Obi as a symbol of hope, reform, and clean governance, urging him to remain true to the ideals that galvanized the Obidient Movement nationwide.

    “We stand united in our quest for a better Nigeria, and we hope that Mr. Obi will choose a path that upholds the values we hold dear.”

  • To laugh or to cry?

    To laugh or to cry?

    At least, the likes of Peter Obi, flaunting “capacity”, which progressively shows nothing beyond full emptiness, would not go berserk on X and allied social media, sharing it as “proof” that they are the messiah.

    The Financial Times (FT) editorial on two years of President Bola Tinubu took care of that.  It generally approved of the government’s reform policy thrust; and even claimed Nigeria was turning the bend; and the economy probably at its comparative best!

    Yet, reading the editorial, you don’t know whether to laugh or to cry, because of its insufferable condescension, bristling arrogance and arrant rudeness. Must these western media write their stuff as if they are patronizing children that know neither their right hand from their left? 

    It’s all so tiring, now that Donald Trump is running Uncle Sam ragged; and these hypocrites are not exactly gung-ho in their criticism — in any case, not the way they would have galloped into town, were “Trump” to  happen to Africa, Asia or even part of Eastern Europe.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s reforms have mixed results, says LCCI

    Hear the FT all-knowing wizards: “The tiny green shoots have come because Tinubu’s  government has tackled — albeit in often haphazard fashion …”

    Or: “Politicians still spend on fripperies like an extravagant presidential jet …”

    Or, even: “That so much has been achieved by a government stuffed with cronies — and, to be fair, one or two competent technocrats …”

    What arrant nonsense!  What goring patronising!  What devilish insults!

    So, to the self-appointed gods of FT, Nigeria is incapable of re-ordering its challenges without being haphazard?  The federal cabinet can’t but be peopled by “cronies” — whatever that means — sans the so-called “competent technocrats”?

    But maybe FT should first categorize the president himself: is he the free-loading “crony”?  Or the overrated “technocrat”, always lord in FT and sundry lore?  So long for arrogant categorization with no iota of depth!

    Unfortunately, the administration’s officials themselves would be eagerly sharing this very rude endorsement, if lexis can carry such a violent contradiction in terms!  Enough of this house negro mindset, needing validation from the cruel slave master!

    Still, there’s something to take away from FT: the economic numbers are looking good, as good as the cost of living crisis is looking bad. 

    That’s the crunch to work upon in this second half of the president’s first term.

  • Obi’s coalition project affront to party leadership – LP

    Obi’s coalition project affront to party leadership – LP

    The Labour Party has carpeted its former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, for associating with leaders of a coalition against President Bola Tinubu after it ruled out participating in any coalition ahead of the 2027 election.

    The party said that Obi’s continued association with the coalition was not only distasteful but unacceptable to it.

    The national publicity secretary of the Julius Abure-led faction, Obiora Ifoh, said this in a statement on Monday.

    The party said that Obi’s romance with pro-coalition leaders was confusing, adding that the former Anambra State governor had not come to terms with his intentions for the 2027 presidential race.

    The statement also said that the Labour Party presidential ticket for the 2027 election was open to anyone who wants to run under its platform.

    It said, “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to the news trending in the media that the party is ‘celebrating’ that its candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has declared his intention to run on the platform of the party in 2027. I want to state emphatically that I was quoted out of context and therefore, the impression conveyed by the news was erroneous, inaccurate and does not in any way reflect the position and mood in the party.

    “First, while we are not opposed to anybody running under the platform of the Labour Party in the 2027 general election, we need to make it categorically clear that the party has a long-standing rule on how its candidates shall emerge, and an automatic ticket is not one of the routes.

    “Recall that at the party’s National Convention in 2024, the party had erroneously granted automatic tickets to our former Presidential candidate and the only governor of the party, however, that decision has since been rescinded and reversed after consulting the statute books.

    “Second, His Excellency, Peter Obi, hours after he spoke of his intention to run under the Labour Party, was on Sunday (yesterday Sunday) seen in a meeting of a pro-coalition group in Abuja without the permission and consent of the Labour Party leadership.

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    “This to us is confusing, and we think that Peter Obi has not come to terms with his intentions for the 2027 presidential race.

    “We have consistently said that the Labour Party will not go into any coalition or merger of any sort ahead of the 2027 general election, therefore, Obi’s continued association with the coalition is not only distasteful but unacceptable to the party.

    “It is also an affront to the party leadership, and we view his position as a total disregard for the party’s right to make decisions governing its affairs.

    “We are therefore, by this statement, letting Nigerians know that the presidency for 2027 is open to anyone who wants to run under the platform of the party.”

  • Why I may not contest again after 2027, by Peter Obi

    Why I may not contest again after 2027, by Peter Obi

    The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has explained why he may not be able to contest for presidency after 2027.

    He said the 2027 general elections may be his final shot at the presidency.

    Obi confirmed he would contest in 2027 on the LP’s platform and hinted at a possible exit from active politics after that.

    He spoke in a seven-minute, 16-second video clip that has since gone viral. Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, confirmed the video saying “it was recent.”

    Obi explained that he would be 65 in 2027 and might not be willing to pursue public office beyond that age.

    READ ALSO: Security sector at Tinubu’s mid-term

    He said: “I believe we should have a retirement age for politicians. By 2027, I will be 65.

    “If the presidency goes back to the North in 2031, it may not return to the South until 2039 — by then, I will be 77. I wouldn’t want to run for office at that age. It would make a mess of everything”

    Obi assured his audience of continued support for young Nigerians who are serious about national transformation.

    “Even if I’m not contesting, I will always support those of you who are committed to real change, with whatever resources I can provide,” he stated.

  • Peter Obi, Okaro, others attend Nkechi Nweje burial ceremony

    Peter Obi, Okaro, others attend Nkechi Nweje burial ceremony

    Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, attended the funeral of actress Nkechi Nweje in Anambra on Friday, May 23.

    Obi attended alongside actresses Ebele Okaro and Ngozi Ezeonu and other colleagues.

    Videos showed Obi, dressed in black, exchanging greetings with dignitaries at the event.

    Nweje, born June 6, 1964, in Onitsha, passed away on March 21, 2025, at 60.

    Read Also: Peter Obi greets Tinubu in Rome at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration

    She was known for roles in films like Ezigbo Nwanyi Onitsha and Royal War.

    Her funeral service and interment were held at 1C Obeleagu Street, off Awka Road, Onitsha, starting at 10 a.m., with a reception at Eze Chima Primary School.

    Nweje’s death was confirmed by producer Stanley Ajemba, who mourned her loss.