The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has stated that the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibom Ibas (retd) is only dismantling all the governance structures put in place by the suspended Governor of the state, Siminialayi Fubara.

PDP also described the immediate past Head of Service of the state, Dr. George Nweke, as a serial betrayer, alleging that Nweke has become a tool for Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, to spread false information against Fubara and his team.

The Chairman of PDP in the state, Nname Ewor, spoke while reacting to allegations made by former Rivers HoS Dr. George Nwaeke, against Fubara, PDP and Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Ewor condemned the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state and accused the Sole Administrator of dismantling governance structures put in place by Governor Fubara.

Ewor questioned the motive behind the declaration of the state of emergency, which he claimed has no basis in reality, adding that the state is not under war, or threat of war, and no occurrence of natural disaster to warrant such declaration.

He queried if the actions already carried out by the Sole Administrator could ensure restoration of peace and order, or spark more crisis?

The PDP chairman also addressed specific allegations made by Nwaeke, including claims that Governor Fubara was involved in the bombing of the House of Assembly and that he promised to work for Senator Bala Mohammed in the 2027 general election. Ewor dismissed these allegations as false and baseless.

He said: “Nwaeke, highly compromised and a serial betrayer, became a ready tool in the hands of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, to carry out a campaign of calumny, libel defamation and distortion of facts against our Governor and his team, the chairman of PDP Governors forum, Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State Governor, ljaw nation, Militants etc.”

Tinubu wrong to release Rivers allocation to Sole Administrator — Emiaso, retired judge

Meanwhile, a former President of the Delta State Customary Court, Justice Miakpor Emiaso (retd.), has said that President Bola Tinubu made a blunder in releasing Rivers State allocation to the Sole Administrator of the state.

He said: “It is unlawful, it is unconstitutional, you cannot release funds to a sole administrator, and I mean it is very wrong.

“The constitution does not conceive of a situation where you even appoint a sole administrator to run a state. Appointing a sole administrator is unconstitutional; anything the sole administrator does there is ultra vires, null, and void because there is no arrangement under the constitution for the appointment of a sole administrator to administer a state.

“There is no arrangement in the constitution that permits any authority in this country to suspend an elected officer, least of all a governor, so the president suspending the governor of Rivers State is a very major threat to our democratic system.

“It means that the president can suspend any governor of any state; that is not democracy, and that is not the spirit of our constitution. He has no power to suspend an elected officer.

“There are so many decisions of our courts to that effect that nobody can suspend the governor. Nobody can suspend even members of the House of Assembly if they are elected. There is a process for removing them, and it is not by suspension.”

“By my own assessment Nwaeke is neither under any spell nor under duress. He is a career civil servant in the civil service of Rivers State, whose career span over 40 years service in the state civil service. He rose to the apex of the civil service. Therefore he knows exactly what he has done.

“Mr. Nwaeke procured flight ticket from Port Harcourt to Abuja, left his house on his own, boarded his flight, landed in Abuja and headed straight to his destination to deliver and read out the script already written by his co-conspirators. The aim of the script is to discredit the Governor, make the President lose confidence in him and paint him black before the general public.

“As a party, we know that all what Nwaeke read in the written script were all lies from the pit of hell and cannot stand the test of time. We therefore want to use this medium to set the record straight, and educate Rivers people and indeed Nigerians on the true nature of the man “Dr George Nwaeke and the true state of affairs in the state.

“That George Nwaeke lied when he claimed that he was with the Governor, when he handed over bag of money to Edison Ehie to bomb the House of Assembly. The true position is that when the bombing incident took places in the House of Assembly, men of the Nigeria police made over 7 arrests, transferred the suspects to force Headquarters Abuja.

“The suspects were charged to court in Abuja and remanded in kuje correctional Centre for over 8 months. They were later transferred to Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court.

“They were equally remanded in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre because of lack of diligent prosecution by the police. The presiding judge struct out and dismissed the case early this year and the suspects were set free. Accusing the Governor, Edison and Chijioke Ihunwo of being responsible for the bombing is neither here nor there.”

“His claim that Fubara promise to work for Sen Bala Mohammned in 2027 General election is also a lie. As we know, Bala is the Governor of Bauchi state and chairman PDP Governors forum, Fubara doubles as his Deputy. Both of them are at liberty to meet anywhere, anytime to discuss matters of PDP.

“Besides, Bala has not told Nigerians he is running for the office of president in 2027. Nwaeke and his co-conspirators simply put together this narrative to pitch the president aganst our Governor. It is dead on arrival.”

There is growing anxiety in Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector as operators await the Federal Government’s decision on the future of the naira-for-crude deal between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The six-month deal, which began in October 2024, officially ends today, Monday, March 31, 2024, and the parties involved have yet to finalize whether the deal will be extended or discontinued.

The uncertainty surrounding the deal has had a direct impact on fuel prices, with petrol prices rising sharply. Dealers have blamed the recent surge on the government’s failure to extend the naira-for-crude deal, which had previously helped stabilize fuel prices.

Petrol prices have increased from around ₦860 per litre to over ₦930 per litre in just one week, with projections indicating that prices could hit N1,000 per litre if the deal is not revived.

In addition to the concerns over the naira-for-crude deal, industry sources revealed that the Dangote refinery, which produces 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, is expected to shut down its petrol-producing unit for maintenance in June.

The maintenance, scheduled to last for 30 days, is expected to further strain Nigeria’s petrol supply.

An insider at the Ministry of Finance who spoke with Punch and familiar with the ongoing negotiations revealed that no significant progress has been made regarding the extension of the naira-for-crude deal.

“Nothing new has happened. Probably after the holidays, the committee will sit and meet,” the source stated, expressing frustration over the lack of resolution.

When the deal was first implemented on October 1, 2024, it aimed to improve supply, reduce Nigeria’s reliance on costly petroleum product imports, and decrease pump prices. However, the deal’s suspension has led to disruptions, including a sharp increase in petrol prices.

On March 19, 2025, the Dangote refinery announced a temporary halt to the sale of petroleum products in naira, citing a mismatch between the naira-denominated sales proceeds and its crude oil purchase obligations, which are denominated in US dollars.

“We must temporarily adjust our sales currency to align with our crude procurement currency,” the refinery said in a statement.

Following this announcement, petrol prices at private depots in Lagos jumped to about ₦900 per litre, from under ₦850 previously. Retail stations across the country quickly followed suit, with prices reaching ₦930 in Lagos, ₦950 in Abuja, and ₦960 in the northern parts of the country.

The situation has sparked widespread concern among industry stakeholders, who are calling for urgent resolution of the deadlock.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike, in a chat with Punch expressed frustration over the issue, stating, “We’ve called for a stakeholders meeting. We are going to meet to discuss it and come out with a way forward.”

The meeting, initially scheduled for this week, has been postponed to May 1, 2025, due to the Sallah and Easter breaks.

Ukadike noted that the price fluctuations over the last six months have led to losses exceeding ₦200 billion for marketers, with many bulk buyers being discouraged by the risks involved in purchasing and selling at a loss.

Dealers have also placed blame on the Federal Government for the ongoing increase in petrol prices. According to them, the government’s failure to extend the naira-for-crude deal has led to the current crisis, with many marketers struggling to manage the volatile pricing environment.

The Special Assistant to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, Jerry Omotsegunwa, has stated that neither Governor Fubara nor the public has been informed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, about the specific reasons behind their ongoing political hostilities.

The political feud between Wike and Fubara, which has escalated since late 2023, led to a state of emergency being declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025.

This decision resulted in the suspension of Governor Fubara and members of the state’s House of Assembly.

In a recent interview, former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi suggested that the rift between Wike and Fubara was centered around money-sharing issues.

However, Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, criticized the imposition of emergency rule by President Tinubu, calling it unconstitutional.

Responding to Amaechi’s claims, Omotsegunwa told Punch on Sunday that Wike had yet to clarify the reason for his anger towards Governor Fubara.

Omotsegunwa described Amaechi’s statement as his personal opinion while reiterating that the cause of the rift remains unresolved after almost two years.

He explained, “As it stands right now, I will not dispute Amaechi’s position even though he has the right to his own opinion. This crisis has dragged on for almost two years now, and nobody has told us what the actual problem is.”

He further emphasized, “The FCT minister has not told us anything that led to the crisis, and the governor too has not provided any clarity.” Omotsegunwa also recalled a recent conversation where Wike suggested Fubara had tried to destroy his political structure, but still, no clear explanation has emerged.

Omotsegunwa concluded by acknowledging that Amaechi was entitled to his opinion but emphasized that without Wike providing a detailed explanation, the true cause of the political conflict remains unclear.

“So, as much as I don’t want to say he has lied, I also say he has the right to his own opinion, and that is his personal opinion,” he said.

The World Bank is set to approve a total of $632 million in fresh loans to Nigeria on Monday, aimed at supporting crucial sectors such as nutrition improvement and quality education, despite mounting concerns over the country’s rising debt profile.

According to Punch, the loans consist of $80 million for the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0 project and $552 million for the HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All programme.

Both projects are currently in the final stages of negotiation and are expected to receive approval later today. These loans are part of a broader strategy by the World Bank to assist Nigeria in achieving its development goals, focusing on healthcare, education, and community resilience.

The funds will enhance the Nigerian government’s efforts to improve nutrition outcomes and increase access to quality education for Nigerian children.

The approval of these loans follows the $500 million loan granted to Nigeria last Friday to support the Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Programme.

This initiative, launched on March 28, 2025, aims to address Nigeria’s economic challenges by providing grants for vulnerable households and supporting small businesses affected by economic downturns.

The Community Action Programme is focused on improving food security and providing economic opportunities for communities most impacted by recent economic fluctuations.

This is part of the World Bank’s broader support for Nigeria’s development amid ongoing challenges like inflation and high living costs.

While the latest loans provide a boost to Nigeria’s economic recovery efforts, the World Bank’s disbursement of earlier loans has raised concerns.

The $800 million approved for the National Social Safety-Net Program Scale Up, which aimed to support vulnerable Nigerians, has experienced delays.

According to Punch, only $315 million has been disbursed out of the total loan amount, with the remaining funds stalled due to issues such as fraud detection under the program.

In addition, former humanitarian minister Betta Edu was suspended following an alleged misappropriation of ₦585 million for palliative distribution, and her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, is under investigation by the EFCC for alleged financial misconduct.

These issues have raised questions about the efficiency and transparency of government-managed programs.

As the World Bank continues to offer financial support, Nigeria’s debt burden continues to grow. In 2023, the World Bank approved loans worth $2.7 billion for projects in renewable energy, education, and women’s empowerment.

The figure surged to $4.32 billion in 2024, reflecting Nigeria’s increasing dependence on concessional financing to stabilize its economy and address pressing challenges.

By 2025, Nigeria is set to secure six new loans from the World Bank, totaling $2.23 billion. These loans, aimed at sectors like healthcare, nutrition, digital infrastructure, and education, will bring Nigeria’s total World Bank loans to $9.25 billion over three years.

While these loans provide necessary fiscal relief, they contribute to concerns about the country’s growing debt, with Nigeria spending $5.47 billion on external debt servicing in the past 14 months alone.

The leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the South West has clarified that it is unaware that the Former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, joined the party in the bid to get the presidential ticket for the 2027 general election.

Naija News reports that the zonal leader of the party, Mulikat Adeola Akande, clarified on Saturday during the ifta organised for all party members in the 11 local government councils within Ibadan city.

Adeola said that nobody should be discouraged from joining the party because politics is a game of numbers, and defectors must be ready to play by the rules of the party.

She assured members of the party that tested and trusted candidates would be presented for elective positions in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Hon. Adeola, who represented Ogbomoso North/South and Oriire Federal Constituency between 2007 and 2015 on the platform of the PDP, explained that she called it quits with the party when she was betrayed.

She said, “Politics is a game of number and anybody who wants to come into SDP is welcome as long as they are ready to play by the rules of the party and not with the mind of taking the party from those who are there before.

“As the leader of the SDP in the South West, I’m not aware that the intention of the former Governor to join the party is to get the party’s presidential ticket.

“I ran for Senate and we worked for the present governor of the State, Governor Seyi Makinde. While we were working for him, he was working against me, it was something I have never seen before, it was a total betrayal.”

Flanked by Michael Ogunlade Oyo State Chairman of the party and Akintola Ezekiel, Director of National Mobilisation and Strategy of the Presidential Candidate of the Action Alliance in the 2023 general elections, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd) encouraged members of the party to get registered in their various wards and collect their voter’s cards.

She said, “You don’t just sit down and say you want to win election and then go and bring out anybody. We must have the right candidates, somebody tested and trusted,who has integrity that when people hears his name they can rely on him. Someone who is dependable and reliable; who will work for the people and not for himself. Those are the qualities we are looking for.”

Former official, wife disagree over alleged abduction

Suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalyi Fubara, yesterday, engaged in a war of words with the immediate past Head of Service, HOS, Dr. George Nweke, over the bombing of pipelines in the state and burning of the House of Assembly Complex. 

The development, which created confusion over the true story of the incidents that happened in the state, added another twist to the complex political crisis in Rivers.

In 2023, in the early stages of the current impasse, suspected political thugs burnt down the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The arsonists had carried out the act at about 9:45pm, causing uneasy calm around the assembly complex.

On March 18, 2025, an explosion also rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna Local Government Area of Rivers State, heightening the already tense political situation in the state. The incident occurred near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction. Unlike in the past when militant groups claimed responsibility for such incidents, none took ownership of the two.

Terrorism

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had sent five Port Harcourt-based men to Kuje Prison for burning down the complex.

The men were arraigned by the Federal Government on terrorism charges.

However, the issues have taken another dimension with the claim by Nweke, who resigned a few days ago as HOS that Fubara ordered both incidents.

He alleged that the suspended governor sponsored the recent explosions that occurred in some oil facilities in the state.

Nweke also alleged that Fubara also masterminded the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex to stop his impeachment by the house.

Nweke, who said this in Abuja, appreciated Fubara for appointing him to serve in his administration, saying his aim in addressing the press was to put the record straight.

He said: “With loads of misinformation on print and electronic media, I have chosen to put the record straight, I was not sacked neither was I pressured to resign, I did it willingly from the depth of my heart, however, as an insider and a key player in this administration by my position, who worked closely with Siminilayi Fubara, it will be unfair for me to keep silent or not to address some key factors that have affected or will affect our state if we continue on this trajectory.

“I want to use this medium to thank Mr. President for a swift intervention in Rivers State crisis, especially on the state of emergency that was declared and assented to by the National Assembly.

Suspended

“You will recall that when the governor was suspended, as the Head of Service I was the next in command so I am not speaking from outside. I am speaking as an insider. If not for the intervention of Mr. President, Nigeria would have faced the worst economic sabotage and Rivers State would have been in flames.”

Nweke alleged that Fubara had in the wake of the crisis in the state, directed his suspended Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, to burn down the Assembly complex to avert his seeming impeachment.

He also said the governor had also made some advancement to bring down the residential quarters of the state lawmakers, adding that the governor wasted state funds to massage his ego.

Nweke said: “It all started with the Rivers State House of Assembly where Governor Siminilayi Fubara directed his Chief of Staff (Edison Ehie) to burn down the assembly to avert his impeachment. Edison was in Government House with two other boys, including the former Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, and one Chijioke. I was there with them when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for the operation. I did not know the amount inside.

“I want to tell Rivers people today that the House of Assembly complex in Moscow Road was brought down by Edison Ehie under the instructions of Governor Siminilayi Fubara, I challenge him to an open confrontation and I will throw more light on it. A day after that incident, I almost resigned but I was very scared because I knew the power of a sitting governor and he knew that I was aware of the whole plan and that I was discomforted with the unconscionable act and deliberate posture of innocence and mien of a sheep.

Residential quarters

“Another attempt was also made to destroy the residential quarters of the House of Assembly members if not for the press conference that was made by Rivers youths, Rivers elders and National Assembly members, that would have been another barbaric demolition in Rivers State.

“I came to realize that they wanted to demolish that second building because, after some weeks, he told me that if he had known early he would have gone to pull down their hall before visiting the residential quarters of the assembly and that he didn’t know that they had such a beautiful hall where they are using now for their sitting, I was shocked and I asked myself how could a man who wants to lead his people be destroying his state assets and wasting public funds on a needless ego fight.

“While I thank Mr. President for the state of emergency that was declared in Rivers State, I will plead with him not to give up on Rivers State affairs because a lot is going on there with Governor Fubara. One of the factors that got me removed was when Governor Fubara told me they would use the Ijaw to decide who would become the next President of Nigeria and I asked him how will that work. Is it by votes or by what means?

“He told me that he is the chief security officer of Rivers State and his brother is in charge of Bayelsa State and all the pipelines are under their care that at the appropriate time, they will tell the boys what to do and the fund was not an issue. That was why when he made that statement in his public function that “I will tell the boys what to do at the appropriate time” I knew something was up and perhaps the time was near.

Nweke said: “The plan was to start from non-Ijaw speaking areas to destroy oil facilities to remove attention from the Ijaw and make it have a statewide look. The Ogoni, Oyibo, Ahoda areas were to be bombed first before the Ijaw zones. This would have brought down the government of President Tinubu and usher in a new President from the coalition of political parties with a Vice President from the Ijaw.’’

Nweke is lying, he is compromised —Fubara

Meanwhile, Fubara has dismissed Nweke’s claims, stating that he,Nweke, has been compromised to lie against him.

Fubara disclosed this in a statement he signed in Port Harcourt and urged the public to disregard him.

He said: “Ordinarily, I would not have responded to his claims, but to correct the erroneous impression such allegations may create in the minds of the people, and the disaffection it is bound to cause in the state and the country.

“First, on the claim that he was aware of my discussions and plans to support Bala Mohammed’s alleged 2027 presidential bid, it is laughable that Dr Nwaeke would be part of any high-level political meeting as Head of Service, much more sitting in my alleged night meetings with Bala Mohammed and militants as he claimed. Howbeit, none of such meetings were ever held.

“The truth is that the whole world knew when the Bauchi State Governor, as Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum visited the state, and there was nothing secret about the visits.

“It is also ludicrous for Dr. Nwaeke to claim that he was aware of my meetings to encourage attacks on oil pipelines and other national assets in the state, as there was no time I held any meeting with militants or any criminal group to destabilise the state. It is on record that I have been at the forefront of preaching peace in the state even in the face of obvious provocations.

“The truth is that Dr. Nwaeke has been compromised, and whatever he is saying is only aimed at fulfilling his promise to those who may have paid or coerced him to lie against me.

“I call on all well-meaning Nigerians and the good people of Rivers State to disregard everything said by Dr. Nwaeke as they are mere desperate attempts to discredit me and my administration, and undermine the peace process by Mr. President.”

He was abducted, not the husband I know —Nweke’s wife

Nonetheless, the matter has become more dramatic as Florence Nweke, wife of the former HOS, said her husband was abducted.

She raised concerns about her husband’s safety and whereabouts following his sudden public appearance in Anuja.

Florence revealed that her husband had informed her of his safe arrival in Abuja after travelling from Rivers State. However, she was later shocked to see him participating in an interview where he made allegations against the governor.

According to her, the man in the interview did not seem to be the husband she knew, sparking fears that he might be acting under duress.

“I have tried reaching him several times, but his lines have been unreachable. I don’t know where he is or if he is safe. My husband is in trouble,” she cried out.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has given further insights into why he picked former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over then Rivers State Governor; and now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as running mate in 2023.

In a statement signed by his Media Office, in Abuja, on Saturday, titled: “Learning Without Character Is Equal To Zero,” the Atiku Media Office said, it was responding to “yet another emotional outburst” disguised as a press statement from Wike’s Media aide, Lere Olayinka.

The Atiku Media Office said, “While we understand that bitterness often finds expression in misplaced aggression, we must remind Mr. Wike and his team that a bitter heart isn’t capable of charity, nor does it inspire unity, healing, or truth.

“Once again, facts have been twisted in a desperate attempt to rewrite history. Mr. Wike, through his spokesperson, claims that he had 13 votes from a committee set up to recommend a vice presidential running mate, while Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa had only two.

“Let us be clear: there are no laid down rules or laws on the selection process of a running mate. Committees, consultations, and recommendations are advisory in nature.

“The final decision rests solely and exclusively with the presidential candidate, in this case, Atiku Abubakar. It is a constitutional and strategic choice, not a popularity contest.

“Assuming, but not conceding that Wike had 13 votes and Okowa had 2 — just like universities confer degrees “in learning and in character” — one must ask: what is the worth of votes if character scores a zero?

“Leadership is not only about numbers; it is about temperament, dignity, and the ability to unify. A man may boast of numbers, but if his conduct lacks grace and humility, those numbers are empty.

“We make no apologies for choosing Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate in 2023. That decision was based on a combination of intellect, composure, and statesmanship.

“We have been vindicated by Mr. Wike’s public conduct in Rivers state where he once served as governor and in Abuja since becoming FCT Minister, which has made it abundantly clear why he was unsuitable for the role of Vice President in a ticket meant to unify, not divide.

“We urge Mr. Wike and his social media spokesperson to resist the temptation to sermonize about religious piety during Ramadan and Lent, too, while simultaneously fanning the flames of discord. Let us not reduce sacred periods to a tool for petty political jabs.

“The task of rebuilding our party and our nation is a serious one. It is time to move beyond bruised egos and focus on what truly matters: the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its people!.”

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has expressed concern over the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that while he holds no personal grudge against the president, the government’s policies lack empathy and fail to prioritise the well-being of Nigerians.

In an interview with Vanguard, Gabam criticised the government’s handling of security, governance, and economic matters, asserting that the administration has not significantly improved the country’s situation.

Gabam dismissed the argument that Tinubu’s government should not be blamed for ongoing challenges due to its short time in office.

According to him, governance is a continuous process, and Tinubu knowingly took over an already struggling system with promises to fix it.

“There is nothing like that in governance. Governance is about continuity. President Bola Tinubu is aware of the rotten situation or the rotten system he inherited. He promised to fix them. He campaigned on them and at that point said that if I do not provide electricity to all Nigerians within four years, don’t vote for me again, which means that he understood clearly what to be done, what he wants to achieve, what are the deliverables,” Gabam stated.

He stressed that while insecurity was an inherited problem, the expectation was that the president would take decisive action to address it.

“Now, one of the things he has inherited is insecurity. There is no doubt about it. It is not just him. Even the previous administration inherited that. In 1999, there was a report that there would be pockets of crisis across the geopolitical zones. So every president that came into office got a security report and intelligence of what the country was going through,” the SDP Chair noted.

“The First Thing He Did Was to Remove Subsidy” – Shehu Gabam

Gabam criticised Tinubu’s approach to fuel subsidy removal, describing it as abrupt and inconsiderate, given the economic hardships already plaguing Nigerians.

“What we expected is that the president will prioritise what he wants to achieve. The first thing he did was to remove the subsidy in a nation that was already enveloped by poverty, insecurity, rascality, lack of deterrence, and the subsidy was removed,” he said.

While he acknowledged that most presidential candidates had proposed subsidy removal, he argued that no leader who truly understands the country’s challenges would execute it in full without a phased approach.

Gabam said, “They did not say they would remove it 100 per cent. This is not the first time the subsidy was removed. Every president that understands the dynamics and the peculiarities of his own country knows that you cannot go all the hog and remove it completely. You have to do it bit by bit so that you feel the pulse of the people, of the citizens.”

“I Expected Him to Stop the System from Derailing” – Shehu Gabam

Gabam emphasised that while Nigeria’s problems did not begin with Tinubu, he had hoped the president would act swiftly to reverse the nation’s decline.

“Not just under this government. My fear was that he inherited a system that was derailing. My expectation was that he would stop it. That was my expectation,” he said.

Despite his disappointment, Gabam noted that he initially believed Tinubu had the potential to outperform his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

“I have always said that he would perform much better than even former President Muhammadu Buhari. I said it on air several times. I have nothing against him as a president. But I have everything against the policy that they are pursuing that has no human face and doesn’t recognise the dignity of the citizens,” he added.

“Security Has Not Improved” – Shehu Gabam

Addressing security concerns, Gabam challenged the notion that the country has made meaningful progress, pointing out that insecurity continues to disrupt key sectors, particularly agriculture.

“What is the improvement from what you know? Do we have improvement in the agricultural culture that is related to insecurity? Farmers cannot go to farms,” he said.

Regarding the security situation in the North-West, he acknowledged that while some states have experienced relief, others remain deeply affected by banditry.

“It depends where you are talking about in the North-West. In Katsina streets, there is still banditry going on. In Zamfara, there is still banditry going on and some other places. You can minus Kano, you can minus Jigawa and the South. But in all these states where you have banditry that have been entrenched, it has been reduced, but it is still constituted.”

Gabam concluded by reiterating his concerns about the direction of the country, insisting that governance must prioritise the people’s welfare above all else.

Controversial Nigerian prophet, Chukwuemeka Ohanemere, popularly known as Odumeje, has described the administration of President Bola Tinubu as the “worst” in Nigeria’s history.

Addressing his congregants at the church auditorium on Friday, the clergyman blamed Nigerians for acting docile despite the hardship brought by Tinubu’s economic policies.

He lamented that Tinubu’s family and cronies are enjoying the wealth meant for Nigerians.

The clergyman fumed that Tinubu had nothing to offer Nigerians and vowed to contest for the presidency in 2027 if he gets God’s approval.

Odumeje said, “The government is bragging when there is nothing they have offered to this nation. The current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the worst government that Nigeria has ever had.

“I’m disappointed with all of us, Nigerians, for allowing this person to be suffering us and increasing economic hardship. He and his family are enjoying the money that belongs to everybody, and we are keeping quiet on social media.

“He [Tinubu] is my fellow man, but he has nothing to offer. We only live once. That’s why I tell you, this presidential seat, 2027, I will use power, and I’m coming out for it. When I’m done consulting God and I come out for the presidency, nobody can occupy the seat.”