Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has officially set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon, achieving an impressive 64 hours of non-stop play.

Naija News reports that Onakoya, alongside his chess partner, Shawn Martinez from Puerto Rico, surpassed the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.

The previous record was held by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, who set it in June 2024.

The remarkable chess marathon began on April 17, 2025, and concluded on April 20, 2025, in the heart of New York’s Times Square. They were originally aiming for a 70-hour session.

Celebrating the achievement, Onakoya shared photos of the historic moment on social media. “We did the impossible and gave the world something new to believe in,” he wrote in the post. “Official record holders of the Longest Chess Marathon for 64 hours. We did it.”

The GWR certificate, which officially recognised their accomplishment, wrote, “The longest chess marathon was achieved by Tunde Onakoya (Nigeria) and Shawn Martinez (Puerto Rico) in Times Square, New York, USA, from 17 to 20 April 2025.”

This marks not Onakoya’s first attempt at the title; he had previously completed a 60-hour chess marathon in April 2024, surpassing the previous 56-hour record set by the same Norwegian players in 2018.

Says North Will Decide On 2027 Candidate

The immediate-past Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that the North will soon determine its political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections, emphasizing that no presidential candidate can succeed without the region’s backing.

In a video interview that gained traction on social media Sunday, Baba-Ahmed appeared alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, and delivered a strong message regarding the political awakening in Northern Nigeria.

“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them,” he said, citing the devastating toll of Boko Haram insurgency and other crises affecting the North across ethnic and religious lines.

Baba-Ahmed, a known advocate for northern interests and former spokesperson of the Arewa Elders Forum, criticized the current state of the country and urged northern voters to reject leaders who use division and deception as political tools.

“If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria,” he warned, pointing to growing dissatisfaction with marginalisation in the region.

Baba-Ahmed stated that he resigned from his position in the Presidency to “rejoin the struggle for northern emancipation,” adding that the North will publicly announce its political stance in the coming months.

“The injustice and sidelining must stop,” he declared. “The North is watching, and soon, our elders, our masses, and our interest groups will say ‘enough is enough.’”

He concluded with a clear warning to presidential hopefuls: “No candidate can win the presidency of Nigeria without the support of the North.”

In a powerful and moving Easter message delivered on Holy Saturday, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, issued a passionate plea to President Bola Tinubu to rescue Nigerians from the deepening crises plaguing the country. Drawing on the Christian metaphor of the cross, Kukah painted a sobering picture of a nation bleeding under the weight of insecurity, poverty, and disillusionment.

Titled “Mr. President: Please Bring Us Down from This Cross,” the message likened the suffering of Nigerians to the crucifixion of Christ, asserting that while Tinubu did not create the crises, he now bears the moral responsibility to end them.

“Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long,” Kukah said. “Now, Mr. President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue.”

He described the present state of the nation as one marked by a “culture of brutality and savagery,” with rampant kidnappings, insecurity, hunger, and hopelessness affecting nearly every community across the country.

Kukah did not spare the political class, referring to past admissions by officials who brought in violent actors as tools of political advantage, only to now find those forces spiraling out of control.

“This cancer threatens the very foundation of our common humanity,” Kukah warned. “Kidnapping is now a dog whistle for undermining the very structure and foundation of our country.”

Despite the gravity of his message, the Bishop offered a glimmer of hope, invoking Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as the Year of Hope. He called on Nigerians to remain anchored in faith, even in the face of despair, and urged the President to channel national resources and goodwill toward genuine security, food access, and human dignity.

He emphasized that while the removal of fuel subsidies may have been a necessary economic step, it cannot be followed by mere palliatives. Kukah called instead for long-term structural solutions to food insecurity and poverty.

“Mr. President, hunger, sickness and desolation stalk the land. Make food security a fundamental human right to all citizens.”

In a final challenge, the Bishop questioned whether the prolonged insecurity signaled a lack of military capacity or, more disturbingly, the profiteering of those who benefit from chaos.

“Are Nigerians lambs being sacrificed to an unknown god?” he asked.

Kukah’s Easter message, rich in scriptural references and moral urgency, concluded on a note of resilience, reminding Nigerians that the resurrection of Christ is a call to face adversity with courage and conviction.

“We are the light of the world, a city set on a hill… Let us collectively renew our commitment and hope for building a society after the mind of our creator.”

As the nation marks Easter, Kukah’s words stand as both a lament and a rallying cry—an appeal for decisive leadership and a collective return to the values of justice, dignity, and peace.

Popular actor turned politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has declared support for the planned opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Okonkwo declared that Nigerians are tired of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and anybody against the coalition is an agent of President Tinubu.

Naija News reports that the former Labour Party (LP) chieftain made the submission in a post on Sunday via his ? account.

He added that President Tinubu supported politicians who already had corruption cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be the leaders of the National Assembly, so the possibility of having substantial checks from such leaders is absent.

Okonkwo, who added that both the ruling party and those in opposition must be blamed for the current state of the country, added that the opposition must, however, present a common front against the APC to be able to take over power in 2027.

“Nigeria is going bad today because we are witnessing the worst ruling party and the worst opposition parties in history. It will not be fair to blame only the ruling party for the degree of malaise in society.

“In Nigeria, Tinubu ensured that he supported politicians who already had corruption cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to be the leaders of the National Assembly, so the possibility of having substantial checks from such leaders is absent.

“However, Tinubu may have power over his own party members, but doesn’t have power over the opposition party members. Unfortunately, in all matters in the National Assembly, the opposition parties still tow the line of the ruling party.

“The failure of the opposition parties, however, does not translate to the failure of the opposition to government. Opposition to government comes from the people from whom the government derives its powers and authority. The only thing the people understand is good governance. Whenever they don’t have it, the people will oppose the government.

“In all honesty, Nigerians are tired of the ruling party, but their only obstacle is a disunited opposition. If the opposition parties come together today against APC, this will mark the end of APC and probably the dawn of a new era. Whoever is against a coalition in 2027 is an agent to Tinubu,” he said.

In a fiery Easter Sunday state-of-the-nation address delivered in Lagos, Tunde Bakare, the serving overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, delivered a stinging rebuke of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, accusing him of fostering a dangerous form of politics that threatens Nigeria’s democratic fabric.

Bakare, a former presidential aspirant and one-time running mate to Muhammadu Buhari, warned Tinubu against the perils of absolute power, urging him to “stop playing God” and lead with humility and empathy in a time of national crisis.

A Nation on the Brink

Addressing congregants and the wider nation, Bakare painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s political and economic state under Tinubu’s administration. He decried the descent into what he described as “a mafia state,” driven by legislative rascality, institutional decay, and unchecked executive authority.

“The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality Olympics are the executive and the legislature,” Bakare said, citing the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as signs of overreach and systemic rot.

He also lambasted the Senate’s dismissal of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The conduct of Onyekachi Nwebonyi during the hearings, particularly his verbal assault on former minister Oby Ezekwesili, was described by Bakare as “street-level vitriol,” further reinforcing his concern over the degeneration of political decorum.

Economic Hardship and Human Suffering

Turning to the economy, Bakare highlighted the severe hardship Nigerians are facing under Tinubu’s reforms. He pointed to soaring food prices, a 430% increase in fuel costs, and widespread poverty as evidence of policy failure. Citing data from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, he noted that the country now ranks among those with the highest misery indexes globally.

Bakare recalled the tragic stampede deaths during food distribution efforts in late 2024, especially the horrific reports of parents throwing their children over fences in desperation. “These scenes,” he said, “are haunting reminders of a nation in distress, and eerily reminiscent of biblical famines.”

Call to Action: From Prayers to Pragmatism

While acknowledging some gains—such as a $5 billion rise in reserves—Bakare stressed that prayer alone can no longer carry the weight of national recovery. “People of faith have prayed to the point of weariness,” he said. “Any call for prayer now appears to be a mere religious ritual. What we need is action.”

He urged Tinubu to heed wise counsel and adopt a “coordinated programme” to rescue Nigeria. This includes emergency survival interventions, economic stabilisation, debt reengineering, structural reforms, and industrialisation.

Central to his proposed recovery strategy is the creation of a “Consolidated Value Investment and Development Fund”—a reimagined version of the COVID Fund he advocated during the pandemic. This fund, he said, should be decoupled from oil dependency and geared toward inclusive, sustainable growth.

A Personal History, A Longstanding Rift

Bakare’s sharp critique also carries a personal edge. Once close political allies, there is no love lost between him and Tinubu. Bakare has long questioned Tinubu’s political morality, dating back to his tenure as Lagos governor. On the eve of Tinubu’s 2023 inauguration, Bakare declared he would not call him “my president,” citing alleged electoral malpractice.

Though he has been accused of staying silent during Buhari’s controversial administration—perhaps due to their past alliance—Bakare insists his advocacy for good governance remains steadfast.

Conclusion: A Nation at a Crossroads

In his closing remarks, Bakare appealed to the conscience of the nation and its leaders: “No man is wise enough nor good enough to be trusted with unlimited power. Mr President, please stop playing God.”

He called for psychological evaluations for political aspirants and stressed that only responsible leadership, rooted in humility, honesty, and vision, can bring Nigeria back from the brink. “With courageous, empathetic, and visionary leadership,” he said, “Nigeria can live again.”

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has started investigating some universities and banks for allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities that prevented students from receiving payments allocated to them under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.

This is just as the House of Representatives declared its intention to investigate allegations against some banks and tertiary institutions withholding disbursed funds from students.

This development follows an investigation by the National Orientation Agency, which uncovered widespread unethical practices in the administration of the initiative.

According to findings from the NOA’s Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers, some universities, in collusion with certain financial institutions, deliberately withhold the disbursement of approved loans. This has left many students stranded despite having secured funding through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

The loan scheme, which was inaugurated last year as part of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to fulfil his campaign promise of improving access to higher education, began with a N35bn take-off grant approved by the Federal Government.

The programme, operated by NELFUND, was designed to provide financial support to qualified Nigerian students for tuition, mandatory fees, and living expenses in recognised higher education and vocational institutions across the country.

Under the scheme, NELFUND credits the institution directly for the tuition and fees, while a monthly upkeep allowance of N20,000 is paid into students’ accounts.

However, NOA alleged that some tertiary institutions, in collaboration with certain banks, were sabotaging the process and depriving students of their entitlements.

In a statement, the NOA’s Deputy Director of Communications and Media, Paul Odenyi, confirmed that several institutions and banks had been implicated in fraudulent activities that prevented students from accessing the funds meant for them.

The issue came to light during a high-level meeting between the NOA Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, last weekend in Abuja.

Issa-Onilu disclosed that preliminary findings showed that some institutions, in collusion with banks, intentionally delayed payments to students for dubious financial gain.

He further revealed that some universities failed to acknowledge loan disbursements made by NELFUND, while demanding fees directly from students.

On his part, Sawyerr warned that NELFUND was prepared to pursue legal action against any institution or individual found culpable.

However, the ICPC confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that it had commenced a full-scale probe into universities accused of withholding or diverting loan funds.

The spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Demola Bakare, disclosed that the ICPC had received a petition from the NOA for the investigation of universities involved in the fraudulent act.

“We are working on the allegations. The following day after the allegations were disclosed by NOA, a formal report was brought to the commission by NELFUND.

“The ICPC chairman ordered an investigation into the matter, and I know we have started work on it and the NOA is assisting too,” Bakare said.

He added that another round of investigation to expose more schools had started.

NOA also said it would turn its searchlight on more tertiary institutions in a bid to uncover their involvement in the malfeasance.

The spokesman for the agency, Odenyi, told Sunday PUNCH that the revelation by the agency was the first phase of the probe.

He said, “This is just a pilot phase. We have asked our officers to do it across the country so that we will be sure where these things are happening.”

Confirming the intention of the House of Representatives to probe universities short-changing students, the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Olusola Oladoja, said the Chairman of the House Committee on NELFUND, Ifeoluwa Ehindero, pledged the committee’s commitment to involve the ICPC in the process of funds disbursement and implementation.

He disclosed that the leadership of NANS met with the committee on NELFUND on Thursday and discussed ways of resolving the issue.

He said, “Following our agitations about the allegations against some banks and institutions withholding disbursed funds from students under the NELFUND scheme, the NANS leadership, led by its National President, Olusola Oladoja, had a deliberation with the House of Representatives Committee on NELFUND.

“During the deliberation, we presented the concerns of Nigerian students over the issue, and we reiterated that if such action persists, it would undermine the welfare of our students and affect their ability to access affordable education.”

Students lament

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, some of the affected students lamented that the situation had not only caused them emotional distress, but also put their academics on the line.

Some said they were unable to complete registration or sit examinations due to the non-reflection of the loan disbursements in their school accounts.

A student of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Rahmon Kehinde, said he applied for both the upkeep and school fees.

While the upkeep funds were credited to him, the school fee of N96,000 remained unresolved.

“According to NELFUND, the money was disbursed to the school, but the school has not given any reasonable explanation,” he said.

Kehinde lamented that he had to source money elsewhere to pay his school fees so that he could sit his exams.

He said, “I have written several letters and visited different offices, but no one has told me where the money is. Before my exams, the bursary told me to pay the fee myself and sort the issue out later. I had to look for the money. Now I’m stuck, who will refund me?

“The situation is becoming frustrating because I don’t know who is going to pay me back. This has been going on since January. Either the school should refund NELFUND, or NELFUND should pay me back because the money is hanging in the air.

“Nobody is telling us what is going on; the money is hanging between the school and NELFUND, and according to NELFUND, the money has been disbursed.”

A student from the Kebbi State University, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared a similar concern.

He noted that NELFUND had informed students that their school fees had been paid, but the university withheld the funds.

“The school told us to go and borrow money to pay our school fees. If we had that kind of money, we wouldn’t have applied for the loan. Our exams begin on Tuesday, and many of us haven’t completed registration,” he added.

He described the situation as “frustrating and humiliating,” noting that students were already threatening to protest.

“We are starting exams by Tuesday, and a lot of us have not even done registration because of the delay in paying the school fees. This is challenging as we depend on NELFUND for the funds. NELFUND has released our money since last year, but the school has not done anything.

“The school insists that we must find the money and pay our school fees before we are allowed to sit our exams. Where do we start running to now? We want NELFUND to look into this issue so that students who don’t have the means to pay can be allowed to sit their exams.

“What is the essence of NELFUND releasing the fund since last year, and why are our school fees still not cleared? This money is a gift to us, but it is a loan that we will still have to repay. Students are already threatening to protest,” he said.

But reacting, the Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State University, Mustapha Monsur, denied any wrongdoing on the part of the institution.

He stated that the university had not withheld any funds.

“What you need to ask those complaining is whether they were cleared by NELFUND when they applied for the loan, and how much is their allocation by NELFUND? They should come out with evidence that NELFUND has disbursed money to the school.

“Many of the students complaining were either not cleared by NELFUND, maybe because of one discrepancy or the other, and this is probably the reason why NELFUND is not paying them,” he said.

When asked to confirm if NELFUND had disbursed money to the school, Monsur said, “Honestly, I cannot tell you that now because anything that has to do with finance, I have to get the directive of the vice chancellor to disclose any financial information regarding the university.”

…, to then run in 2031 for President

•Why CPC or SDP is a potential platform

The Nigerian political atmosphere is awash with speculation about the 2027 presidential election, particularly as it concerns a potential alliance involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

Atiku first hinted about the alliance in 2024 after what he described as a “friendly meeting” with Obi sparked speculations.

He, however, confirmed the coalition talks in an interview with the BBC Hausa. “Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible and nothing can stop it if we so wish to achieve that,” Atiku was quoted to have said.

The latest rumour around the alliance was ignited by the former vice president’s visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna penultimate Friday.

On the list of those who accompanied Atiku to see Buhari were known political actors and gladiators, including a former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El Rufai; a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was also the former Governor of Sokoto State, and now a senator, Aminu Tambuwal; a former Governor of Adamawa State, Senator Bindu Jibrila; a former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswan, and a former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa.

However, the meeting, according to reports which was first carried by theeagleonline.com and confirmed to Sunday Vanguard by multiple sources close to the alliance, was not just a Sallah visit as claimed by the Atiku media team.

The sources at that meeting said behind the scenes was a meeting to tell Buhari what plans have been put in place ahead of the 2027 elections and get his support.

Before Atiku’s visit, some All Progressives Congress, APC, governors had also visited the former President.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that part of the fallout from that visit by the governors was the fact that some of them were already discussing the possibility of taking out the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, the platform on which Buhari ran for presidential election three times and did not make it, and which was among the political parties that formed the APC, out of the ruling party at the federal level.

The permutation is that the CPC arm of the APC is going to be useful for the coming election.
For those who are reading into the political scene ahead of the 2027 elections, the feeling is that these two visits are interwoven, though done separately.

It was gathered that those who went to see Buhari are now ready to set up a structure that they believe can defeat the incumbent President and his party. According to the coalition proponents, with the right structure in place, it is possible to successfully challenge Tínubu in the upcoming election in 2027, citing alleged lopsided appointments, worsening security situation, alleged anti-people policies, frequent travels out of the country, and the internal crisis in APC as reasons.

Lagos

They are of the opinion, according to sources, that if Obi could win Tínubu in Lagos when the APC in the state was a one bunch, it would be a walkover now that the party is in disarray following the way the President handled the Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and State House of Assembly crisis which has polarized the party in the state.

Obi, in the 2023 election, got 582,454 votes in Lagos in what was considered a massive upset while Tínubu scored 572,606 votes.

The thinking is that this will likely repeat itself, and most likely on a wider margin in 2027.

The impending alliance between Atiku and Obi presents an interesting dynamic in the lead-up to the next election and, if realized, it could significantly alter the political landscape of the country.

The Plan

According to sources, Atiku is planning to run for President with Obi as his running mate, leveraging their combined strengths to challenge Tinubu.

This alliance, it was learnt, aims to capitalize on Atiku’s influence in the North and Obi’s appeal in the South-East, potentially creating a formidable opposition force against the ruling APC.

Another point believed to be working for the alliance is the fact that a lot of people in the North are already disenchanted with the government of the day.

This has been reechoed by the apex socio-political group in the North, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, which has clearly expressed its displeasure with the way the country is being governed by Tínubu.

With the ill-feelings towards Tínubu in the North, Sunday Vanguard learnt that Atiku had been assured of the backing of the ACF ahead of the 2027 polls.

And with the ACF and its structure readily available for Atiku, it is certain he will gather more support and votes from the North this time around.

Sharing Agreement

A key aspect of this plan is a reported power-sharing agreement, where Atiku would serve one term (2027-2031) and then hand over to Obi, who would serve two terms as President.

Analysts believe that with Obi’s remarkable appeal and acceptability, particularly among young Nigerians, and with some of the philanthropy that he has done across the country, especially in the North, an alliance with Atiku could provide him with a stronger political platform and access to broader resources.

This arrangement is said to be part of the negotiations between the two leaders.

They are looking in the direction of the North for greater support than they got in the 2023 election.

Party Platform

With the LP and PDP enmeshed in self-inflicted crisis, the pair is reportedly considering using either the CPC or the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as their platform.

It is alleged that Atiku and his group have decided to abandon the PDP to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, who has been accused of creating problems for the party in order to serve the APC’s interest.

The CPC, being one of the parties that merged to form the APC, might offer a strategic advantage, while the SDP has shown potential with its recent activities. Recall that El Rufai, who was on the trip to visit Buhari, has moved into the SDP. A source close to the former Kaduna governor revealed that the SDP’s national leader who was the presidential candidate of the party in 2023, has said he would not contest the 2027 presidency if he sees a good presidential material.

Strategic calculations

The Atiku-Obi alliance is built on several strategic calculations such as regional balance, diverse support base, and opposition to APC.

Combining Atiku’s northern influence with Obi’s South-Eastern appeal could create a strong regional balance.

Therefore, it is believed that merging their support bases might attract a broader coalition of voters.

The alliance also aims to challenge the APC’s dominance, capitalizing on growing discontent with the current government.

Political analysts are already tinkering with the figures.

They have combined the votes of Atiku and Obi in 2023 to arrive at the conclusion that it is possible to beat the incumbent.

Nigeria has a total of 93,469,008 voters. In 2023, the turnout was just 26.71 percent of that figure.
While Tínubu won in 12 states with 8,794,726 votes, which is about 36.61 percent of votes, Atiku also took 12 states with 6,984,520 votes, which is about 29.07 percent of the votes, and Obi won in 11 states, technically 12, because he also won in the FCT, with 6,101,533 votes, which is 25.40 percent of the votes cast.

Combining Atiku and Obi’s votes amounted to about 13,086,000 votes whereas Tínubu had 8,794,726 votes. The calculation is that Atiku and Obi can get more votes with the perceived poor performance of the present administration.

Concerns

Much as this alliance seems to present beautiful opportunities, it also faces challenges.
Differences in ideology and ambition might lead to internal conflicts.

Again, the choice of party platform and power-sharing agreement might face opposition from within their parties or from other aspirants.

Implications

The alliance could pose a significant challenge to the ruling APC, especially if internal conflicts within the party persist. Also, the success of the alliance would depend on its ability to resonate with voters, addressing pressing national issues and offering a compelling alternative to the incumbent government.

The alliance might lead to a realignment of political forces, with potential defections from other parties and shifts in voter loyalty.

No threats

But those backing the President have dismissed the perceived threats posed by the potential coalition with the wave of hand.

Reacting to the visit of Atiku’s group to Buhari via his X handle, a presidential spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, said: “There is nothing these oppositions under the auspices of coalition for a wild goose chase cannot try to do to keep relevance.

“They went to meet @MBuhari and it was reported that he insisted the meeting be held in or on camera so that El Rufai would not go and say Buhari is joining SDP and PDP.

“Hard as they try, they are still struggling to convince Nigerians that they have any plan at all, needless alternative plan.”

‘Obidients’ disagree

Meanwhile, members of the Obidients movement, the campaign structure of the LP presidential candidate in the last election populated mostly by young Nigerians, said they would not be part of any alliance if Obi is not its flag bearer.

They maintained that any arrangements without Obi as the presidential candidate is dead on arrival, saying Atiku should support the former Anambra governor.

According to them, Atiku cannot be in the race when the South hasn’t completed its eight years.
So, it would be wise for him to step down for Obi.

One of those pushing this narrative is Samuel Ajayi, a self-professed Obidient.
According him, “If we’ve done Atiku/Obi and it didn’t work, why can’t we do Obi/Atiku? Don’t be emotional about this.

“The fact still remains that aside from the competence and character that Peter Obi has, he is still the most inspiring among all the candidates to unseat Tínubu.”Another proponent of this narrative is Jonathan Ajere, who said: “Atiku should do all he can to get Peter Obi on board. “But, he should either consider being Obi’s running mate or completely step aside and support Obi wholeheartedly. “This is because any attempt to field any northern candidate when the South has not completed its eight years is going to be counter-productive.

“It will be an express ride for Tinubu to a second term on a platter of gold.

”So, what Atiku and northern oligarchy need to do if they want Tinubu out of office in 2027 is to support a southern candidate and there is no candidate in South that has massive appeal and acceptability across Nigeria like Obi as of today.

“So, if Atiku listens to this voice of reason, the 2027 elections will be a walkover for the coalition. The coalition is what the APC guys dread so much. That’s why they are crying against it in pretence.”

As politicking for the 2027 general elections thickens, the success of the coalition would depend on various factors, including the ability to maintain internal cohesion, appeal to a broad voter base and effectively challenge the incumbent government.

If successful, it could significantly impact the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.

Some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party have faulted the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, and the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

The PDP chieftains, including a former Deputy National Vice Chairman, Chief Bode George and Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, said Eno and Fayose’s position was capable of undermining the unity and future of the party.

Eno, a PDP governor, had during the official flag-off of the 65-kilometre, three-lane dual carriageway section of the highway project in Nsit-Antai Local Government Area of the state last week, declared support for Tinubu’s re-election.

“Let me end by assuring our people-loving President that we will stand by him. He deserves to complete his eight years in office. He cannot start this work and abandon it. Someone else may not finish it with the same passion. Me, I’m supporting Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term,” he stated.

This was as Fayose ruled out the chances of the PDP in the 2027 election, saying, “It is better to allow Asiwaju (Tinubu) to complete his tenure because this is a southern slot. Everybody is fighting for their survival.”

Reacting, George expressed disappointment at Eno’s stance, describing it as dangerous.

“I don’t bother about whatever Fayose says or what he is doing, but I am very worried about the governor — a sitting governor of our party in Akwa Ibom,” he said.

The PDP chieftain warned that Eno’s decision could damage the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I will advise him (Eno), as a leader of this party and as a father of this party, to take things easy. Taking that kind of decision without consultation with the national body of the party or with other stakeholders is undermining our party ahead of the 2027 election,” he said.

George added that the move was unprecedented in Akwa Ibom’s political history, urging the governor to reconsider his position.

“He should recant his comment in the interest of the history of this country, because what would he be remembered for? It has never happened in Akwa Ibom. It was a wrong decision,” said George.

Also, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, berated the duo, stating that they were not in a position to decide the direction the party will go in 2027.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Osadolor said, “If there is a state that is 100 per cent PDP, that state is Akwa Ibom. Mr Eno is the governor of the state, but he is not in a position to decide the political direction of PDP members in the state. His endorsement of President Tinubu is personal to him and has nothing to do with our party.”

On Fayose, Osadolor said, “Nobody takes the former governor seriously anymore. He is at liberty to say whatever he likes because he owns his mouth, but the party is not bothered by the comments of Ayo Fayose.”

Commenting on the crisis rocking the party, a member of the House of Representatives, Wole Oke, decried the crisis rocking the PDP.

Oke described PDP as a party gasping for breath.

“The PDP is in big trouble, and it is gasping for breath,” he said.

He expressed worry that with less than two years to the next election cycle, the party was still swimming from one crisis to another, even as some of its chieftains were openly endorsing Tinubu for a second term in office.

[INTERVIEW]

Former National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change and now a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Buba Galadima, speaks with Ismaeel Uthman on the fate of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, the crisis rocking the Emir of Kano stool, and President Bola Tinubu’s handling of national affairs

In a recent interview, you said the APC is sending emissaries to compromise leaders of political parties, offering billions to them. Do you think the opposition will have its way in 2027 with this alleged inducement?

You should believe in the ability of God to do anything. Everything in an election can change a day before the election. One mistake by a frontrunner can make him the last. There is nothing impossible. We have seen a lot of things; we saw how Abacha died when he was about to become president, endorsed by all political parties. As strong as Obasanjo was, he wanted a third term but couldn’t get it. We saw how Goodluck Jonathan spent a lot of money for re-election but couldn’t get it. So, what is it that will surprise you in Nigeria?

What is your perception of the coalition of opposition being formed by Atiku, El-Rufai and others?

I don’t know why people call such an arrangement a coalition. These are just a few individuals who came together to form a group they want to propel into taking political power. And that is their undeniable right. Whether it will happen or not is left to God. It is Atiku who is bringing people from the PDP, while El-Rufai brought himself from the APC. As far as I’m concerned, these are the only people in the so-called coalition. The PDP governors have issued a statement that they are not going into any coalition with anybody, and the National Chairman of the SDP has also said the party is not merging with any political party. It is also on record that we (NNPP) were the first to reject such an arrangement. But we were called names by uninformed Nigerians; they said we were working for Tinubu because we said we were not joining any coalition of strange bedfellows.

We have gone through this before, and we know that it did not benefit Nigerians, and we are not prepared to test that path again. However, we are prepared to work with people of like minds, such that when we form a government, we know our direction because it will be based on principles and ideology. So, I don’t think people should lose sleep over this Atiku and El-Rufai coalition. I want to tell you that most political parties have their own internal problems, including the APC.

If the coalition won’t work, how would you advise opposition parties to go about the plan to unseat President Tinubu in 2027?

Most of the people in the opposition parties are not politicians. They are only interested in grabbing power and using it to enrich themselves and better the lives of their families. I don’t think they understand politics. If they did, they would know there is an area of convergence. Whether you agree with each other or not, at least we should pretend to be democrats. If we can do that, then we will take issues around the election process more seriously. Elections are the yardstick of democracy. There is no democracy without elections.

So, all of us can come together and fight for free, fair and transparent elections. And whoever wins, we will give him the chance to govern. But we are not doing that. Everybody wants to be president, so they form their own small kingdoms without principles. They do whatever they can and steal public funds. These are not opposition politicians; these are opportunists in politics.

If they are democrats, let us come together and fight for electoral reform that will guarantee one man, one vote. And once there is one man, one vote, even if your enemy wins an election, you will congratulate him, move forward, and wait for another chance. We should build confidence in the process and make sure that it is transparent.

How do you view the spread of political appointments and resource allocation in Nigeria under President Tinubu’s administration?

Right from Obasanjo’s time, I have kept on telling people that whoever wins an election should be allowed to pick a team that he thinks can help him govern the country fairly, bring about democratic dividends to Nigerians, build infrastructure, etc. I also told people 20 years ago that if Obasanjo left office and Nigerians found Iyabo Obasanjo, as the most appropriate person to be president, there would be nothing wrong with voting for her.

So, it doesn’t matter to me where anybody in office comes from. The most important thing is that he must deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. If there is no hyperinflation, goods are not priced beyond the reach of the ordinary person, and the cost of fuel is affordable so I can travel or take public transport; if there is good healthcare and there are good and affordable schools for my children — do I care if Trump is the President of Nigeria?

But because we are not democrats, when you say something correctly, some uninformed people will say you are supporting one person. The press should also stop using the words North and South, calling people Fulani, Yoruba, Edo, Igbo, Itsekiri, etc. We can’t build a nation when we keep reminding people of our differences. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Muslim, Christian, pagan, or atheist. The Constitution of Nigeria says any Nigerian — it didn’t specify religion or tribe — can be anything. Once people are promoting unity, Nigeria will be a better place.

I can understand that some sections of the country, because they want to fight another section, are using all those primordial sentiments to garner support and run down the other part. But those times are gone. Nigerians are educated and informed enough to know what is good for them. If you use money to bribe people to vote for you, I will not blame you — I will blame those who took the money and voted for you. Because you can’t force people to vote for you. You also can’t write the figures if they don’t vote for you.

We must work hard to build an electoral empire that would be fair to everybody. We must force the judiciary to stop listening to people in authority — people holding transient powers — and to do justice. At every point in time, we must ensure that the security forces owe their allegiance to Nigeria, not to an individual holding public office at a particular time. This is what will make Nigeria a great country.

Why do you think both the ruling party and the opposition figures have turned former President Buhari’s home into a Mecca of sorts suddenly?

Those are useless people; they don’t know their left from right. Of what use is Buhari to anybody now? How can I go to Buhari — to say what? What did he do while in office? How can I go and seek relevance from Buhari? Is he relevant? He is not.

Do you mean the former president is not relevant in Nigerian politics?

Buhari is not relevant in Nigerian politics. He was defeated in 2019 by Atiku. Because they did not declare Atiku as the winner does not mean he didn’t win that election. When I see people going to Buhari, I just laugh. Who is Buhari? The man should just go and rest and wait for his death, and start doing astaghfirullah (seeking forgiveness from God) for dashing the hopes of the people of Nigeria.

You are one of the signatories to the formation of APC, and you campaigned for Buhari’s election in 2015. At what point did you see him as a bad person?

I was number four on the list of the people who signed the form for the creation of APC. But I later discovered that Buhari is the greatest fraud that has happened to Nigeria. He was fake. I realised quite early, but my mentor, Sule Hamma, always kept on advising me as a senior brother.

What exactly did he do wrong?

Buhari was the greatest fraud because he managed to conceal his true intentions for 15 years. No Nigerian could predict what he would do once he became president. We didn’t know his true colours. For years, Buhari preached that he was for the masses—the talakawas—without realising he was actually the saviour of the bourgeois. Isn’t that enough of a fraud?

What is your assessment of President Tinubu’s administration?

I don’t want to comment on that. Nigerians should comment on his administration. They should express how they feel about it. If they are okay with what is happening, so be it. The time to deal with him is when you are given the ballot paper. But despite all this, if people claim that you voted for them in an election and you know you didn’t vote for them, and you sat down, it means you have accepted the verdict of what they have done. If the politicians do anything that we don’t believe in, there are a lot of ways we can show our anger constitutionally. The only time you can hold any elected officer to account for his misdeeds is at the time of the election. Nigerians have never told you that they cannot cast their votes for whosoever they want. But those votes must be sacrosanct.

Some northern political leaders are embittered with President Tinubu’s administration. What do you think is responsible for the resentment?

You know some of us claim that we brought Buhari into politics. Everybody has got his own version of his contribution to bringing Buhari into politics. But there is one thing that is not disputable — nobody remained as steadfast and unwavering as some of us did with Buhari for 13 years. Despite all that, when he got into government, the likes of El-Rufai kicked us out of that government because they are sycophants. Despite calling Buhari several names, they kicked us out.

My daughter worked in the Villa for four good years without getting a salary. She was not paid for four years. Now, Tinubu, who is a Yoruba man from Lagos, came, and my daughters called him with my phone. They told him the country is hard, that they had finished school and there was no job. He gave one of them a job. This was misinterpreted to mean I am working for Tinubu. Nigeria doesn’t belong to Tinubu alone; it belongs to all of us, and my children have a stake, and they can take any job. It is not a political appointment. In comparison to Buhari, who is a better man? Is it Buhari, who denied my daughter four years of salaries, or Tinubu, with whom we have political differences? Who is my friend between them?

I have been called names because of this. But if there is any politician of integrity in this country; I’m not praising myself; you can’t count three people without putting my name there. I have resisted juicy appointments from the time of Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, and Jonathan governments. I am still living in a two-bedroom flat after 50 years of graduation, despite holding public offices. I am living with integrity and honour. Whoever holds a certain view, apart from good governance, is just a misfit. Of course, people can continue to have their differences — it is part of nature and part of our lives.

Is it true that Kwankwaso is joining APC?

I am an NNPP person, and a supporter of Rabiu Kwankwaso, and he has not told anybody that he is joining any party or coalition. However, we are talking to people of like minds across the country. By the time we come out with a formidable platform, Nigerians will know that the party to take over the government of the federation in 2027 has come.

You have many political associates who were members of the CPC in APC. Do you have any clue about the plan by the CPC bloc to dump the APC?

I learnt that the CPC group within the APC is divided into two: those who are opposed to Tinubu and those who are for him. I want to ask all of them in all honesty: is there any CPC man who has more CPC credentials and participated more in the formation and development of the party than Sule Yahaya Hamma and Buba Galadima? Is there any of them?

Today, are we in any of the equations? I also ask those who are not satisfied with what Tinubu is doing: why can’t they ask themselves, when they were in government under Buhari, what did they do for the CPC people they neglected? They should thank Tinubu for not running after them after holding public offices. Tinubu has given them a lot of concessions. Because if he likes, he can put any of them in jail. There is none of them he cannot put in jail if he wants. So, he did a gracious thing for them, and they should be grateful that they are free, walking on the streets of Nigeria. They should not carry their luck too far — I mean those who belong to the Buhari group.

Do you think the anti-Tinubu CPC bloc is on a wrong mission?

They will soon find out. I think they should thank Tinubu and not fight him.

Could you explain the politics behind the controversies on the Emir of Kano stool?

Everybody knows that all issues about chieftaincy matters end on the desk of the governor. The issue of the Emir of Kano will end on the desk of the governor. Even if the Supreme Court removes Sanusi, nobody will appoint an Emir for Kano from Abuja. That can only be done in Kano. So, why are they wasting their time? Why do they want to kill innocent people by instigating one brother against another, or an uncle against his nephew? All the instability in Kano is being cooked up in Abuja.

You recently warned President Tinubu that meddling in Kano’s political affairs and the emirate crisis could “destroy his presidency.” Could you elaborate on this?

When the grandfather of this Emir, Sanusi, was deposed in 1963, it was that issue, coupled with the wetie (political crisis) in 1964 in the Western Region, that led to the destruction of the civilian government of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in January 1966.

President Tinubu has no business in deciding who becomes the Emir of Kano. But I also know that he participated in promoting Sanusi to be the Emir in the first place when Ado Bayero died.

What is your take on the withdrawn invitation letter sent to Emir Sanusi by the police?

Was there any reason for the police to invite the Emir in the first place? Why should they even call him? It is like charging Tinubu to court when a driver hits someone on the Lagos Mainland Bridge. What has Sanusi got to do with the killing on Eid-el-Fitr day? The man was riding on horseback one kilometre away when the problem happened. That’s why I said the instability is being fuelled by people in Abuja who have no political base, and who want to create one by force, by declaring a state of emergency in Kano.

There is a resurgent large scale of insecurity in the North. What do you think is responsible for this?

I think that some people are making a business out of it. The President should identify these kinds of people, because he knows who he gives money to — money that is not being utilised.

You’ve cautioned against the creation of state police, suggesting it could lead to national disintegration. What alternative security frameworks would you recommend to balance state autonomy with national unity?

The police and military postings are done by people as jobs for the boys. They should be jobs for the nation, because once you post people not because they are capable or qualified, but because they are close to you or you want them to make money, then you can’t get good results. That is exactly what is happening nowadays. All postings are political — for political gains or to make money for the boys.

The truth of the matter is that we are all Nigerians, and we should place the country above all else and work for the development and progress of this nation. We should avoid using tribal, religious, sectional, or other primordial sentiments to judge people.

[PUNCH]

The former National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Jola Ogunlusi, has passed away at the age of 91.

The veteran journalist died on Saturday morning after a brief illness.

In a statement issued by the family’s representative, Gbenga Aruleba, Ogunlusi’s passing was announced with deep sorrow but also with gratitude for his impactful and well-lived life.

The statement reads, “With profound sadness but utmost gratitude to God for a fulfilled and life well-spent, the Ogunlusi family announces the passing of our beloved Patriarch, Father, Grandfather, and Uncle, Mr. Jola Ogunlusi, who departed this life on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 9:54 am, following a brief illness. He was aged 91.”

Known affectionately as “Papa Jola,” Ogunlusi’s legacy in journalism spans several decades. He began his career in the early 1970s and later became the National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, where he became a beacon of dedication, fairness, and commitment to justice.

“Papa Jola indeed lived a fulfilled life, a life dedicated to the service of humanity and God. “From his active days as a journalist to his leadership role in the NUJ, Pa Ogunlusi was an epitome of dedication, loyalty, and singular commitment to equity, justice, and fairness,” the statement continued.

The Ogunlusi family highlighted the profound impact Jola Ogunlusi had on those around him, noting his sincerity, kindness, and generosity.

“In all his call to duty, our Daddy left an indelible mark on everyone about his sincerity and commitment. He was a kind, loving, and caring man, both to his family, extended family members, colleagues, acquaintances, and people, generally,” the family’s tribute stated.