Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has mocked the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara over his latest comment.

Fubara had disclosed that he is not desperate to return to office.

The suspended Governor disclosed this during the service of songs held in honour of the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, in Port Harcourt, on Sunday.

Fubara revealed that his spirit had already left the governorship position.

“Can’t you see how better I look? Do you think I am interested in it?

“Do you even know if I want to go back there? My spirit had already left that place long ago,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu had suspended Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu; and members of the State House of Assembly for six months.

Tinubu also declared a state of emergency in Rivers State while appointing a Sole Administrator, retired naval chief, Ibok-Ete Ibas.

The suspension was a countermeasure by the president to prevent further escalation of the political crisis in Rivers State.

Rivers State crisis was due to the face-off between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

The duo were battling for the control of the political resources in the state, a situation that almost snowballed into a full security issue, following threats by Niger Delta militants to attack oil installations in the state.

Responding to Fubara’s remark, Olayinka while painting a picture of a failed marriage, said the suspended governor should simply opt out since his “spirit already left.”

Posting on X, Olayinka wrote: “It is not really compulsory to stay in a marriage your spirit already left. Simply opt out legally.”

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has refuted claims by oil marketers that the facility does not have the capacity to meet local fuel demand.

Officials of the refinery told our correspondent that the refinery has enough fuel to satisfy local needs and export to other countries.

Following a statement by the founder of the refinery, Aliko Dangote, that some cabals who are major marketers and traders were fighting against the survival of the $20bn refinery, the Executive Secretary of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, Olufemi Adewole, said marketers only want to keep their businesses running by importing fuel.

Adewole dismissed allegations of a ‘cabal’ in the sector but admitted the existence of vested interests among private depot owners, who he said have invested billions of naira over the years to keep fuel flowing to Nigerians.

The DAPPMAN official alleged that the Dangote refinery, despite its massive 650,000-barrel capacity, has not been able to meet even the current reduced local consumption needs. He argued that private depot owners continue to bear the bulk of the fuel distribution burden across the country.

“Quoting the authority’s (NMDPRA) chief executive in his recent presentation at the Villa, he stated that the Dangote refinery is not meeting up to even the reduced local consumption volume. So, for now, the Dangote refinery cannot meet up. It is we, the private depot owners, that have been bridging the gap and meeting the needs of Nigerians,” the DAPPMAN scribe stated.

However, a senior official of the Dangote refinery, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence due to the lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, said the refinery is still exporting fuel outside the country after supplying to the local market.

According to him, the refinery loads out millions of litres every day, wondering how the marketers concluded that the refinery could not meet local demand.

He argued that Nigeria’s local consumption figures have been manipulated over the years to suit various purposes, especially during the fuel subsidy regime, saying the true consumption figure will be revealed for Nigerians to see one day.

“I have seen different reports where the marketers alleged that our refinery could not meet local demands. That is not true.

We produce more than enough fuel for the local market, and we export,” the official said.

Another official of the refinery noted that the decision by President Bola Tinubu to stop the importation of goods that could be produced locally is the only way to grow the economy, warning, however, that importers will strive to frustrate the ‘Nigeria First Policy’.

“The President’s decision to ban imports is the only way we can grow the economy, but importers will do everything to ensure that the policy doesn’t succeed. Why are we importing what we have locally?” the source asked.

The DAPPMAN boss had on Friday accused Dangote of plans to monopolise the downstream sector, especially as the refinery engaged in price cuts. He disclosed that price slashes after cargoes have left the gantry have left many marketers absorbing losses quietly, just to stay afloat.

“We didn’t come out to make noise. But we’ve been bearing the brunt, just to remain sustainable and profitable,” Adewole stated.

Responding, the Dangote source said that some importers do not care about the ordinary man in the country, as they are only interested in profiteering. He said many of them engaged in round-tripping when the Federal Government was still paying subsidies on imported petroleum products.

“These people don’t care for the ordinary man. They are interested in their pockets. Many of them engaged in round-tripping during the fuel subsidy era,” he stated.

The source also queried the current daily fuel consumption figure, saying the real figure must be disclosed.

“Ask them to state how much we consume as a nation. Let them give us the real figure. That’s what they don’t want the masses to know. But the masses will know that one day. Those keeping the secrets know themselves, but nothing lasts forever. We produce every day, and we export steadily. So, what are they talking about?” he queried.

A consultant to the 650,000 barrels per day facility challenged DAPPMAN, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria to disclose the quantity of fuel the refinery has in stock before concluding that it does not have enough to meet local demands.

“We need to ask DAPPMAN and the other marketers how they got to know the amount of stock that Dangote has. How did they arrive at the conclusion that the refinery can’t satisfy local needs?” the consultant asked.

The PUNCH recalls that during a tour of the refinery recently, Aliko Dangote said the refinery will soon reach its 650,000 barrels per day full production capacity, adding that Nigeria cannot consume up to 50 per cent of its refined products.

“We can satisfy more than the local needs of Nigeria. We have more than enough. The refinery is producing enough refined products, like gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, to meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirements,” he stated.

Dangote maintained that the local fuel consumption in Nigeria is 40 per cent of the refinery’s total production, stating that the remaining 60 per cent is for export to other countries, especially Africa.

“The maximum local consumption is around 40 per cent, but 60 per cent will be exported. We are making a lot of arrangements with some banks to make sure most of the products are sold within Africa; so that it can be a real African refinery, not done just for us to come and process raw materials and ship the products outside Africa,“ he said.

The Vice President of the Dangote Group, Davakumar Edwin, also reiterated that the refinery can meet all local requirements. Analysing the refinery’s production data during a presentation, he stressed that the facility can produce 104 million litres of different petroleum products per day.

“57 million litres of petrol every day, 20 million litres of jet fuel, 37 million litres of diesel is our daily production. The local consumption is just 46 million litres. The rest, 58 million litres, will be exported on a daily basis,” Edwin explained.

As of February, the refinery supplied 33 million litres of PMS for daily local consumption; diesel is 10 million litres per day, and aviation fuel is 3 million litres, according to Edwin.

February data from the tank farm showed that the refinery has reservoirs to store fuel for days. It has 12 tanks to store up to 600 million litres of petrol, which can serve the country for 18 days. It has 17 tanks for 408 million litres of aviation fuel for 136 days, and 14 tanks to store 340 million litres of diesel for 34 days. Similarly, 20 tanks are in place for 2.4 billion litres of crude oil for 20 days. In all, there are 177 tanks of 4.742 billion litres capacity,” the data showed.

While unveiling the refinery’s first PMS last year, Dangote noted that the facility will show the true daily petrol consumption in Nigeria. The billionaire businessman said, “There is a lot of round-tripping where people now do documentation and the fuel does not come into Nigeria, and this is a fact.

“Right now, as we have this refinery working, it will show the true consumption of Nigeria. We can track every single loaded truck, and we will try as much as possible to track the loaded ships. Trucks, we can tell you where they are, just as now some of the products that we do, we can tell you exactly the consumption pattern.”

Speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja last month, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, disclosed that petrol importation declined from 44.6 million litres per day in August 2024 to 14.7 million litres as of April 13, 2025.

Earlier, the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at the same Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum, Ogbugo Ukoha, had said that daily petrol consumption has averaged 50 million litres per day and local refineries could not produce 50 per cent of this.

“The daily PMS supply sufficiency was always in excess of 60 million litres, in fact, averaging about 66 million litres a day for PMS. And following Mr President’s withdrawal of subsidy, the announcement on May 29th, 2023, we immediately saw a steep decline in consumption, and between then and as we speak, we’ve continued to do plus or minus 50 million litres.

“Of these 50 million litres, averaging for each day, less than 50 per cent of that is contributed by domestic refineries and so the shortfall, in accordance with the PIA (Petroleum Industry Act), is sourced by way of imports,” the NMDPRA official said.

Our correspondent observed that the figure for daily imported petrol and that of daily consumption provided by the two officials seem to contradict each other.

Ukoha’s revelation indicated that an average of 25 million litres of PMS is being imported daily, if the daily consumption is 50 million litres and more than 50 per cent comes from imports. But the NMDPRA chief executive said importation has dropped to 14.7 million litres.

With the country still struggling to curb fuel smuggling, it may be difficult to get the actual daily petrol consumption figure. Earlier, Aliko Dangote revealed that he was still fighting cabals.

Dangote pointed out that some individuals who “for a very, very long time” have “made a lot of money from” government-subsidised oil imports into Nigeria, were the ones trying to sabotage the 650,000 barrels per day oil refinery situated in Lekki, Lagos.

Dangote was quoted as saying that “those groups have funded resistance to the Bola Tinubu government’s removal of petrol subsidies and are opposed to the refinery operating easily in the country.”

However, Dangote was confident that the battle between him and the groups would be won, priding himself as a long-time fighter.

“We’re fighting, and the fight is not yet finished. But I have been fighting all my life, and I am ready and 100 per cent sure I will win at the end of the day,” he said, disclosing later that the cabals were major marketers and traders.

However, DAPPMAN said there were no cabals, but there were vested interests, stressing that individuals were protecting their investments and trying to prevent a monopoly.

The Senate has debunked viral claims that the newly appointed Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission, Usoro Akpabio, is the first daughter of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, made the clarification in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday.

President Bola Tinubu had nominated Mrs Akpabio as the Commission’s MD and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche from Rivers State, as its Chairman.

The nominations were contained in a letter from the President, which was read during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by Senator Akpabio.

In the same letter, Tinubu sought Senate confirmation for 16 other nominees to serve as board members of the commission, whose headquarters will be located in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Shortly after the letter was made public, speculation spread that Mrs Akpabio is the Senate President’s first daughter.

However, Adaramodu dismissed the rumour as baseless. 

“There is no iota of truth in that report,” he said. “It’s just like hearing someone named Adaramodu in Osun or Ondo and assuming he’s my brother. Things don’t work that way.”

According to him, despite sharing a surname and state of origin, there is no familial relationship between the two Akpabios.

“The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is entirely different from Usoro Akpabio, the MD of the South-South Development Commission. Culturally, people may have similar names, but that doesn’t mean they are related,” he explained.

“This appointment was based on merit and was made by the President. She is not in any way connected to the former governor of Akwa Ibom.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean a qualified member of the Senate President’s family couldn’t be appointed. But in this particular case, there is no relationship whatsoever,” Adaramodu stated.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has reversed his earlier opposition and declared full support for the upcoming national security summit being organised by the National Assembly.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Badaru described the summit as “a timely initiative to tackle Nigeria’s growing security concerns” and pledged active participation in the two-day event.

He also assured that the outcomes would be translated into tangible reforms.

The minister’s latest stance contrasts with his remarks last Wednesday during an inter-ministerial briefing, where he argued that developing a comprehensive security strategy was more effective than convening a summit. He had also disputed claims by the House of Representatives that insurgents possessed superior weaponry compared to the Nigerian military.

His comments drew criticism from the Senate, which on Thursday cautioned him against making statements that could stoke tensions between the executive and legislative branches of government.

Addressing the reversal, Badaru acknowledged the value of dialogue in shaping effective policies.

“When you hold a summit, you hear people speak, gather perspectives, and take those insights back to review and strengthen our strategy, which is translated into action. That’s how change happens,” he said.

He also praised the National Assembly for the initiative and committed to championing the implementation of the summit’s recommendations.

“It is a commendable move towards inclusive policy-making,” Badaru added.

Media personality Francess Olisa Ogbonnaya has accused Prof. Sandra Duru, popularly known as Prof. Mgbeke, of paying her the sum of N300,000 to manipulate audio recordings against suspended Senator of Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

In an explosive interview with investigative journalist Adeola Fayehun, Ogbonnaya claimed she was approached by Duru during the Easter holidays and paid N300,000 to produce a manipulated audio clip aimed at damaging the Senator’s reputation.

“She sent me a script and asked me to use my voice to narrate it, but I refused to include parts that could not be defended,” Ogbonnaya said. “I couldn’t put myself or my registered company at risk by promoting lies.”

According to Ogbonnaya, the script was intended to falsely portray Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as someone making inflammatory remarks, including an unsubstantiated claim that she wanted to “bring down the Yoruba government.”

“How do you think Sen. Natasha will bring down the Yoruba government?” she asked during the interview. “A Kogi person is a minority Nigerian. They don’t have alliances like that. Sometimes they are more tilted to the Yorubas. Sometimes, the Igalas are even taken to be Igbos.”

Ogbonnaya said Duru became angry after the final audio edit excluded false claims and demanded a refund. “When I edited out lies, she got upset and said I was sabotaging her plans.”

LEADERSHIP reports that the controversy followed a viral video in which Duru claimed Senator Natasha admitted to fabricating sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The video was met with public skepticism and has now drawn further scrutiny following Ogbonnaya’s revelations.

Ogbonnaya also alleged that Duru had long boasted about her ability to manipulate voices and once sent her a tutorial on voice cloning in 2020. “She once sent me a video on how to clone voices back in 2020,” Ogbonnaya revealed. “So when she came back this year with this plan, it wasn’t new to me.”

To back up her claims, she presented screenshots of WhatsApp conversations, payment receipts, and an alleged script titled “Light Mask: The Politics of Blackmail and Emotional Manipulation” during the interview.

When asked whether Duru acted alone or was politically backed, Ogbonnaya said, “She told me plainly that she was promised a political position if she could pull this off. She said she was once offered deputy governor of Imo State. So maybe she thinks this will bring her back to relevance.”

Fayehun, who conducted the interview, described Ogbonnaya’s decision to come forward as courageous and dangerous. “This is dangerous for her,” she said. “We should be grateful she came out at all. It shows how desperate this entire situation has become.”

Calling Duru a “pathological liar and serial blackmailer,” Ogbonnaya said she is willing to submit her evidence including audio recordings and WhatsApp chats to security agencies, but only on the condition that Duru is present to face the allegations.

Importantly, she clarified that there is no direct evidence linking Senate President Akpabio to the plot. “I don’t have the evidence to say Sandra is working with Akpabio,” she said.
Ogbonnaya, who previously ran for a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly, said she chose to speak out to protect the reputations of both Senator Natasha and Senate President Akpabio, as well as to safeguard public discourse from manipulation.

• Govt’s ‘insensitivity’ to poly staff welfare worries SSANIP
• Academy knocks minister over excess Social Science graduates’ comment

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns over the high level of institutional weaknesses, bureaucratic inefficiencies and endemic corruption in the country, which it claims continue to undermine governance at all levels.
  
The Federal Government, yesterday, was berated for reportedly not taking the issue of welfare of federal polytechnics workers with the seriousness it deserves.
 
Meanwhile, the Social Science Academy of Nigeria (SSAN) has faulted the recent comments by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, that Nigeria has produced too many Social Science graduates. 
  
ASUU expressed its concerns during its 23rd National Delegates Conference at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) main campus in Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, where a new leadership for the union is expected to emerge.
  
The National President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, lamented the lack of inclusiveness, transparency and accountability in governance. He also highlighted worsening existential conditions resulting from the government’s adoption of neo-liberal economic policies, which he claimed were breeding apathy, cynicism, self-help, criminality and migration (japa) among the youth.
   
Osodeke stated that despite Nigeria’s vast oil reserves, agricultural potential, and energetic youth population, the nation still battles high unemployment, inflation, a depreciating currency, and rising poverty rates.
  
He tasked the government to fight corruption and strengthen institutions in the country.

THE National President of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), Adebanjo Ogunsipe, stated, yesterday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that with the terrible economic situation, “Nigerian workers deserve more than the government is giving them,” adding that members of his association constitute a formidable pillar in the polytechnics education system and deserve to be treated well.
  
He lamented that present salary structures that could not sustain the worker in the first instance were not paid as and when due.
  
Ogunsipe expressed resentment at what he described as the Federal Government’s “insensitivity” to the plight of polytechnic employees.
  
He charged President Bola Tinubu to consider technical benefits inherent in polytechnic education in the policies of his government, pointing out that polytechnic education is the propeller of economic development for a society that embraces it.
 
The SSANIP President, however, warned against a face-off that might be inevitable if urgent actions were not taken by the government, as there’s a limit to human endurance.

SSANIP insisted that social science disciplines were vital to addressing the country’s deep-rooted economic, political and social challenges.
  
The minister, while presenting provisional licences to 11 newly approved private universities in Abuja on April 30, 2025, lamented that Nigeria had produced excess graduates, who studied social science-related courses and saturated the labour market, urging universities to shift focus to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
  
According to the minister, what the country needs now is problem solvers and not those who would graduate to become job seekers in the already saturated labour market.
  
But President of SSAN, Prof Chike Okolocha, in a statement, described the minister’s remarks as “a violent negation of the Universities Autonomy Law” and an example of “anti-intellectualism” by public officials.
   
He said: “The position of the minister is not guided by facts. He was silent on the present number of social science graduates in the country and the quantum deemed desirable. Nigerians challenged a similar unproven statement on the surplus of medical doctors in Nigeria by former Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige. We believe that Dr Alausa’s statement does not reflect public policy. 
  
“Social sciences were birthed out of the quest and intellectual introspection to find solutions to the social problems that arose from the Industrial, American and French revolutions and, latterly, World War I and II. In the 21st century, these social problems have multiplied by leaps and bounds.” 
  
The academy urged the Federal Government to distance itself from the minister’s comments, emphasising that national development requires the contributions of both technical and social science professionals.

The National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has called for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts from reactive crackdowns to proactive prevention, stressing that only systemic and attitudinal change can defeat the deeply rooted menace.

Ribadu made the call on Saturday while delivering the 9th Oba Sikiru Adetona Annual Professorial Lecture organised by Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

The lecture, titled “Corruption and National Security: Impacts and Consequences,” was part of activities marking the 91st birthday celebration of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

Represented by the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, Ribadu said corruption remains one of the most destructive threats to Nigeria’s development and security, weakening institutions, diverting critical resources, and eroding public trust.

“We cannot talk about the insecurity in Nigeria without acknowledging that corruption has played a role in eroding public trust, compromising law enforcement effectiveness, and in some cases, enabling impunity,” Ribadu stated.

“Whether it is the diversion of funds meant for military hardware or the undermining of due process in arms procurement, the impact is clear—weakening national capacity to respond to threats.”

The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission emphasised that while punitive measures remain important, Nigeria must begin to prioritise preventive mechanisms to stop corruption before it occurs.

“Therefore, we must fight corruption not only by responding to it but by building a strong system that prevents corruption itself,” he said. “Arrest and prosecution of corrupt officials in Nigeria are only reactive. We must build a system that makes it impossible for people to be corrupt even if they want to be.”

Ribadu further stressed that corruption is not limited to government officials, but is deeply entrenched among individuals, thus calling for a collective resolve.

“Corruption is endemic in the country, it cuts across individuals too, not government alone. So the fight must be institutional and attitudinal,” he said. “People must resolve to fight corruption. It cannot only be the government. The people must join in the fight too, because who must not take must also not give. What is our commonwealth must not be stolen by anyone.”

Ribadu also touched on national security, disclosing that over 160,000 Boko Haram combatants have surrendered, more than 300 commanders have been neutralised, and 2,500 insurgents have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

He said the Tinubu administration recognises that security is a shared responsibility and has therefore sought collaboration with local governance, civil society, traditional institutions, women and youth groups, and the private sector.

Paying tribute to the celebrant, Ribadu described Oba Sikiru Adetona as “a legend, a traditional ruler par excellence, a very courageous voice in the fight against corruption and a chief promoter of good governance.”

“Oba Adetona’s selfless service to humanity, enduring support for education, and commitment to good governance stand as a beacon of visionary leadership. At 90 years of age, Kabiyesi remains an extraordinary symbol of dignity, wisdom, and peace. May his reign continue to be long, impactful, and crowned with tranquility,” he said.

Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of OOU, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ashiru, described the monarch as a living legend and the university’s most generous benefactor.

“Kabiyesi’s impact on Olabisi Onabanjo University is monumental. He is, without exaggeration, our most generous individual benefactor,” Ashiru said. “His endowment fund laid the foundation for the now renowned Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona School for Governance Studies. He didn’t stop there—he gave us buildings, residences, a multipurpose hall, a Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge, and even upgraded the roads on campus.”

He added that the School of Governance, now under the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, continues to contribute significantly to national development through capacity-building programmes.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Deji Agboola, also eulogised the Awujale, calling him “a royal icon, an enigma, a philanthropist, a committed educationist, and a courageous leader.”

Agboola prayed for Oba Adetona’s continued good health and long life, while Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, commended the monarch for his legacy of integrity, wisdom, and visionary leadership.

“Awujale has continually served as a moral compass and highly respected custodian of culture whose noble and selfless contributions to building a virile, prosperous, and democratic Nigeria is worthy of emulation,” Abiodun stated.

The Chairperson of the Professorial Chair in Governance, Princess Adetoun Adetona-Daramola, who represented the monarch at the event, urged Nigerians to embrace truthfulness and integrity as core values for national progress.

Other dignitaries present at the event included the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland and former Chairman of OOU’s Governing Council, Dr. Sunny Kuku; the Olota of Ota, Oba Prof. Abdulkabir Obalanlege; and the Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Abdulrasaq Adenugba.

Nigerian democracy under threat, says Obidient Movement leader

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has challenged young Africans to take ownership of the continent’s future by dismantling corruption and investing in people.
 
Having evaluated the brand of politics being played in Nigeria, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said the future of the country’s democracy is hanging in the balance.
 
Speaking at the Enugu Meet and Greet event, Tanko raised urgent concerns over the erosion of democratic principles in the country, accusing the government of undermining key democratic institutions and processes.
 
Obi, while speaking on the theme, ‘The Making of Africa’s Future Presidents’, at the University of Cambridge’s ‘African Together’ conference, urged the next generation to embrace leadership built on competence, compassion, and character. He drew lessons from nations like China, India and Vietnam, showing how strategic investments in education, health, and poverty reduction can drive transformation.
 
“You are the future presidents of Africa. But before that future can be realised, we must dismantle corruption and rascality in governance,” Obi said, drawing loud applause. “We must rebuild our nation on the pillars of competence, compassion and character.”
 
Drawing from his political experience and global development models, Obi referenced countries like China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, which turned poverty into progress through visionary leadership and people-centred investments.
 
“If we invest in education, health and lifting people out of poverty, the multiplier effect will be immeasurable. Development is not a mystery; it is a decision,” he declared.
 
Organised by the African Society at Cambridge, the conference drew participants from across the continent and the Diaspora, united in a shared commitment to reimagining African leadership.
 
In closing, Obi challenged the youths not to sit on the sidelines of governance, adding: “We must all get involved. We must insist on leaders with integrity. That is how a new Nigeria and a new Africa will emerge. A new Nigeria is Possible.”
 
Tanko’s speech, entitled ‘Government Undermining Democracy in Nigeria’, highlighted a series of recent events that shook public confidence in the country’s governance.

He pointed to the controversial national elections, where allegations of irregularities sparked widespread doubts about their fairness. Tanko warned that when the election process is called to question, the foundation of democracy itself is at risk.
 
The Obidient Movement leader also voiced concerns over the increasing politicisation of critical state institutions, including the judiciary, security agencies and the legislature. 
 
“These institutions must operate without political interference to ensure the rule of law and protect citizens’ rights,” Tanko said, noting that the growing perception that many of these bodies were no longer impartial, and their credibility was increasingly compromised.
 
Tanko stressed that the suppression of free speech and the restriction of public protests were further signs of the government’s disdain for democratic norms. 
 
He argued that a “healthy democracy requires space for dissent” and the free exchange of ideas. “When the government shuts down the voices of the people, we are left with a hollow democracy,” he added.
 
Drawing attention to the controversial events in Rivers State and Lagos, Tanko criticised the government’s disregard for constitutional processes. He questioned the independence of the judiciary, citing instances where court rulings seemed to align with the interests of the Federal Government rather than upholding the constitution. “The judiciary is no longer the last hope of the common man,” Tanko lamented.

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he is not desperate to return to office, revealing that his “spirit left the Government House long ago.”

Fubara, however, acknowledged the immense support he had received from many people and emphasised the importance of standing by those who have made sacrifices for him.

He made the remarks on Sunday during a Night of Tributes organizsd by the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum in honour of the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

The event took place at the Royal House of Grace Church in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Fubara warned that the solemn occasion should not be misinterpreted, especially in light of some politically charged comments made by earlier speakers and clergy.

This marked his first public speech since President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office and declared a state of emergency in the state on March 18, 2025.

“If I had my way, I wouldn’t want to return,” Fubara said. “But many people, including the late Chief Clark, have made sacrifices for me. That’s why I must stand by them.”

Reacting to comments made by some speakers, Fubara expressed concern that the event might be misrepresented as a political rally targeting his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, and President Tinubu. He urged speakers to exercise restraint.

“This is my first time speaking publicly since the events of March 18,” he said. “I’ve attended several gatherings, but I’ve been careful with my words. When the mood of an event doesn’t align with my beliefs, I feel uncomfortable—because many of you don’t truly understand the situation.”

Fubara continued, “It’s not about shouting ‘Oshobe, Oshobe.’ At a point, that doesn’t solve anything. I had to be here because Pa Clark was special to me. My presence today is the most significant contribution I can make to honour him.”

He cautioned that the event’s focus should remain on paying tribute to the late Pa Clark and not veer into political territory.

“This programme is a tribute to Pa Clark. It’s not about Sim Fubara,” he stressed. “Even though I respect the message from the bishop, today is not the time for political declarations. Otherwise, people will leave here saying Fubara gathered his supporters to attack the minister or the President. That’s not my mission.”

He added, “Do you think I’m even interested in going back? Just look at me—I look better now. I have peace. If I had my way, I wouldn’t go back there. My spirit left Government House long ago.”

Fubara emphasised that not every battle is worth fighting and urged the public to ask whether he truly desires to return to power.

“Inasmuch as we must stand with those who made sacrifices for us, that doesn’t mean we should start shooting blindly. Let us stay focused,” he advised.

He reiterated that the gathering was to honour Pa Clark and urged participants to reflect on the late statesman’s legacy of peace, justice, and selfless service.

Meanwhile, in a statement released by his media aide, Nelson Chukwudi, Governor Fubara urged his supporters to refrain from confrontational rhetoric and to follow his example of strategic restraint and peacebuilding.

He noted that some remarks and actions by supporters were inconsistent with his own values and could further inflame tensions in the state.

Fubara said he often wonders whether his supporters truly consider whether their approach leads to peace and reconciliation.

He warned against acts that could worsen the already delicate situation.

As a leader, he said, he remained conscious of the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and is committed to acting within the law to restore stability and move Rivers State forward.

He also stated that he now enjoys peace of mind and better health and called on all to draw inspiration from the late Chief Clark’s life, particularly his dedication to unity, justice, and peace in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

During his homily, Apostle Zilly Aggrey quoted James 4:13–16, Hebrews 12:14–15, and Matthew 7:12, stressing the need for wisdom and reconciliation among political actors.

Apostle Aggrey urged all parties involved in the crisis to make peace, emphasising that only a united people can overcome adversity.

He thanked former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his role in Fubara’s emergence as governor and encouraged him to champion reconciliation for the good of the state.

Aggrey also commended PresidentTinubu for his efforts in managing the political crisis and appealed for more proactive measures to restore democratic stability in Rivers State.

Other dignitaries who spoke at the event included former Governor and Chairman of the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, Chief Rufus George; former Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby; Senator Benneth Birabi; Prof. Atuboyedia Obianime; Prof. Steve Azaiki; Ms. Ann Kio Briggs; Bishop Elkanah Hanson; Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe; Prof. Roseline Konya; and Senator John Azuta Mbata.

Accompanying Governor Fubara were Senator John Azuta Mbata, Senator Adawari Michael Pepple, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka, Chief Hanny Woko, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Dr. Edison Ehie, and Chief Theodore Georgewill.

The occasion also drew the attendance of Awaji-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Chikodi Dike, and other dignitaries.

 Lamido predicts mass decamp from APC
• Accuses Tinubu govt of pushing Nigeria towards disintegration
• Fubara hints at moving on, says ‘my spirit has already left there’

A storm of defections and deepening internal crises has thrown the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into turmoil, with its governors racing against time to rescue the party from a looming collapse.

The governors convened a meeting in Abuja last night. Top on the agenda was the urgent need to tackle the party’s internal wrangling, which triggered high-profile defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The leaders were expected to deliberate on strategies for unifying the party and curbing the defections to strengthen its standing ahead of the 2027 elections.

Taking place at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, the event drew the participation of current and former PDP governors, alongside other prominent party figures.

Among those in attendance were the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Iliya Damagum; former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Abia State Governor, Okezie; and former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, among others.

The meeting had barely begun when FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike arrived at the meeting venue in his black G-Wagon, dressed in a black jalabiya and a white cap.

They were also expected to discuss critical issues ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27, as well as the potential for a convention in August.

There are growing concerns within the party that the May 27 NEC meeting may be disrupted or even cancelled, which could, in turn, jeopardise the planned August convention if key matters are not addressed swiftly.

This anxiety has been compounded by the recent depletion of the party’s ranks, following the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire PDP structure in the state to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

At its April 14, 2025, meeting, the PDP Governors Forum meeting resolved among others that it would not support the idea of forming a coalition against the ruling party in the 2027 election.

The governors said that as a major opposition party, the PDP would welcome any party, association, or group willing to join it, with a view to wrestling power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.

But Wike shortly after the Ibadan meeting granted an interview in which he openly declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.

The “Delta defections,” as some PDP stalwarts now describe them, were followed by another wave of defections, with lawmakers in Jigawa State and other party members leaving for the APC.

All three PDP senators from Kebbi State are reportedly set to join the APC, while it is rumoured that the governors of Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, as well as the only PDP governor in the Southeast, may also defect to the APC.

Adding to the shock was the declaration by former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan that she would support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. This development may have foreclosed the possibility of convincing former President Goodluck Jonathan to re-contest on the party’s platform in 2027.

As it stands, the North, which is reportedly dissatisfied with President Tinubu’s leadership style, may opt to support another Southerner to challenge the incumbent President under the PDP’s platform. The only candidate from the South with a constitutional right to serve one term is Jonathan. However, that possibility now appears remote following Dame Jonathan’s declaration of support for President Tinubu in 2027.

The meeting was also necessitated by the ongoing imbroglio surrounding the Supreme Court case regarding the position of the party’s National Secretary. However, a party source and member of the National Working Committee disclosed that a resolution has been reached, with the deputy national secretary instructed to continue acting in the role until the convention is held in August.

Another likely agenda at the meeting may be the position of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar within the party.

Although the former Vice President has not officially decamped to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as has been speculated in recent weeks, party stakeholders remain uncertain about the stability of the Turaki of Adamawa within the PDP.

According to an insider, the governors may seek to clarify this matter and also decide whether the current PDP leadership should strategically concede the next presidential ticket to a Southerner, under a firm agreement that such a candidate would serve only one term to allow power to rotate back to the North in 2031.

It was gathered that this issue has become highly sensitive within the party ranks, with some northern members arguing that if a southern president is likely to seek two terms, it would be better to allow President Tinubu to complete his constitutional two terms by 2031, after which power would return to the North.

Yesterday’s meeting followed an earlier one held by the governors three weeks ago in Ibadan, where they declared that the party would not participate in the coalition talks led by Atiku and former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was notably absent from the Ibadan meeting.

The Abuja meeting, held at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, also took place amid concerns and uncertainties ahead of the long-awaited meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for May 27.

Sources revealed that the meeting would likely address rumours of further defections and the ongoing crisis within the party, which has already led to the departure of figures like Oborevwori and Okowa.

The three main blocs currently strategising for the May 27 NEC meeting are the PDP governors, the Atiku Abubakar bloc, and loyalists of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

MEANWHILE, former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, has expressed optimism about the PDP’s prospects, predicting that some APC members, including the National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, would soon return to the PDP.

“I’m confident that all those who left the PDP will return, including Ganduje, because very soon, the APC will burst and split into factions,” Lamido said. He reiterated his belief that the PDP would rise with full force to reclaim power in 2027.

“I said it, and I repeat: within six months, all those who defected to the APC will come back, and the PDP will rise with full force to wrest power in 2027,” he declared.

Speaking at the PDP state congress and election of new executives at Aminu Kano Triangle in Dutse, Lamido also expressed concern that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government is endangering Nigeria’s unity due to its “failed mission, lost focus, and harsh economic policies.”

He criticised the government as deceitful and lacking the competence to deliver good governance.

“Nigeria is drifting to a tunnel of disintegration with mushroom cabals as implementers of bad policies, and the mission of President Tinubu lacks objectives of good governance for success and prosperity,” he said.

Lamido called for collective action to address what he described as the APC’s catastrophic policies. “For us to be out of this catastrophic monopoly, all hands must be on deck in jetting out this so-called misled crop of architectors… people with failed mission and objectives,” he stated, adding that the country needs a leader with “human compassion, decency, uprightness, and dedication.”

Addressing the newly elected PDP executives, Lamido urged them to prioritise honesty and hard work. “I charge all our newly elected state’s PDP Exco to eschew selfishness, greed… and work tirelessly for the success of the PDP in 2027, to enact a purposeful leadership in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians,” he said.

IN a related development, the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has said he is not desperate to return to office.

Fubara made the statement at a service of songs held in honour of the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The event was organised by the Rivers Elders Forum yesterday.

The embattled governor was responding to several speakers at the event who referred to him as “Governor” and strongly criticised his suspension, calling for its immediate reversal.

He distanced himself from their remarks, describing them as personal opinions. According to him, such comments were unlikely to promote peace.

“Not everything is by oshogbe,” he cautioned, hinting at his preference for a more strategic and less confrontational approach to the ongoing political crisis.

He stressed that as a leader, he was quite aware of the enormous responsibilities before him and was doing what needed to be done within the ambit of the law to restore normalcy in a bid to move the State forward.

Fubara added that he now enjoys peace of mind and appears even healthier and emphasized the importance of drawing inspiration from the life and values of late Pa Clark, particularly his commitment to peace, unity, personal sacrifice, and statesmanship.