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‘Insecurity in Niger will persist, until people’s resources are used for them rightly’

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From Naseer Mijinyawa, Minna

As the race for Niger state government in 2023 hots up, Retired Lt. Col Jibril Jibril Madugu has obtained the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) Gubernatorial nomination forms to change the narratives.

The gubernatorial hopeful has outlined security, agriculture, education and health as his major priorities if given the mandate in 2023.
The retired Military Officer who voluntary left the Military to join politics, identified maladministration by successive governments at all levels of governance in the state as the major reason for high level of poverty, and by extension Insecurity across the state.
Speaking with newsmen in Minna on why he joined the gubernatorial race, shortly after meeting with the 25 local government chairmen of the party, Madugu indicated that his decision to quit the Military and join politics was borne out of his desire to librate the people of the State from the hands of a few that have held the state captive since 1999. Madugu pointed out that after over 20 years of Democratic governance in the country, Niger State finds itself among the most underdeveloped states, stressing that few individuals have mortgaged the destiny of generation yet unborn in the state.
He attributed the growing level of Insecurity in the state and the country in general to what he described as years of neglect of Critical areas, including agriculture, education, health and youths empowerment.
According to him, “until people’s resources are used for the purpose they are meant for, the country will continue to experience the current security situation.
He singled out Niger, as one of the states in the country that has found herself among the list of underdeveloped states in the country “because the leaders have no interest of the people at heart”, adding that the current APC administration in the state is the worst since the country returned to democracy in 1999.
Madugu promised to use his Military experience to bring to an end, the security challenges bedeviling the state, saying that lack of political will and high level of corruption in the system have made the current security situation to linger on for too long
“I will deploy my military experience to tackle the security situation in the state. What is happening is essentially lack of political will and corruption in the system, and that is what I will address if I am given the mandate.
“The politics in the Military is more than the normal politics. I have what it takes to rescue the state and put it among the comity of developed states in the country.
“That is why I have listed security, agriculture, education and health as my areas of major priorities”.
According to him, the lack of focus by the present administration in the state, has made it the worst since the state was created in 1976, pointing out that “this administration owed the people of the state a very big apology for the mismanagement of their resources in the last seven year

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Politics

“Where Did $3.23B Go?” Peter Obi Slams Mismanagement of Power Funds Amid Another Grid Failure

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Peter Obi

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s persistent electricity woes despite borrowing a staggering $3.23 billion in the last four years to address the sector’s challenges.

Speaking after reports of a power outage on Saturday, Obi lamented the recurring grid collapses that have left millions of Nigerians in darkness, disrupted businesses, and crippled critical infrastructure. Although the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) dismissed claims of a nationwide collapse, attributing the incident to two tripped transmission lines affecting parts of Lagos, Obi remains unconvinced.

The Labour Party leader described the power sector’s failings as a “recurring decimal,” highlighting that the national grid collapsed approximately 12 times in 2024 alone. “The untold setback and hardship it brought on households and businesses was immeasurable,” Obi said, questioning why Nigeria still struggles to produce just 4,500 megawatts of power after years of borrowing and investment.

“Instead of making significant progress, we’re witnessing recurrent failures. One wonders where all the funds borrowed for the power sector have gone,” he stated.

Obi linked the crisis to widespread corruption and a lack of commitment by leaders, urging the government to prioritize genuine development in 2025. He emphasized that without stable electricity, the nation’s economy, particularly households and small businesses, will continue to suffer.

This latest critique comes as Nigerians grapple with the realities of an unreliable power supply despite years of promises and investments in the energy sector. Obi’s call for transparency and accountability strikes a chord with many citizens who question why the lights are still out after billions of dollars have been spent.

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For better Nigeria, Obi says he is ready to pay the supreme prize

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Peter Obi

The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has boldly declared his willingness to pay the supreme price for the betterment of Nigeria, signaling his unwavering commitment to the country’s progress despite facing relentless opposition.
Obi, who has faced intimidation, personal attacks, and sabotage since his foray into politics, stated that he remains resolute in pushing for the reforms that ordinary Nigerians desperately need, even if it comes at the cost of his own life.

In a deeply personal statement, Obi spoke to reporters following his New Year address to the nation. “It is extremely difficult to be in opposition in this country.
Everything is against you,” he lamented. “People don’t want to see you or associate with you because they fear government backlash. My businesses and personal life have been attacked, but I’ve made up my mind. If this is the end, so be it.”

Obi described Nigeria’s political environment as hostile to those who challenge the status quo, with efforts to silence dissent at all levels. Despite these harsh realities, Obi emphasized that the country’s future depends on courageous leadership willing to make personal sacrifices for the common good. “None of us is going to live forever. So we must build a better society for our children. And to build this, some of us will take the risk. That is part of what Dele and others are going through. Not just him, but everyone – even at the local and state levels.”

In his address, Obi turned his focus to Nigeria’s dire economic state, calling for urgent action to tackle inflation, food insecurity, and the country’s failing education and healthcare systems. He stressed that governance must focus on the tangible needs of the people, not just political power games. “Governance is not about what you say; it is about what people feel,” Obi stated, urging the government to prioritize the well-being of Nigerians over foreign trips and extravagant spending.

Obi also pointed to the deepening poverty and unemployment, noting his visit to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp where he witnessed the heartbreaking sight of children eager to attend school but unable to do so due to their circumstances. “People are dying because they can’t afford basic necessities,” Obi stated with a heavy heart. “I saw 1,500 kids yesterday who are not in school. What are we doing about it?”

Criticizing the government’s tax policies, Obi argued that it is illogical to tax an impoverished populace and struggling industries. “You cannot tax people living in extreme poverty or factories that have shut down,” Obi said, stressing that a productive economy is the foundation for generating revenue. “When people are gainfully employed, then you can talk about generating revenue. What we need now is to reflate the country and make it productive,” he added.

In closing, Obi reiterated his call for unity among all political forces, urging Nigerians who truly care about the nation’s future to collaborate in rebuilding the country. “We need everyone who means well to come together and rebuild this country,” he stated.

His final remarks were a solemn pledge to continue fighting for the welfare of the Nigerian people. “None of us will live forever. But we must build a nation where our children can thrive. If I have to pay the supreme price for that, so be it,” Obi declared.

Peter Obi’s speech highlighted his commitment to advocating for the voiceless and challenging the status quo. His resolve to make personal sacrifices, even in the face of adversity, sets a powerful tone for the year ahead as Nigerians continue to look for solutions to the nation’s most pressing issues.

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Presidency Fires Back at Peter Obi’s Dire New Year Predictions

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Peter Obi

In a fiery exchange of words, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser for Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has accused Labour Party’s Peter Obi of painting Nigeria’s future in bleak colors to score political points.
While Nigerians welcomed 2025 with optimism, Obi’s New Year message highlighted worsening poverty and insecurity, sparking sharp criticism from the presidency.

Onanuga dismissed Obi’s remarks as “misleading” and labeled him a “prophet of doom,” arguing that economic and political indicators point to recovery, not decline. However, Obi insisted that over 100 million Nigerians remain trapped in poverty, with the nation’s fortunes in reverse.
Onanuga accused Obi of name-calling and a campaign of calumny against Tinubu’s government, adding his New Year’s message where he claimed Nigeria’s political, economic, and security situation is worsening daily, was misleading.

On Thursday, Obi claimed that the government had not done enough to address the country’s “worsening” economic, political, and security challenges for nearly two years.

Obi said Nigerians were losing hope and insisted that Nigeria remained one of the poverty capitals of the world, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty and more than 150 million in multidimensional poverty.

According to the Labour Party chieftain, Nigeria’s challenges are visibly worsening with its fortunes in clear reverse, pointing out that current indices are indications of the country’s decline.
But Onanuga maintained that Obi’s comment is geared toward scoring cheap political points.
“Obi’s New Year message, in which he claimed that our dear country’s political, economic, and security situation is worsening daily, is misleading and appears intended to score cheap political points,” Onanuga said.

“This claim, at a time when all indicators show that our country is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors, casts Obi, squarely, as Nigeria’s leading doomsayer.”

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