By John Akubo On Wednesday in Abeokuta, a familiar bond was quietly rekindled. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo received his long-time ally, former Jigawa State Governor Dr. Sule Lamido, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL). What might have seemed a routine courtesy call carried undertones far deeper: reflection on Nigeria’s past struggles, anxiety about its fragile present, and pointed questions about the nation’s uncertain future. The visit was intimate but symbolic. Obasanjo personally guided Lamido through the sprawling OOPL — part museum, part archive, part leadership school. Each corner tells the story of Nigeria’s turbulent march from colonialism through military…
Author: National Update
Rights activist and lawyer, Barr. Chukwudi Ezeobika, has sounded the alarm over the unchecked rise of vigilante groups in Nigeria, warning that their growing influence signals state failure and a collapsing police force. Reacting to recent attacks on NYSC members in Anambra, including the brutal assault of Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor, Ezeobika said the incidents revealed “a frightening collapse of control” under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. “Vigilante groups have become oppressive tools in the hands of state governors, spreading small arms, extorting citizens, and trampling on rights. Their continued existence is unconstitutional and a grave…
***Defends Tinubu, mocks Amaechi, denies parallel PDP convention The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a blistering defence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration while warning that he will only support a presidential candidate in 2027 whether from the PDP or APC who places Nigeria’s interest above sentiment. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike dismissed former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal’s criticism of Tinubu as “bitter and insulting,” insisting the President is confronting decades of structural problems with “painful but necessary” reforms. “Yes, Nigerians are facing hardship, but these problems did…
***Vows Stronger Action on Banditry Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central, has expressed deep sorrow over the brutal attack on worshippers in Unguwan Mantau, Malumfashi Local Government Area, which claimed 30 lives and left many others injured. In a condolence message to the Government and people of Katsina State, Yar’Adua described the killings as a ‘senseless assault on innocent citizens and on the peace-loving spirit of our people.’ He commiserated with the families of the 13 worshippers slain inside the mosque and the wider community now grieving their loss. “May Allah (SWT) forgive their shortcomings, grant the departed eternal…
Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has warned Nigerians that vote-buying is nothing short of a national tragedy — a quick fix that mortgages the nation’s destiny. In a fiery post on his X handle yesterday, Obi described vote-buying as “an investment in corruption,” arguing that politicians who purchase power have no interest in governance but only in plundering public wealth. “They are not leaders — they are looters,” he declared. He said those who sell their votes are complicit in their own suffering, stressing that every ballot traded is a hospital denied, a…
***Promises Rebirth Before 2027 The Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Nenadi Usman, has blamed ‘external forces’ for the party’s internal crisis in a broader attempt to destabilize opposition politics in Nigeria. Speaking at COPDEM’s Virtual People’s Parliament on Monday, Usman said the Labour Party’s leadership tussle—resolved twice this year by the Supreme Court and most recently by a Federal High Court in Abuja—was more than a domestic dispute. “This is not just an attack on the Labour Party; it is part of a larger strategy to weaken virtually all opposition parties in Nigeria,” she declared. Usman,…
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has thrown his weight behind Nigeria’s security forces, praising what he described as their “remarkable recent achievements” in taking the fight to insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers. In a statement posted Tuesday on his X handle, Obi said the courage of men and women in uniform—often working with limited tools in harsh conditions—shows that Nigeria can be safe again. “Their gallantry is proof that this nation has the capacity to win the war against insecurity,” he declared. But Obi’s message was not without a sharp caution. He warned that the gains would evaporate if…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has expressed deep sympathy to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo over the death of his father, Alhaji Ahmed MomohSani Ododo, who passed away on Monday at the age of 83. In a personally signed condolence letter to Governor Ododo, Bello described the late patriarch as “a moral compass, a wise guide, and a stabilising force” whose values helped shape the governor into a committed leader. “He was more than just a parent to you. His quiet sacrifices, unassuming wisdom, and dedication to family and community values are reflected in…
By Abel Daniel, Lafia Former National Ex-Officio candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hajiya Farida Umar, has taken a swipe at defectors from the opposition party, describing them as politicians without “democratic temerity” to withstand challenges. Speaking during a visit to the PDP state secretariat in Lafia, the outspoken female activist vowed to remain in the party despite mounting pressures and persuasions to join rival platforms. “I must say it loud and clear: those who left our party lack democratic courage,” Farida said. “Why would anyone abandon the PDP for new parties? True democrats stay, fight from within, and…
***Commissioning of the reconstructed Dambo Palace By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse In Jigawa North West, Senator Babangida Hussaini is redefining grassroots politics — not only by empowering his party faithful but also by restoring the cultural pride of his people. At a rally in Kazaure town, the lawmaker, who also holds the traditional title of Walin Kazaure, distributed 127 motorcycles to All Progressives Congress (APC) ward executives across 12 local government areas. The gesture, witnessed by Governor Umar Namadi and APC leaders, was pitched as a boost to party coordination and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections. “This is about strengthening…