In an era where the demand for results-driven leadership in public service has never been greater, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate stands out as a shining example of what is possible when competence meets commitment. In less than two years as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Prof. Pate is leading a silent revolution in Nigeria’s health sector one that may well be remembered as a defining chapter in the nation’s public health narrative. The impacts of Prof. Pate’s leadership are already visible, transformative, and far-reaching. From policy reforms and institutional restructuring to…
Author: National Update
***As Okoloke communities rejoices By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi has ordered full medical rehabilitation and psychological restoration of Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Obalohun of Okoloke who was released on Wednesday after 27 days in Kidnapper’s den.. A family who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Lokoja said, “As I speak with you we are already heading to the Federal Medical Center, Lokoja on the order of the state Governor His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. “The Governor has virtually taken over the rehabilitation of the traditional ruler, we are so grateful to the…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja RECTOR of Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman has commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State for his focused leadership, commitment to continuity, progress, and the deepening of democratic ideals. Prof. Usman made the commendation in his felicitations to the Governor on the occasion of the 2025 Democracy Day (June 12) celebration, made available to newsmen by Mrs Uredo Omale, Director, Public Relations and Protocol of the Polytechnic. The Rector noted that Governor Ododo’s early strides in consolidating on the gains of the past while charting a bold path for the future had…
By Tunde Olusunle I’ve just watched a four-minute video clip of Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor, commissioning a humongous haul of 14 road projects in one day in Aba, the major commercial hub in the state. My interest was not in the ceremonial cutting of tapes and ribbons at every turn during the exercise. More than that, I was swayed by the bonding, the connectivity of Otti with regular folks, his kinsmen and women. As Otti walked the streets of the famous Enyimba City, his people, evidently overwhelmed by the good works of their leader, wanted to touch him,…
***Reaffirms commitment to Inclusive governance By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja GOVERNOR Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has called on Nigerians to rekindle the spirit of unity, civic responsibility, and democratic engagement as the nation marks the 2025 Democracy Day. Governor Ododo, in a stirring message to commemorate the historic day, on Thursday in Lokoja, described June 12, as a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey towards democratic governance. He said that day is a solemn reminder that democracy is not gifted but earned adding, “Today, we celebrate as one people, united in history, in hope, and in purpose.” The governor paid…
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse Following the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) prediction of potential flooding in 30 states—including Jigawa—the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has launched a statewide public enlightenment campaign to sensitize residents in flood-prone communities. This was contained in a statement issued in Dutse by the Head of Media and Communication for NOA in Jigawa, Miss Sarah Ogodo. She disclosed that the campaign was part of the agency’s visit to the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Hannafi Yakubu. “In a bold move to strengthen partnerships for more effective emergency response, the Jigawa…
***Says Democracy Is in Retreat, Decries Corruption, Insecurity, Economic Collapse Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, delivered a scathing Democracy Day message on Wednesday, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of running the country from abroad and presiding over what he described as “two years of failed governance, rising poverty, and democratic backsliding.” In a statement titled “Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Tinubu’s Governance,” Obi said Nigeria is on a dangerous trajectory, marked by impunity, institutional decay, and worsening insecurity. He called on the President to abandon what he described as a detached and ineffective style…
Senator Seriake Dickson has warned that true democracy cannot flourish under the weight of blind loyalty and unquestioning political submission, insisting that “bootlicking and sycophancy have no place in a genuine democratic system.” The president suspended Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers state governor, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all house of assembly members for six months. Tinubu also appointed Ibas as the sole administrator for Rivers state. On a day set aside to honour Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy, Senator Seriake Dickson issued a sharp rebuke of what he sees as rising authoritarianism within the current administration—pointing specifically to the unfolding crisis in…
Marking the 2025 Democracy Day celebration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered a deeply symbolic message of justice, remembrance, and reconciliation—honouring Nigeria’s fallen democratic heroes and granting long-awaited clemency to the famed Ogoni Nine. In a solemn and emotionally charged ceremony at the National Assembly, President Tinubu posthumously conferred the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Kudirat Abiola, hailing her as “a heroine of the June 12 struggle” and a fearless advocate whose sacrifice remains etched in the nation’s democratic memory. Beyond Kudirat, the President rolled out an unprecedented list of national honours to both…
As the nation marked Democracy Day 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan delivered a powereful message that challenged both citizens and leaders to redefine the meaning of democracy—not as a ritual of voting every four years, but as a daily force for dignity, inclusion, and progress. In a statement released Thursday, the Senator representing Kogi Central called for a bold national reflection, warning that democracy risks becoming hollow if it fails to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians. “Democracy is not a ceremony—it must be lived and felt in homes, streets, classrooms, and hospitals. It should translate into justice, opportunity, and respect…