A political activist, Omoyele Sowore, has triggered widespread reactions on social media after claiming that President Bola Tinubu is unwell following his departure from Nigeria to Europe on Sunday.

Sowore also alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is critically ill, questioning why the country is being led by people he described as sick.

Sowore’s Allegations

In a post shared on his social media handles, Sowore criticised Nigeria’s leadership and accused public officials of using the country as “health insurance.”

Sowore wrote: “Nigeria’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unwell just managing himself, reason he’s abruptly flown to “Europe” today @Senator_Akpabio is practically dying, why is Nigeria governed by sick people? And whereas nothing is wrong with illnesses it is callous to use a country as health insurance for sick leaders.”

The post quickly generated mixed reactions, with supporters and critics debating the claims online.

Presidency Explains Tinubu’s Trip

Earlier on Sunday, the Presidency announced that President Tinubu had travelled to Europe as part of his end-of-year break and would later proceed to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

He wrote: “STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU LEAVES FOR EUROPE

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Lagos on Sunday, December 28, for Europe, continuing his end-of-year break and ahead of his official trip to Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed AlNahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has invited President Tinubu to participate in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026) Summit, which will take place in the emirate early in January.

The weeklong summit is an annual event that mobilises leaders from government, business, and society to chart the next era of sustainable development.

With the theme ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go’, ADSW will connect ambition with action across innovation, finance, and people, showcasing how the world can move forward with confidence.

The President will return to the country after the Summit.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

December 28, 2025.”

Mixed Public Reactions

Sowore’s comments have continued to draw attention, with many Nigerians calling for caution and responsibility in public discourse, while others demand greater transparency about the health of public office holders.

SOURCE PAGE

The recent counter-terrorism strike in Sokoto marks a turning point in Nigeria’s long struggle against terrorists and jihadist violence and security calculus. Enabled by foreign cooperation, it underscores both renewed state resolve and a shifting approach to intelligence, sovereignty, and security partnerships at a critical moment. Adedayo Adejobi writes.

Reports of a coordinated counter-terrorism operation involving Nigeria and the United States, driven by actionable intelligence and executed in Sokoto, have introduced a new and consequential chapter in the long war against jihadist violence in Nigeria and the wider Sahel.

Whether viewed as a tactical strike or a strategic signal, the operation has resonance far beyond the immediate battlefield. It speaks to political will, evolving alliances, contested sovereignty, and the uncomfortable recalibration of Nigeria’s security doctrine in an era where terror networks are transnational, adaptive, and deeply entrenched.

Sokoto occupies a unique symbolic and historical space in Nigeria’s security imagination. As the heartland of the old Islamic caliphate, it represents continuity, authority, and religious legitimacy.

For terror groups that thrive on myth-making and ideological inheritance, geography matters. An operation in this space is therefore not just kinetic, it is psychological. It signals that no terrain is too sensitive, no symbolism too sacred, when the survival of the Nigerian state is at stake.

Politically, the most striking element of the episode is the assertion of will. Successive Nigerian administrations have often been accused of rhetorical toughness paired with operational hesitation. In this case, the decision to act decisively, reportedly in alignment with firm pressure and expectations from Washington under President Donald Trump’s hard line posture on terrorism, reflects a shift from caution to confrontation. Trump’s worldview leaves little room for ambiguity, allies are expected to act, not equivocate. Nigeria’s response suggests a leadership increasingly aware that delay and half measures only embolden violent non-state actors.

Yet political will does not exist in a vacuum. It is inseparable from political cost. Domestic sensitivities around foreign involvement in security operations are real and historically grounded. Nigeria’s memory of external interference, from colonial conquest to Cold War maneuvering, has made sovereignty a deeply emotive concept. Reliance on United States intelligence, no matter how precise or timely, inevitably raises questions.

Who defines the target? Who controls the narrative? Who bears responsibility for unintended consequences?

Critics argue that over dependence on foreign intelligence risks hollowing out Nigeria’s own capacity. This concern deserves serious engagement.

Intelligence is not merely data, it is context, culture, language, and long term presence.

A nation that outsources too much of this function risks strategic blindness. At the same time, absolutist notions of intelligence sovereignty are increasingly obsolete.

Terror networks share resources, move across borders, and exploit digital platforms that no single state can fully monitor. The real issue is not cooperation, but balance. Nigeria must ensure that intelligence partnerships are reciprocal, capacity building, and anchored in Nigerian command authority.

The economic dimension further complicates the narrative. Observers who allude to America’s interest in Nigeria’s mineral resources are not speaking in a vacuum. The Sahel and West Africa are emerging theaters of strategic competition, with critical minerals, energy corridors, and trade routes at stake.

Security cooperation is never purely altruistic. However, acknowledging interest does not automatically invalidate partnership. The question is whether Nigeria negotiates from a position of clarity and strength, or from desperation. Counterterrorism can coexist with economic self interest, provided Nigerian institutions are robust enough to protect national priorities.

Militarily, the operation challenges long standing perceptions of compromise and fatigue within Nigeria’s armed forces. Years of asymmetric warfare have taken a toll on morale and public confidence.

Accusations of infiltration, collusion, or incompetence have followed the military, sometimes fairly, sometimes opportunistically. A successful, intelligence led operation sends a counter-message.

It suggests adaptability, learning, and renewed seriousness.

The Nigerian Navy and other services, often peripheral in counterinsurgency discussions, are also implicated in this moment. Terror financing, arms smuggling, and logistics increasingly move through maritime and riverine routes. A stepped up, professional, and transparent military response across all services is no longer optional.

Intelligence, however, remains the quiet centre of gravity. The language of actionable intelligence implies specificity, timing, and trust. It also implies risk. Acting on shared intelligence binds partners together in success and in failure.

For Nigeria, the future of this alliance will depend on how effectively it translates external inputs into internal competence. Training, technology transfer, and doctrinal reform must follow operations, not trail them.

The operation also reopens a contentious internal debate about dissent, criticism, and responsibility in wartime.

Public intellectuals and clerics such as Sheikh Gumi and Ahmed Baba Ahmed, among others, have positioned themselves as vocal critics of the federal government’s counter-terrorism approach.

In a healthy democracy, dissent is not only permitted, it is necessary. However, in a context as fragile as Nigeria’s security environment, rhetoric has consequences. Language that consistently delegitimises state action, rationalises extremist grievances, or frames terror groups as misunderstood actors demands scrutiny.

This is not a call for persecution or silencing. It is a call for accountability and transparency. The Nigerian and international community are entitled to ask hard questions about funding networks, ideological affiliations, and cross border linkages that sustain extremist violence.

Background checks, financial transparency, and open debate should not be taboo. They are tools of democratic self defense. To ask questions is not to accuse, but to protect.

Regionally, the implications are profound. West Africa’s terror ecosystem is interconnected. Signals sent in Sokoto are received in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and beyond. A Nigeria that demonstrates resolve alters calculations across the region. It reassures partners and unsettles adversaries. It also places weight on Nigeria’s shoulders. Leadership brings expectation. Consistency will matter more than spectacle.

Ultimately, this moment is a test. A test of whether Nigeria can convert a tactical success into a strategic doctrine. A test of whether alliances can be managed without eroding sovereignty. A test of whether political will can be sustained beyond headlines. Terrorism thrives on doubt, delay, and division. The strongest signal Nigeria can send is not just force, but coherence.

History will not remember intelligence briefs or diplomatic communiques. It will remember whether the Nigerian state chose clarity over comfort, responsibility over rhetoric, and action over paralysis. In Sokoto, a message was sent. What follows will determine whether it becomes a turning point or just another echo in a long war.

SOURCE PAGE

The Labour Party has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his trip to Europe amid worsening insecurity across Nigeria.

The party’s Acting National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, described the President’s travel as insensitive and lacking empathy for Nigerians grappling with violent attacks and humanitarian crises.

Usman said Tinubu should have remained in the country to personally coordinate security efforts and respond to the growing challenges.

“This is the most inauspicious time for the President to leave the country. Even spending the Christmas holiday in Lagos appeared ill-timed, considering that a bomb exploded in Zamfara today, killing nine people,” she said.

She further alleged that Nigeria was under external attack, accusing the Federal Government of downplaying the gravity of the security situation.

The LP Acting Chairperson also faulted the President for failing to convene critical security meetings following the United States–led bombardment of terrorist camps in Kwara and Sokoto states, and criticised what she described as inadequate engagement with military leadership.

According to reports, President Tinubu departed Lagos for Europe ahead of an official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he is scheduled to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit at the invitation of UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The trip comes amid heightened security concerns nationwide.

It will be recalled that United States President Donald Trump authorised AFRICOM to carry out airstrikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, hours before Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the operation.

Similarly, a deadly bomb blast in Zamfara State on Friday claimed several lives.

SOURCE PAGE

Former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has stirred fresh controversy over President Bola Tinubu’s sudden trip out of Nigeria, alleging that the president is unwell.

Sowore made the claim on Sunday while reacting to news of Tinubu’s unexpected departure to Europe.

He alleged that the president is managing health challenges and suggested that this was the reason for the abrupt travel.

The activist also extended his comments to the leadership of the National Assembly. He claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is “practically dying,” raising concerns about the health of top political office holders in the country.

President Tinubu had been in Lagos State to observe the Christmas and New Year holidays before leaving Nigeria earlier on Sunday.

His departure drew public attention due to the short notice and limited prior engagement during the festive period.

The Presidency later confirmed that Tinubu had travelled to Europe. According to an official statement, the president is also expected to proceed to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for an international engagement.

Tinubu is scheduled to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit. The visit is at the invitation of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The summit focuses on climate action, energy transition, and sustainable development.

Despite the official explanation, Sowore questioned the transparency surrounding the president’s health and travel.

In a post on X, he wrote: “Nigeria’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unwell just managing himself, reason he’s abruptly flown to ‘Europe’ today @Senator_Akpabio is practically dying, why is Nigeria governed by sick people?

“And whereas nothing is wrong with illnesses it is callous to use a country as health insurance for sick leaders.”

However, the Presidency has not directly responded to Sowore’s claims as of the time of filing this report.

SOURCE PAGE

• ipNXsigned an MoU with the Katsina State Government to design, develop, and deploy high-capacity broadband infrastructure, supporting e-Government, e-Health, and e-Learning services.
• The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) and aims to accelerate digital transformation, improve connectivity, and boost socio-economic development across Katsina State.
• The project will expand ipNX’s FTTH footprint in Northern Nigeria, bridging the digital divide and driving innovation, with potential to increase GDP per capita by 1.5% over five years.

In a landmark step toward advancing Katsina State’s digital economy, Nigeria’s leading information and communications technology (ICT) company, ipNX, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Katsina State Government to drive the design, development, and deployment of critical digital infrastructure across the state.

The partnership underscores the shared commitment of both parties to leverage technology as a catalyst for inclusive growth, improved public service delivery, and sustainable socio-economic development.

The MoU signing ceremony, which took place recently at the Continental Event Centre, Katsina, marks a significant milestone in the state’s digital transformation journey.

The collaboration is aligned with the Federal Government’s National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN) initiative and aims to accelerate the rollout of digital infrastructure nationwide, ensuring that broadband connectivity is accessible, affordable, and impactful for all Nigerians.

Under the agreement, ipNX will extend high-capacity broadband infrastructure across key locations, including Katsina City, Funtua, and Daura, laying the foundation for a connected and digitally enabled state. The project will support the deployment of next-generation Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks to power critical platforms such as e-Government, e-Health, and e-Learning, thereby enhancing service delivery and improving access to essential services for citizens across various communities.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr Olusola Teniola, Director, Strategic Business Initiatives, ipNX, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting government-led digital transformation initiatives across Nigeria.

“This partnership with the Katsina State Government is another testament to ipNX’s mission to build the robust digital infrastructure that enables economic growth and social development. Through this MoU, we will deliver resilient, high-speed broadband networks that support e-Government services, digital healthcare, and modern learning platforms. Our goal is to ensure that technology becomes an enabler of opportunity for every citizen, regardless of location,” he stated.

The collaboration also aligns with ipNX’s strategic expansion of its FoS and FTTH footprints across Northern Nigeria, with Katsina, Kano, Kaduna and Yobe identified as critical hubs for the next phase of growth. The initiative is expected to drive increased broadband penetration, which studies show can contribute to an approximate 1.5% increase in GDP per capita over the next five years, reinforcing the economic case for sustained investment in digital infrastructure.

As the project unfolds, it is expected to bridge the digital divide, stimulate innovation, and firmly position Katsina State as a key participant in Nigeria’s evolving digital landscape.

SOURCE PAGE

The Federal High Court in Lagos has set aside the proceedings conducted on November 21 in a suit between Collins Onyeweama and another against Techno Oil Limited and others, along with all orders made on that date, for constituting a flagrant breach of the respondents’ right to fair hearing.

Justice Ayokunle Faji, who also recused himself, held that the interim orders granted on November 21 were obtained through the suppression of material facts.

The ruling followed a motion ex-parte filed by the petitioners seeking global Mareva injunctions against the third and fourth respondents on the alleged suspicion that the first respondent’s assets were being relocated.

The application was brought without any hearing notice to the respondents or their counsel, despite the fact that all parties to the suit were already duly represented by counsel.

Aggrieved by the interim orders, counsel to the various respondents filed separate applications seeking to set aside the November 21 orders on grounds of breach of fair hearing and lack of jurisdiction.

Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), with Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN), Ogbonna Chukwumerije, and Kazeem Afolabi appeared for the first, third, fifth, and sixth respondents, while Nnaemeka Amaechina announced appearance for the second and fourth respondents.

Oluwole Afolabi (SAN) and O.F. Fatomi appeared for the first, third, and seventh parties seeking to be bound (interveners).

Ifeanyi Ekopo, holding the brief of Tochukwu Maduka (SAN), appeared for the fourth, fifth, and sixth parties seeking to be bound.

Justice Faji agreed with the submissions of senior counsel representing the first, third, fifth, and sixth respondents, as well as counsel to the second and fourth respondents, that the petitioners suppressed material facts in securing the ex parte orders.

The court observed that Exhibit 25, which formed the foundation of the petitioners’ ex parte application, had earlier been annexed to a motion on notice filed about two months before the November 21 proceedings.

However, during the hearing of the Mareva application, petitioners’ counsel, Mr. Ade Adedeji (SAN), and Mr. Bidemi Ademola-Bello (SAN), represented to the court that the facts relied upon had only recently come to the petitioners’ knowledge.

Justice Faji held that had the court been properly informed of the earlier filing, the ex parte application would not have been granted.

Consequently, the court nullified the proceedings and all orders made on November 21, 2025, for violating the respondents’ constitutional right to a fair hearing.

To preserve the integrity of the judicial process and maintain public confidence in the administration of justice, Justice Faji further announced his decision to recuse himself from further handling of the case.

He explained that the applicable test was how a reasonable and informed observer would perceive the circumstances surrounding the breach of fair hearing.

Accordingly, the court ordered that the case file be transmitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge of the Lagos Division.

SOURCE PAGE

The minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Goronyo, said infrastructure remains a critical catalyst for expanding horizons.

According to him, “roads, bridges and transport corridors are not merely physical structures, but enablers of commerce, education, healthcare, security and social integration.”

Goronyo, stated this as the special guest, while declaring open the 3rd Annual General Meeting of Sokoto Professionals Network, SPN.

He urged members of the Network to continue strengthening bonds between senior professionals and young graduates, between those at home and in the diaspora, and between professionals and government institutions.

In his opening remarks at the AGM themed – “Expanding Horizons Strengthening Bonds,” chairman, Incorporated Trustees, Sokoto Professionals Network, Engineer Zayyanu Tambari Yabo, highlighted that, SPN through its goal-oriented programmes and activities has been building the capacity of its members at all levels.

“These programmes are designed to add quality to their livelihood, through skills, knowledge, empowerment, self-discipline and self discovery.

“We are also orientating our young professionals in contributing meaningfully to their professional progress and development,” Engineer Yabo said.

A rundown of some activities carried out in the outgoing year according to the secretary of the Network, Barrister Zainab Bello Aliyu, while presenting the Secretariat report include, organising career guidance talk for students in selected schools; engagement with the state government; visits to personalities to ensure partnership/ and cooperation.

Sokoto Professionals Network also engaged with People Living With Disability; train members on Information Communication Technology, ICT; and organised 8-aside football tournaments.

An audited financial report for the year 2024, was also presented to members of the Network in attendance.

SOURCE PAGE

The police in Gombe State have arrested a 19-year-old casual security guard, Shuaibu Adamu, over the alleged killing of a man at the Government House.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to him, the police received a distress call at about 3:50 p.m. on Friday reporting a suspected case of culpable homicide within the Government House premises.

“The report stated that a male adult, Mallam Umar, a borehole operator, was found lying motionless within the premises,” Abdullahi said.

He added that preliminary findings showed the victim’s trousers were tied around his neck, while a local intoxicant, popularly known as rubber solution, was found in his mouth.

The victim was rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Gombe, where a doctor certified him dead. His body was subsequently deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

Abdullahi said the Commissioner of Police, Umar Chuso, visited the scene and ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

He disclosed that CCTV footage showed Adamu, also known as Yaya Mama, assaulting the victim shortly before his death and fleeing the scene.

“A follow-up operation at about 11:00 p.m. on Friday led to his arrest at Bagadaza Quarters in Gombe,” he said.

The spokesperson added that the suspect confessed during preliminary interrogation and would remain in custody pending the conclusion of investigations and prosecution.

“The command reassures the public of its commitment to justice and the safety of government facilities,” Abdullahi said.

SOURCE PAGE

The Labour Party has lambasted President Bola Tinubu over his Europe holiday in the face of insecurity ravaging Nigeria.

The Acting National Chairman of the party, Nenadi Usman, described the trip as insensitive and devoid of empathy for Nigerians facing violent attacks and humanitarian crises.

Usman emphasized that the President should have remained in the country to coordinate security responses.

“This is the most inauspicious time for the President to leave the country. Even the Christmas holiday in Lagos seems ill-timed, given that a bomb exploded in Zamfara today, killing nine people,” Usman said.

According to her, Nigeria was under external attack, accusing the government of downplaying the severity of the situation.

The LP Acting National Chairperson further explained that the President had not convened critical security meetings since the U.S.-led bombardment of terrorist camps in Kwara and Sokoto States and condemned the perceived lack of engagement with military leadership.

DAILY POST earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu has departed Lagos for Europe ahead of his scheduled official visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for the Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026) Summit at the invitation of the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The trip is coming in the wake of heightened security concerns in the country.

Recall that President Donald Trump of the United States on Christmas day authorised AFRICOM to conduct airstrikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto State, hours before Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the operation.

In the same vein, a deadly bomb blast in Zamfara on Friday claimed several lives.

SOURCE PAGE

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has dismissed allegations by former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose that he diverted a chunk of N50 billion federal intervention fund provided after the January 2024 Ibadan explosion, describing the claim as false, misleading and politically driven.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that Mr Fayose accused the governor of receiving N50 billion from the federal government and failing to disclose it publicly, while allegedly diverting the bulk of the funds for political purposes.

Responding in a statement on Sunday through his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Governor Makinde said the federal government released N30 billion and not N50 billion to Oyo State.

“The federal government did not give Governor Makinde N50 billion. What exists on record is a request and a promise, not a disbursement,” the statement said.

According to the governor’s aide, documents cited to support the allegation merely showed a proposal and not an actual release of funds.

The statement explained that after the January 2024 explosion in Bodija, Ibadan, which killed residents and destroyed property, Governor Makinde travelled to Abuja with a detailed assessment report to request federal intervention, especially after President Bola Tinubu did not visit the state.

Mr Olanrewaju said the federal government promised a N50 billion intervention package but eventually released only N30 billion.

“A promise is not a release. When it was time to act, only N30 billion was released,” he said, adding that the remaining N20 billion was withheld after demands linked to inducements were introduced, which the governor refused.

He added that the governor chose not to publicly litigate negotiations tied to a national tragedy, focusing instead on relief and recovery efforts.

How the money was spent

Mr Olanrewaju said Governor Makinde publicly acknowledged the federal government’s support during the inauguration of a committee established to manage and disburse the relief funds.

According to him, the committee operated with transparency and ensured accountability in the use of the N30 billion released. Part of the funds was paid directly to victims of the Bodija explosion as immediate relief, while the remainder was used for reconstruction and restoration work within the affected area.

He said damaged roads had been repaired, rebuilding was ongoing, and plans were underway to construct a memorial at the site of the explosion to honour those who lost their lives.

The statement clarified that the N4.5 billion figure often cited in public discussions referred strictly to direct financial assistance given to victims, including landlords and tenants.

“That amount represents about 15 per cent of the total funds released. The governor ensured direct support for victims while also funding broader government interventions. Anyone who visits the area can see the reconstruction work,” Mr Olanrewaju said.

Political undertones

The governor’s spokesperson described the renewed allegations as politically driven, linking them to Mr Makinde’s recent declaration that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

This newspaper had reported details of a media briefing held by Governor Makinde at the Government House in Ibadan, where he accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of attempting to weaken the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by pledging to hold the PDP down to the advantage of President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

Mr Makinde said Mr Wike’s comment was made during a meeting he attended with President Tinubu and others, a remark that he said raised concerns about efforts to erode the opposition and push Nigeria towards a one-party state.

Mr Olanrewaju argued that the timing of the allegations against Governor Makinde, coming after his refusal to endorse President Tinubu, reflects political desperation rather than genuine concern over accountability.

He recalled that the governor supported Mr Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election but has since said he regretted the decision, citing concerns about what he described as growing attempts to move Nigeria towards a one-party state.

According to the statement, the governor’s position triggered renewed political hostilities.

“That statement marked a turning point. Almost immediately, political hostilities were activated,” Mr Olanrewaju said.

He pointed to a recent attempt by a group aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to establish a caretaker committee for the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, an effort he said was rejected by party leaders in the state.

“These actions are not driven by principle. They are driven by desperation,” the statement said.

Mr Olanrewaju maintained that attempts to portray the governor as dishonest or disconnected from his party would fail.

“Half-truths and outright falsehoods may offer temporary comfort to those who trade in political mischief, but they always collapse under the weight of facts.

“This is about whether fear, coercion and political intimidation will be allowed to undermine democratic values. Governor Makinde has made his position clear. He will not be complicit,” he said.

Source link

A former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has officially confirmed he will be running again during the 2027 elections.

Obi revealed this while speaking during a X Spaces on Sunday night.

The ex-governor of Anambra State, however, insisted he will not be a running mate to anybody.

According to Obi, he has not garnered all the experience he has, only to end up as a vice-president.

“I am not travelling round the world to learn governance to be Vice president,” Obi said.

““I know how to turn Nigeria around. I built my business from scratch and have more experience than any candidate, including the sitting President.

“Peter Obi will be on the ballot in 2027. I need your support. I need your prayers.”

SOURCE PAGE

* Says nation remains firmly on path of peace, stability, economic progress 

*Insists security, economic stability inseparable

*Kwara governor advises security agencies on collaboration, team spirit against terrorists

*America’s strike highlight APC’s security failures, declares Olawepo-Hashim

*Isolated strikes won’t end terrorism in Nigeria, says research group, as youths welcome intervention

Chuks Okocha, Ndubuisi Francis, Emmanuel Addeh and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, and Wale Igbintade in Lagos

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun, yesterday, reassured investors, analysts, and multilateral partners that Nigeria was not at war, either with itself or any other nation, but was “decisively confronting, alongside trusted international partners, terrorism”. This position came in the wake of the recent air strikes by the United States against terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State.

The federal government stated that rather than destabilise markets or weaken confidence, such actions strengthened the foundations of peace, protected productive communities, and reinforced the conditions required for sustainable growth

Edun, who gave the assurances via a statement personally signed, explained that as markets reopen today (Monday) after the Christmas festivities, “Investors can be confident that Nigeria remains focused, reform-driven, and committed to stability.” 

In the message, titled, “Statement on Recent Security Operations and Market Implications,” the minister said, “The fundamentals are strengthening, the policy direction is clear, and the resolve of this administration—to protect lives, secure prosperity, and grow the economy—is unwavering.”

He stressed that the US military operation in Nigeria was precise, intelligence-led, and focused exclusively on terrorist elements that threatened innocent lives, national stability, and economic activity. 

He stated, “In light of recent enquiries following the targeted joint security operation by Nigeria and the US conducted in Sokoto on Christmas Day, I wish to reassure investors, analysts, and our multilateral partners that Nigeria is not at war with itself, nor with any nation. 

“What Nigeria is decisively confronting—alongside trusted international partners is terrorism. This distinction is important, and it is fundamental to understanding the positive economic implications of recent actions. 

“The operation in question was precise, intelligence-led, and focused exclusively on terrorist elements that threaten innocent lives, national stability, and economic activity. 

“Far from destabilising markets or weakening confidence, such actions strengthen the foundations of peace, protect productive communities, and reinforce the conditions required for sustainable growth. 

“Security and economic stability are inseparable; every effort to safeguard Nigerians is, by definition, pro-growth and pro-investment.”  

Edun said under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria had made tangible and measurable progress on both security and economic reforms. 

He said the gains were evident in the macroeconomic performance. 

The minister stated, “In the third quarter of 2025, Nigeria recorded GDP growth of 3.98 per cent, following a strong 4.23 per cent growth in Q2. We expect a stronger Q4 2025 GDP performance. 

“Inflation has decelerated for the seventh consecutive period and is now below 15 per cent, reflecting improving price stability and the effectiveness of coordinated fiscal and monetary actions. 

“Our financial markets remain resilient. Domestic and international debt markets are stable and functioning efficiently, supported by prudent fiscal management. 

“Over the past year, Nigeria has received credit rating upgrades from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s—clear, independent endorsements of the strength of our reforms and the credibility of our economic direction. 

“We have maintained fiscal discipline, prioritised efficiency, and protected macroeconomic stability—demonstrating resilience in the face of external shocks.”

Edun said, as Tinubu stated in his address last week, “Our overarching objective for 2026 is to consolidate the gains of 2025, strengthen Nigeria’s economic resilience, and continue building a sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy.”

The finance minister declared, “The actions we take today—on security, reforms, and fiscal discipline—are aligned with that goal.

“As markets reopen on Monday, 29 December 2025, investors can be confident that Nigeria remains focused, reform-driven, and committed to stability. 

“The fundamentals are strengthening, the policy direction is clear, and the resolve of this administration—to protect lives, secure prosperity, and grow the economy—is unwavering. 

“Nigeria remains open for business, anchored in peace, and firmly focused on the future.”

AbdulRazaq Counsels Security Agencies on Collaboration, Team Spirit 

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday, advised security agencies to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and team spirit in the effort to wipe out terrorists and kidnappers in the country. AbdulRazaq stated this at Dabban, Lema town, in Edu Local Government Area of the state during a special luncheon with troops of the Nigerian Army.

The luncheon was attended by Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant-General Waidi Shuaib, who was represented by Commander, Signals Corps, Major-General MT Abdullah.

Others at the luncheon included Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Mariam NnaFatima Imam; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, Muyideen Aliyu; Chairman, Edu Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello; and a representative of Emir of Lafiagi. 

The governor said success against terrorists, kidnappers, and other bad faith actors lay in unity and effective coordination. 

Represented at the event by the deputy governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, AbdulRazaq stated, “Keeping our country safer, united, and more prosperous must be seen and treated as a shared responsibility by government and especially the citizens.”

He added, “Offline and online activities or conducts that endanger the lives of the troops or trivialise their sacrifice should stop. This is the irreducible minimum standard that we must hold ourselves to.”

He said the luncheon underlined the importance that the Nigerian state attached to the wellbeing of the troops in the frontlines, who were engaged in various campaigns to keep the peace and eliminate all threats to national stability. 

“Our presence this afternoon shows that the civilian authorities stand in full solidarity with our troops and we do not take lightly the fact that you are here on behalf of every one of us. We are grateful,” AbdulRazaq said.

In his remarks at the event, Shuaib saluted the troops for their courage, discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of all Nigerians. 

He stated, “To all personnel serving in various theatres who will not be able to celebrate this yuletide season with their families due to the demands of duty, I salute your courage, discipline and sacrifice. 

“Your unwavering commitment to safeguarding our country’s territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of all Nigerians is deeply appreciated.

“Your absence from home this season is a profound sacrifice for which the Nigerian people remain grateful. 

“Be assured that under my leadership, concerted efforts would be made to foster professionalism and ensure combat readiness of the Nigerian Army.”

General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major-General CR Nnebeife, appreciated the CoAS for the morale-boosting event, which he said was firmly rooted in his command philosophy of advancing the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilience force capable of discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.

Abbas: Zamfara Bomb Explosion Cowardly

House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, condemned the bomb explosion in Zamfara State, which targeted road users, and led to the death of seven persons.

Suspected terrorists had planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Magami–Dansadau highway in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, which exploded on Saturday, killing passengers of a bus.

Abbas, in a statement, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, described the attack as cowardly. He said it was unfortunate that it was carried out shortly after the Nigerian and American governments launched a joint operation against terrorism in the country, with strikes on terrorist hideouts in parts of the North-west on Thursday.

While vowing that terrorism, banditry, and other crimes against the state would be resisted, Abbas stated that new strategic security measures were introduced by the Tinubu administration to check criminal activities.

He stressed that Nigerians, more than ever before, had remained undaunted and more supportive of the government to tackle threats to life and property.

The speaker restated the commitment of the House, and the National Assembly, to providing legislative and budgetary backing towards achieving a safe and secure Nigeria.

Olawepo-Hashim: US Strikes in Nigeria Highlight Ruling APC’s Security Failures

Presidential hopeful, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, described the recent United States airstrikes targeting Islamic State (IS) elements operating within Nigeria as a damning indictment of the country’s security architecture.

Olawepo-Hashim blamed what he called the persistent failure of governance under Tinubu and the APC administration.

In a statement yesterday, Olawepo-Hashim said the US intervention reflected growing international concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, particularly in the North-west, where terrorist groups were steadily consolidating their influence.

He said responsible global actors could not afford to ignore the emergence of an IS foothold in Nigeria, stressing that the country is “too large, too strategic, and too important to be allowed to fail”.

Olawepo-Hashim revealed that since 2021, and more intensely over the past year, his team had repeatedly warned that security modelling in the North-west pointed towards a dangerous trajectory, including the potential emergence of an IS-aligned enclave, if urgent action was not taken.

He attributed the worsening insecurity to deepening poverty, prolonged governance failure, and weakened institutions, which he said had emboldened extremist groups while silencing moderate political and secular voices across the region.

“More worrying is the elevation of individuals who enable or rationalise extremism into positions of political influence, creating conditions under which terror groups can aspire to territorial control,” he stated.

While acknowledging that international airstrikes might temporarily degrade terrorist capabilities, he stressed that lasting solutions could only come from within.

Isolated Strikes Will Not End Terrorism in Nigeria, Leading US Research Group Says

A leading US-based research group, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), warned that last week’s American missile strikes on suspected Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) camps in North-west Nigeria were unlikely to end the country’s deepening terrorism crisis.

CSIS, a non-partisan policy institution based in Washington, D.C, established in 1962, stated that isolated attacks could only deliver temporary setbacks to jihadist groups. He called for a more sustained campaign of military pressure.

The Washington think-tank, in an assessment of the December 25 strikes, said Salafi-jihadist groups operating across northern Nigeria continued to pose a serious threat to both Christians and moderate Muslims, stressing that extremists carry out indiscriminate violence against communities that reject their ideology.

In the report, CSIS urged the Donald Trump administration in the United States to consider additional raids and broader counterterrorism measures if it hoped to degrade the militants’ growing capabilities. He advised the Nigerian authorities to halt the farmer-herder crisis.

The US had said it struck two apparent Islamic State camps in northwest Nigeria with Tomahawk missiles. US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said it struck “ISIS terrorists in Nigeria” in collaboration with the Nigerian government.

Stressing that a number of overlapping conflicts in Nigeria had led to the death of Christians in the country, while competition between majority-Christian farmers and primarily Muslim herders over scarce resources had resulted in massacres, CSIS explained that Salafi-jihadist groups had also specifically targeted Christians.

But it pointed out that their infiltration into the North-west was relatively recent, and accounted for less of the region’s violence than farmer-herder conflict and banditry, stating that even Muslims have not escaped the killings.

CSIS stated, “The region’s Salafi-jihadists conduct indiscriminate violence and target Muslims who reject their extreme interpretation of Islam. In August 2025, gunmen massacred at least 13 people at a mosque during a series of attacks in northwest Nigeria. 

“The day before the U.S. strikes, a suicide bomber struck a mosque in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, killing at least five and injuring dozens more.

“The threat that the Sahel’s Salafi-jihadist groups pose to the United States is uncertain. Experts have repeatedly noted a lack of evidence that the Sahel’s Salafi-jihadist groups have the interest or ability to attack the US homeland. 

“The Defense Intelligence Agency assessed in 2025 that Islamic State and Al Qaeda affiliates in Africa ‘focus on plotting attacks locally,’ although it also noted that some affiliates would probably ‘advance’ plotting elsewhere in 2025. 

“Even so, there is little doubt that the region’s Salafi-jihadist groups threaten regional stability and U.S. facilities in their areas of operation.”

Youth Party Welcomes US Support Against ISIS, Urges Caution on Religious Framing

Youth Party expressed cautious approval of the United States military strike against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists operating in the North-west, warning that the country’s worsening insecurity must not be framed or exploited along religious lines.

In a statement by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Sope Durodola, the party reacted to claims by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on Thursday that he ordered a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS elements in Nigeria.

Trump, in a post on the social media, said the operation targeted ISIS fighters in northwest Nigeria, and later told Politico that he deliberately delayed the strike by a day so it would coincide with Christmas.

Reacting to the development, Youth Party said it recognised the grave security threat posed by ISIS-affiliated groups and other terrorist organisations whose activities had continued to destabilise communities and claim innocent lives in several parts of Nigeria.

The party stated that any credible international support aimed at degrading terrorist networks and protecting civilians was welcomed, particularly in the context of Nigeria’s prolonged struggle with insurgency, banditry, and violent extremism.

However, it cautioned that terrorism in Nigeria must never be portrayed as a religious conflict, warning that such narratives can deepen divisions in an already fragile and diverse country.

According to Youth Party, extremist violence in Nigeria has claimed the lives of Christians, Muslims, and adherents of other faiths alike. It stressed that terrorism was a crime against humanity rather than an attack on any particular religion.

The party expressed concern over the symbolic timing of the reported strike, warning that linking military actions to religious events can inflame tensions and undermine national unity.

It stressed that Nigeria’s insecurity cut across ethnic, regional, and religious boundaries, and urged that any external intervention must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and be guided strictly by the protection of innocent lives.

SOURCE PAGE

Mayor of Urhoboland in Delta State, Dr. Eshanekpe Israel (Akpodoro) has lauded United States and President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the coordinated attack on Christmas Day on ISIS elements in

The post Fed Govt, U.S. collaboration excites ex-agitator appeared first on The Nation Newspaper.

SOURCE PAGE

National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has donated N10 million, seedlings and other agricultural inputs to farmers in Kanke local government area of Plateau State to boost food security.

Yilwatda revealed that the gesture aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to increase food production and alleviate poverty.

The APC national chairman made this known on Saturday in his home, Ampang East, Kanke LGA, when he was bestowed with a traditional chieftaincy title by his kingsmen as the “Kaeh-rit”, meaning “The Good Seed of Ampang East.

Our correspondent recalled recently that the Tiv nation conferred a traditional title on Professor Yilwatda over humanitarian services.

He acknowledged the footprints of President Tinubu as the president is changing the narrative of governance in Nigeria.

“I’m learning from the best leader, Asiwaju Tinubu. Mr President is one of the best politicians you can learn from, and since adopting me as his son, I’ve learned so much from him.

“He is teaching me, and so I’m learning. So if you see me succeeding, it’s because I’m learning from the very best politician ever produced in Nigeria. So why not? I will work towards achieving what he has done, also being one of the best politicians in Nigeria”, Nentawe stated.

On the issue of Governor Mutfwang’s defection to APC, Professor Yilwatda expressed optimism that, “Plateau gains by having the governor, having the national chairman of the party in the state, having the National Assembly, having the House of Assembly, having local government chairmen, and having everybody in the structural governance of the party in the state under one party.

“The person who comes to APC today has an equal right with the person who has been there for a thousand years, because we do not differentiate our membership.

“Some people will claim that if you go to the party, they will say they are the original owners of the party and that they have been there for several years.

“We don’t have that in APC. As the government steps in with its own supporters, we will now have one single family that will work together for the benefit of Plateau.

“The essence of the issue is that the national budget will influence it and the local government will influence it, so that all our structures, from the national level down to the local government, are structured for the benefit of the people of Plateau.”

SOURCE PAGE

Scene of the fire incident

There was panic in the Sango area of Ibadan over the weekend after a fire engulfed a storey residential building at No 51, Alemuloke Street, destroying six rooms before firefighters brought the blaze under control.

The fire broke out on Saturday, December 27, 2025, and was reported to the Oyo State Fire Services Agency headquarters at about 6:27 p.m. through a distress call from the busy neighbourhood.

Firefighters from the agency, led by Chief Fire Superintendent Adedeji, immediately mobilised to the scene amid fears that the incident could escalate into a major disaster.

On arrival, the officers found that six of the 12 rooms, all located on the upper floor of the building, were already ablaze. Swift action prevented the fire from spreading to the remaining rooms, the ground floor and nearby buildings.

The operation was jointly carried out by personnel of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency and the Federal Fire Service, Ibadan Command, whose coordinated efforts ensured the situation was quickly brought under control.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as tense, with thick smoke billowing into the sky and drawing residents and passersby to the area. Many later expressed relief that the fire was contained before it could consume the entire building or spread to adjoining houses in the densely populated street.

No casualties were recorded, a development officials attributed to the timely intervention of firefighters and the cooperation of residents.

After the fire was extinguished, the appliance returned safely to the station at about 8:32 p.m. and remained on standby for further emergencies.

Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Dr Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, commended the officers for their swift and professional response, noting that their prompt action prevented a more devastating outbreak.

He urged members of the public to always give way to emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks, to ensure quick access during emergencies, and stressed the importance of installing fire extinguishers in homes, saying early intervention could stop fires before they spread.

SOURCE PAGE