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Fuel Price: ADC Spokesman, Abdullahi, Questions Finance Minister Oyedele’s Qualification To Manage Nigeria’s Economy

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bolaji Abdullahi
Bolaji Abdullahi

By Ayodele Oni

 

The Federal Government’s 30-day fuel price reduction initiative has continued to attract comments, especially from the opposition figures thay have described the initiative as a return to subsidy regime.

 

Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in his reaction, stated that Taiwo Oyedele, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, may not have the right educational background to manage Nigeria’s economy.

 

Abdullahi spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while commenting on the federal government’s 30-day fuel price reduction initiative.

 

He said subsidy policies were ideological and that economic decisions should be guided by the right expertise.

 

“I’m not saying he’s incompetent, but I think he doesn’t have the right education.

 

“Because, look, the issue of subsidy is ideological. And we have to understand where you are coming from. I mean, I’m talking about an economy, this Nigerian economy.

Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy

Abdullahi remarked that he was not attacking Oyedele personally, adding that he respected him and considered him intelligent.

 

“No, I’m not going personal. Like I said, I have utmost respect for him. And I think he’s quite a smart guy. I’m not taking that away from him.

 

“But what I’m saying is that the way an accountant reviews an economy is not the same way an economist reviews it.

 

“And the same way a classical economist would look at it is not the way a development economist would look at it.

 

“We need people who are trained to do this job to do it.”

 

Oyedele holds a higher national diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and bachelor’s degree in applied accounting at the Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom (UK).

 

He completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, Gordon Institute of Business Science and Harvard Kennedy School.

 

Before his appointment as minister of state for finance, Oyedele spent 22 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he rose to become the firm’s first fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader.

 

Oyedele announced last Thursday that the federal government would offer a 30-day discount on petrol sold at filling stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

 

The minister said transporters would receive priority, adding that the measure was not a subsidy but an arrangement for the government to sell petrol at cost.

 

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar accused President Bola Tinubu of adopting petrol subsidy proposal but limiting the measure to a 30-day discount.

 

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said Tinubu had previously described him as ignorant of economic policy when he proposed targeted support to reduce fuel costs.

 

Atiku added that the Tinubu administration had dismissed his proposal as unworkable.

Concern Of An Electorate About 2027 Elections: Process Must Be Transparent, He Insists

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Concerned Electorate

By Ayodele Oni

 

Ahead next year’s general elections, a Nigerian has demanded transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

 

The man warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, over the conduct and announcement of results of the general elections.

 

In a video circulating online, the man addressed Amupitan, whom he described as an APC member heading INEC, and insisted that Nigerians would demand transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

 

The man declared that election results must be announced at every stage, from polling units to ward and local government levels, before the final presidential results are made public.

 

According to him, every vote cast during the election must be accounted for, stressing that no vote should be excluded from the final tally.

 

He also maintained that the results announced by INEC should reflect the actual votes recorded across the country, including the figures from individual polling units and the different levels of collation.

Professor Josiah Amupitan INEC Chairman
Prof Joash Amupitan, INEC Chairman.

In his remarks, the man appeared to express concern about the possibility of privately collated results determining the outcome of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the electoral process must be transparent enough for Nigerians to understand how the final figures were obtained.

 

He further challenged the electoral umpire to ensure that the results announced at the presidential level correspond with the votes counted and declared at the lower levels of collation.

 

The video comes as political discussions and public expectations surrounding the 2027 general elections continue to grow, with electoral transparency, credible vote counting and public confidence in INEC remaining important issues in Nigeria’s political landscape.

 

However, the man’s statements represent his personal position and concerns.

 

His allegations and description of Amupitan as an APC member have not been independently established in the remarks provided, and the video does not by itself demonstrate that INEC intends to manipulate or privately determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.

 

As Nigerians look ahead to the next general elections, the demand for credible elections and transparent result collation is expected to remain a major subject of public debate.

Imole Campaign Council Welcomes Appointment of Gov. Adeleke As Osun Coordinator Of PBAT Presidential Campaign Council

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Ademola Adeleke and President Bola Tinubu
Governor Ademola Adeleke and President Bola Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

 

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) a group which handled campaigns of Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke has welcomed appointment of the governor as state coordinator of the PBAT Presidential Campaign Council,

 

TICC confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment.

 

The council disclosed this in a statement signed by its Director-General, Senator Dr Kamarudeen Olalere Oyewumi, in which it welcomed the appointment and described it as well deserved.

 

TICC pledged to deliver 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election, adding that all Accord Party structures in Osun State would work towards the President’s re-election.

 

The council expressed confidence that Tinubu’s trust in Adeleke’s ability to secure electoral victory for him in Osun would be justified through a strong electoral performance.

 

It also called on the people of Osun State to continue supporting Adeleke, assuring them that the governor would fulfil his campaign promises.

 

The council urged residents to support Tinubu in the presidential election, arguing that a vote for the President would also amount to support for Adeleke.

 

Part of the statement reads, “The Imole Campaign Council welcomes the appointment of Governor Adeleke as State Coordinator of PBAT Presidential Campaign Council in Osun.

 

“The appointment is a well deserved one. We assure the President that his confidence in the ability of Governor Adeleke to deliver Osun in the Presidential election will not be misplaced.

 

“We promise the President, just like Governor Adeleke had said sometimes ago that we will deliver 1.5million votes to ensure his victory in the coming Presidential election.

 

“Our message to the people of Osun State is to keep trusting and supporting Governor Adeleke as he continues to deliver on his campaign promises. A vote for President Tinubu is a support for Governor Adeleke”.

“Any Northerner Contesting Presidency In 2027 Is Dishonest” – SGF Akume Declares …Insists Rotation Between North, South Still Binding

By
Ayodele Oni
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George Akume - SGF

By Ayodele Oni

 

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has reminded Northerners that the agreement reached in Kaduna in 1999 for power to rotate between the North and South, with each region expected to spend eight years in office is still binding.

 

Based on this, he said the North should not contest the 2027 presidential election, describing any Northerner seeking the office as insincere.

 

Akume made the declaration while moving a motion at the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally organised by the North Central Grassroots Mobilisation Network in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

 

Speaking at the rally, Akume praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and cited projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Road as evidence of his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development.

 

Describing Tinubu as a “man who dreams big and acts big”, Akume said the ongoing road projects had demonstrated the president’s ambition.

 

“The road is under construction. One of the great Nigerians who has some reservations about that project was shocked when he drove on that road for 15 kilometres and came back and called me and said, ‘Man, I believe,’” he told an audience comprising governors, senators and political leaders from Benue, Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

 

“Yesterday our father made his sojourn in peace. He was on the throne for eight years,” he said, referring to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

“Today, as it was, you are expected to be on that throne for eight years.”

 

He added that Northerners could contest the presidency in 2031, but should support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

 

“In 2031, Northerners can float over 1,000 candidates. So anybody from the North who is running for president today is not sincere. I reject him 100 per cent, don’t accept him,” Akume added.

 

The SGF also defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that although leading presidential candidates promised to remove it during the 2023 election campaign, Tinubu was the one who implemented the policy.

 

He described promises to reverse the policy as “policy flip-flop” intended to deceive voters.

 

On education, Akume cited the establishment of additional universities and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) student loan scheme, saying the initiatives would help ensure that no Nigerian was denied access to tertiary education because of their circumstances of birth.

 

Akume subsequently moved a motion seeking the endorsement of Tinubu as the APC’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

 

“The people of the North Central meeting in this great congregation have resolved that, come 2027, our sole candidate for that election is His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. There is no other candidate,” he declared.

 

The motion was seconded by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, who is also chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum.

 

Sule highlighted improvements in oil production, foreign reserves and market capitalisation under Tinubu’s administration.

 

The motion was adopted through a voice vote after Akume asked supporters to indicate their approval.

No Nigerian Should Be In The Hands Of Criminals

By
James Orji
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Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar, ADC presidential candidate.

By Atiku Abubakar

The disturbing video of Ahmed Zakka, reportedly abducted alongside his wife and infant child in Kaduna State, is a painful reminder of the insecurity that continues to threaten lives and tear families apart across Nigeria.

No Nigerian should have to plead for their life or the safety of their family in the hands of criminals. The thought of an infant caught in this ordeal is especially heartbreaking. I urge the relevant security agencies to act swiftly and decisively to secure the safe release of Ahmed Zakka, his wife, their child and every other Nigerian still held in captivity.

This tragedy comes as families are already struggling with the crushing cost of living. Nigerians are battling the rising cost of food, transport and other essentials; they should not also have to live in fear of being abducted in their homes or on the roads. Insecurity deepens hardship, disrupts livelihoods and leaves families bearing both emotional and financial burdens they can scarcely afford.

The government must move beyond assurances and deliver an effective, sustained response: rescue those in captivity, protect vulnerable communities and dismantle the networks responsible for these crimes. Every Nigerian deserves to live, work and raise a family without the constant fear of violence.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Zakka family and all families enduring the trauma of kidnapping. The protection of every Nigerian life must remain an overriding responsibility of government. —AA

Controversy Trails FG’s Renewed Plan To End Electricity Subsidy 

By
James Orji
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Joseph Tegbe
Joseph Tegbe
The Federal Government’s position on electricity subsidies has come under fresh scrutiny following renewed remarks by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, that the government can no longer sustain the financial burden of electricity tariff shortfalls.
Speaking at the Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria, HBSAN, Energy Conference in Lagos last week, Tegbe said the government could no longer continue to bear the difference between the actual cost of generating and supplying electricity and the tariffs paid by consumers.
His latest declaration has revived controversy over the future of electricity subsidies, particularly after he reportedly announced in July that the government planned to remove the subsidy in 2027, a position the Federal Government subsequently denied.
The earlier denial had raised questions about the government’s policy direction on electricity pricing. Tegbe’s latest comments, however, suggest that the financial burden of sustaining the current arrangement remains a major concern for the administration.
The minister identified poor revenue collection, inadequate metering and outstanding debts owed to electricity generation companies (GenCos) as some of the major challenges undermining the financial stability of the power sector.
According to him, the government is considering a transition from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET, model to bilateral electricity agreements, under which power suppliers and buyers would negotiate commercial terms directly.
He said the proposed arrangement was expected to strengthen payment discipline and improve the financial sustainability of the electricity market.
Tegbe also disclosed that Nigeria has a metering gap of about 40 per cent, despite recent efforts to expand access to meters.
He said more than 700,000 meters had been deployed within six months, while the government plans to install 7.5 million meters over the next two to three years.
The metering programme is expected to improve billing accuracy, reduce disputes over estimated bills and strengthen revenue collection across the electricity value chain.
However, the minister’s position raises fresh concerns about the implications of reducing government support for electricity tariffs, particularly for households and businesses already struggling with high energy costs.
Electricity subsidies have helped bridge the gap between the cost of supplying power and the amount consumers pay. Where the government fails to cover the shortfall, the resulting financial pressure can affect electricity generation, distribution and payments to operators across the sector.
A transition towards bilateral electricity agreements could also reshape the relationship between power suppliers, distribution companies and eligible customers, depending on the terms and implementation of the proposed arrangement.
The central question remains whether the Federal Government intends to phase out electricity subsidies, restructure the system through market-based agreements or retain some form of support to protect consumers from the full cost of electricity supply.
Until the government clarifies its position, uncertainty over the future of electricity subsidies is likely to persist, with consumers and businesses watching closely for any policy changes that could further increase their operating costs.

Falana Questions N15trn Coastal Road Project, Urges Nigerians To Defend Their Votes

By
James Orji
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0
Femi Falana - SAN
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has questioned the accountability surrounding the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, using the controversial multitrillion-naira road project to renew concerns about governance and the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, lamented what he described as a “rickety democracy”, insisting that Nigerians did not struggle for democratic rule only to be denied the right to freely elect their leaders.
“We didn’t fight for this rickety democracy… that somebody will look at your face and say, oh, you should not vote,” the human rights lawyer said, while charging Nigerians to defend their votes.
His remarks come amid growing public scrutiny of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a flagship infrastructure project of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, estimated at about N15 trillion. The 700-kilometre highway is intended to connect Lagos with coastal communities across the South-West and South-South regions.
 The project has, however, come under renewed controversy following the Federal Government’s decision to alter parts of its original route, raising questions about project planning, engineering assessments, procurement and the economic benefits expected by communities along the coastal corridor.
At the centre of the dispute is Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who has defended the route changes, arguing that the difficult terrain makes construction more expensive and requires engineering interventions that cannot be compared with those of roads built on ordinary ground.
Umahi explained that sections of the Ondo axis contained deep pits and lacked suitable sharp sand, necessitating extensive filling and ground improvement before the highway could be constructed. He questioned why the cost per kilometre should be expected to remain the same when the geological conditions were significantly different.

2027: “Makinde Is Joking …Even His Gateman Knows He Can’t Win” — Akin Alabi

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Akin Alabi

By Adesina Soyooye

 

Akin Alabi, the lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency is having a good laugh at Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, for aspiring to the office of the President in 2027.

 

The Honourable Member says it is a huge joke; that Makinde cannot be serious because even the Governor’s gateman knows he is a joker, not capable of winning the Presidential election.

 

Alabi who described Governor Makinde’s efforts as “political theatrics,” said this during a radio programme on Flier 103.3FM in Ibadan.

 

He questioned Makinde’s seriousness in his presidential ambition and insisted that the Governor’s aspiration is aimed at “keeping himself in the political conversation and on the ballot rather than pursuing the presidency as a serious project.”

 

His words: “His gateman knows he can’t be president. Don’t  let us deceive ourselves. His aspiration is like comedy. We all know he has no plan to be president. Even his gateman knows. He is only using it for political theatrics.”

 

He connected Makinde’s interest in the presidential race to the political calculations connecting the candidacy of Bimbo Adekanmbi.

 

According to him, Governor Makinde seeks  to remain in the presidential race because he thinks Adekanmbi could not independently withstand the political contest if presented alongside other candidates.

 

He said: “He only wishes to be in the conversation and ballot because he knows Bimbo Adekanmbi can’t stand alone.

 

“This is democracy. Every party can have their candidates. The people will decide if they want continuity or controversy.

Seyi Makinde
Governor Seyi Makinde

“Makinde knows Bimbo cannot stand alone. He knows if we present Adekanmbi and present Alli, he knows reasonable people won’t vote Bimbo if he stands alone, so he is contesting to stand by and support him,” Alabi said.

 

Governor Makinde is the Presidential Candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.

Shehu Sani To Candidates Omitted From INEC List: “It’s No Use Going To Court”

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Shehu Sani

By Adesina Soyooye

 

Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna State Central Senator, has an advice he thinks appropriate for political aspirants  who did not make the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list as candidates for their political parties.

 

The INEC had a couple of days ago released the final list of Governorship candidates of political parties. The list, however omitted some names, though in a subsequent statement, the INEC distanced itself from the names said to have been omitted.

 

The Parties and the candidates allegedly omitted are threatening legal actions, but Senator Sani holds a different opinion. “Don’t waste your time going to Court. It will be of no use”, he  advised.

 

Instead, he urged the affected aspirants to instead of wasting their time, begin this early and start preparing 2031 elections.  “Dont spend money and energy pursuing what he a lost battle”, he added.

 

In his post on social media, he said:

 

“The Supreme Court ruling that enabled INEC to exclude some names of candidates is very clear.

 

“Affected candidates should not waste their money, time and energy fighting a lost battle.”

 

The former senator also appealed to lawyers to discourage those who will come to them for represention not to waste their time; to discourage them from filing any lawsuits for being excluded.

 

He appealed to senior legal practitioners to redirect the candidates’  attention to future elections.

 

He said: “I also wish to appeal to those Barristers and SANs to ‘pity’ those candidates and allow them to rest, and not mislead them into spending more money ‘filing fresh suits.

 

“Four years will come and go; let them strategise for the future.”

More Trouble For Anthony Kila As ICPC Probes Him Over Alleged Fake Professorship

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Anthony Kila
Anthony Kila

By Adesina Soyooye

 

For Anthony Kila, until now, revered, well respected, adored by many, it is not just raining, it is pouring.

 

Still battling the shame of being alleged to be a fake professor for which the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University sacked him from his high profile position as Pro-chancellor,  Premium Times, his nemesis, has said that all the qualifications he has been flaunting, including even his first degree are questionable.

 

Even though he says the allegations are not quite as they seem, he has not been able to provide any evidence to the contrary.

 

As if the man has not had enough to battle with, the

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has zeroed in on him and his case.

 

The ICPC, it is reported, has set up a team to investigate Kila following the allegations as  revealed by Premium Times.

 

The paper, quoting an unnamed source at the  ICPC disclosed that the leadership of the commission was worried by the allegations, especially because Kila, until he was removed, was  the Pro-Chancellor of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU), Delta State.

 

It is a situation the source said, has become  huge embarrassment for the country and the academic  community.

 

Said the paper quoting the source: “An investigation team has been put together to look into the matter.”

 

There has been, however, no official statement or confirmation by the ICPC.

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