NIPOST Reveals: “Courier Operators Being Used To Deliver Weapons, Illicit Drugs”

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July 4, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has raised the alarm over the trending activities of ‘courier operators’ being used to deliver dangerous weapons and illicit drugs in the country.

To confirm the trend, NIPOST revealed that “One of the unlicensed operators was recently arrested for conveying firearms and hard drugs.”

The service also expressed concerns over the proliferation and infiltration of illegal courier operators and logistics companies across the major cities of the nation.

Speaking at during a stakeholder’s engagement held on Friday in Akure, General Manager of NIPOST’s Courier and Logistics Regulations Department in Ondo, Oludotun Sounde, revealed that the agency sealed off two illegal courier companies in Ondo state and confiscated motorcycles used by three others in recent raids.

Sounde explained that the activities of the illegal courier companies are now posing a threat to national security and the economy.

Sounde observed that the unlicensed courier services and companies are not only lacking the structure for safe delivery but also operating without any form of accountability.

“They’re putting customers at risk of loss, theft, or abuse of their parcels. Using an illegal courier service is like going to a quack doctor. It could also cost you dearly.

Describing the development as a “national red flag” that should not be ignored, he said every parcel handed over to an unlicensed courier could be a potential threat to national peace.

To address the challenges, Sounde posited that every courier operator in the country must obtain operational licences from the Postmaster General to guide and streamline the operation of the logistics companies.

While reaffirming the NIPOST’s commitment to sanitising the logistics sector, he noted that the agency is prepared to support registered businesses with training and professional guidance.

Popular Revolt: “Let’s Confront Ourselves On The Streets Of Rivers State” – Wike Dares Amaechi

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 4, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Not known to be outdone in the act of vaunting, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has expressed his readiness to frontally confront Rotimi Amaechi, one of the promoters of the nascent Coalition platform, African Democratic Congress ADC, in the battle for the political soul of Rivers State.

At the Commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Aguma Palace/Radio Nigeria/New Market Road in the Gwagwalada area of the FCT by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday July 4, 2025, Wike assured that he will be facing both Amaechi and his children in any popular revolt in Rivers State.

The Source reports that Amaechi, who, like Wike, is a former Governor of Rivers state, had on Thursday on a live Channels Television programme, challenged Wike ,the immediate past Governor of the state to a popularity test on the street of the State.

Amaechi who was reacting to Wike’s earlier remarks describing the progenitors of the Coalition as expired politicians ,with insignificant influence ,also urged Nigerians to brace up for the task of removing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

According to him, going by the compromised nature of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, which he accused of pandering to the wishes of the All Progressive Congress APC, the people should be prepared to fight their way through, in the bid to defend democracy. He warned that the President will be prepared to do anything to retain power unless stoutly resisted.

However, reacting to the development, the FCT Minister who has interpreted Amaechi’s statement to mean a call for revolt against President Tinubu, promised to face his immediate predecessor in office as Governor and political boss, if only he and his children will lead the uprising.

This is as he reaffirmed his determination towards whittling down whatever remains of the dwindling political fortune of Amaechi in Rivers state come 2027.

“I was not a Governor when I stopped some people from installing their preferred successor . In 2015, I defeated a very powerful Governor who wanted his crony to succeed him in office.

“Similarly, in 2019 ,a super Minister borrowing money from Chinese banks ,and everywhere, making us to be highly indebted, could not find political bearing .

“Even when he was the DG for the campaign of Mr President, I still defeated him.

“Now, some people have said Nigerians should come out and revolt. I want the people saying that to lead the revolt.

“You that is (sic) inciting Nigerians to revolt, I am waiting for you in Rivers State .You will start there first, and lead it with your children.

” It is not that your children would be in London, while you are here saying that people should come out and revolt.

“If you can come with your children, we will face ourselves; then we will know that you really mean what you are saying”, Wike noted.

“Just Go, We Don’t Need You”, Abure Led LP Tells Governor Otti

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 4, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Barr. Julius Abure, on Friday, July 4, 2025, called on the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, to hasten his exit from the party.

In a statement issued by the Party’s National spokesperson, Obiorah Ifoh, the National Chairman also urged the Abia State Governor to stop pretending, and quickly join his political soul mates in the nascent Coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Abure’s remark is coming on the heels of Governor Ott’s insistence that he is still a loyal and commitment member of the LP, despite all talks and speculations surrounding his political future.

At an interactive session last week in Umuahia with members of Abia State Global Economic Council, Otti, who instructively is the only Governor elected on the LP platform across the country, distanced himself from the new Coalition movement being put together by some major opposition forces including Peter Obi, on whose wings he rode to the State seat of power in 2023.

But despite the involvement of Obi ,the LP Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections in the Coalition efforts, Governor Otti said he has never been invited to, nor attended any of its meetings .

“I will just spend a few minutes talking about what some members of the Global Economic Council have been asking me.

“One of them is the report on about five Governors decamping to APC. I am still a member of of the Labour Party ,and I am not looking for where to decamp to.

“The second point is about coalition, and a lot of people have been asking me : are you a member of the Coalition ? And my response has been: have you seen my name? Have you seen me attending the coalition meeting?

“We are just busy doing the work Abia people have given to us. So,we are not attending any Coalition meeting. I have not attended any one, and nobody has invited me.

“I am happy where I am .Yes, we had issues in the Labour Party. In life ,if you don’t have problems, then you are dead. But when the problems come, you rise to the occasion. You don’t run away from them.

When we had our problems, we fought all the way to the Supreme Court. I am convinced that, a few issues that are remaining, as far as the problems are concerned, will be resolved very soon because the Supreme Court’s Judgment is clear enough”, Governor stated.

However, the Abure-led leadership of the LP said it is highly surprised that Governor Otti is still trying to deceive members of the party and the general public concerning his loyalty.

“Our attention has been drawn to Governor Otti’s interview where in he claimed that he is still a member of the Labour Party. We are not going to fall for his deception.

“How can he be in the Labour Party when recently he conducted the Local Government election in Abia state with Zenith Labour Party as his party?

“He should not think that every Nigerian is bereft of knowledge.He formed ,and he is funding the illegal caretaker committee that had formally joined the ADC.

:The icing on the cake was the Wednesday unveiling of the Coalition where every member of the Caretaker Committee formally joined the ADC.

“We are shocked that Governor Otti is paradoxically trying to mislead members of the Labour Party by saying that he is still a member of the Labour Party.

“In any event, we had earlier suspended him indefinitely from the party because of his anti-party activities.

“Labour Party is on the move again. We have the best brand in Nigeria ,and we are eager to engage young Nigerians who have the interest of the nation at heart.

“We are, therefore, willing to let go of everyone, no matter how high ,whose interest in Nigeria is self-driven, opportunistic politicians who are not principled.

“Labour Party is not, and cannot be in any Coalition because coalition of political parties are ideologically bereft. It is a marriage of strange fellows whose only agenda is power grabbing .

“It is selfish ,and no true democrat will agree to such an amalgam. The Labour Party is, therefore, in a hurry to sanitize itself of people without character”, the statement read in part.

Governor Mbah Calls For Creation Of States In South East, Advocates For State Police

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 4, 2025

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By Akinwale Kasali

With the aim of putting the South East at par with other regions in the country, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called for the creation of an additional State in the South East.

Mbah made this call while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment when they were on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House.

The Governor further called for Rotational Presidency and State Police to give every part of the country a sense of belonging as well as ensure the nation is better.

The Committee members’ visit was ahead of the regional public hearing on constitution amendment scheduled for today, Friday 4th, 2025.

According to the Governor, one thing that excites us most is the idea of State policing.

“We have advocated fervently that there is a need for States to create State Police Services, just as you have the Federal Police, but with defined jurisdictions and operational parameters.

“We think that this is overdue and there is no better time for that than now, given the fragilities we have in our various communities.

“The State Police will be a truly welcome development in our constitution. We also believe that since the South East is the only zone with five States in the country, this should be corrected during this process of amendment,” Mbah said.

According to him: “We think that will give the South East and every other region a chance at the Presidency.

“These are areas we believe are amendable and we will be presenting our position formally in the hearing on Friday and subsequent days,” he said.

Lawyer Writes Ondo Govt, Demands Details Of LGs’ Funds, Gives Seven Days Ultimatum

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Ayodele Oni

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July 4, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

The Administration of Local Governments in Ondo State has again come under scrutiny following the demand by a legal practitioner, Femi Emodamori, to know how funds accruing to the Councils’ from the Federation account are being disbursed.

According to the operation of the joint account allocation, funds meant for Local Governments as third tier of Government are supposed to be disbursed directly into their accounts.

However, reports indicate that direct disbursement into the Local Councils’ account has been impossible due to the inability of some of them to meet details from the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) to open accounts.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State had earlier accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of tampering with the Councils’ funds, an allegation which was denied by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Emodamori has written to the Ondo State Government through the Commissioner for Finance, Omowunmi Isaac, to demand whether or not the 18 Local Government Areas in Ondo State now receive their statutory allocations directly from the Federation Account.

This is in line with Section 162 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and in line with the Supreme Court Judgment.

The legal practitioner pointed out that his demand is coming under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI).

“Pursuant to Section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, I, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, a Nigerian Citizen and Legal Practitioner, hereby requests for documents detailing the disbursements of statutory allocations to all the 18 Local Government Areas in Ondo State from the State Joint Local Government Account.

“Please note that you are statutorily mandated to supply the information requested above within Seven days from the receipt of this application, by virtue of Section 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

“Please note that by virtue of Section 7(5) of the Freedom of Information Act, it is a crime for any officer to wrongly deny any citizen access to information requested under the Act.

“Consequently, the Hon. Commissioner, I would be grateful to have the above requested information within Seven days. Those who have nothing to hide, have nothing to fear. I am persuaded that your office is committed to transparency and accountability.

“Please take notice, however, that in the unlikely event that the information

requested above is not supplied within seven days as stipulated by law, I will,

without further notice, institute a civil action in court for appropriate remedies and equally set the criminal law in motion against the Hon. Commissioner for the statutorily stipulated criminal sanction.”

Court Annuls Senator Natasha’s Suspension From Senate, Convicts Her For Contempt

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Ayodele Oni

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July 4, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Senate to recall the suspended Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The Court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, described as “excessive”, the six-month suspension that was slammed on the Lawmaker by the Senate.

It faulted the provisions of Chapter 8 of the Senate’s Standing Rules as well as Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers and Privileges Act, declaring both as overreaching.

The Court stressed that the two legislations failed to specify the maximum period that a serving lawmaker could be suspended from office.

According to the Court, since Lawmakers have a total of 181 days to sit in every legislative circle, the six-month suspension handed to Akpoti-Uduaghan was akin to pushing her away from her responsibilities to her constituents for about 180 days.

It held that though the Senate has the power to punish any of its members who erred, such sanction must not be excessive to deprive the Constituents of their right to be represented.

Nevertheless, the Court held that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was not wrong to have denied the plaintiff who was not on the official seat that was allotted to her the opportunity to speak during plenary.

Justice Nyako equally dismissed Akpabio’s contention that the Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit which he said bordered on an internal affair of the Senate.

Earlier in the ruling, the Court awarded a-five million Naira fine against Akpoti-Uduaghan for acting in breach of its order that barred the parties from making public statements pertaining to the subject matter of the suit.

It further ordered her to, within seven days, publish an apology to it in two national dailies.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had gone to Court after a confrontation with Senate President Akpabio on February 20, during which she was allegedly denied the opportunity to speak and later referred to the Senate Ethics Committee.

In a February 28, 2025 television interview, she claimed that her troubles in the Senate began after she rejected inappropriate attention from the Senate President.

Through an ex-parte motion, she urged the court to declare any actions taken by the Committee —including her suspension—null, void, and of no effect pending the resolution of her suit.

NFF Mourns Peter Rufai, Pays Tribute To Goalkeeping Legend

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 4, 2025

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria football firmament turned pale on Thursday evening after it was confirmed that the country’s 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup first-choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, has died in Lagos.

Mourning the Rufai, popular as ‘Dodomayana’ in his active playing days, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, expressed sadness over the news through its Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi.

“This is really, really shocking, Peter Rufai dead? What happened? I am perplexed. We did not even know that he had been ill.

“We earnestly pray to the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest, and to comfort all his loved ones as well as the entire Nigeria football family.”

It was gathered that the flamboyant goal-tender, who was in and out of the Nigeria senior team for 17 years, had been ill for some weeks, before passing at a Lagos hospital at about 6.00am on Thursday.

Former Nigeria’s international midfielder, Waidi Akanni, confirmed that the body of one of Nigeria football’s true heroes has been deposited at a Lagos hospital.

Rufai made his debut for then Green Eagles in a friendly match in December 1981, and won the Africa Cup of Nations silver in 1984 and 1988, before Nigeria swept to glory in the continental finals in Tunisia in 1994. He was the first-choice goalkeeper in the three championships.

The charismatic and disciplined goalkeeper also kept goal for Nigeria in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals (the Super Eagles made the Round of 16 on both occasions), and dedicated his post-retirement days to discovering and mentoring young players. He also served as the coordinator of the Nigeria U23 team at a time.

Apart from his memorable outings with the Super Eagles, Rufai was an extraordinary figure at Lagos club, Stationery Stores, with whom he reached the final of the Africa Cup Winners Cup competition in 1981. He also played professionally in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

Aside Rufai who just passed on from the victorious 1994 African Cup of Nations Squad, others that have died includes; Thompson Oliha, Stephen Keshi, Wilfred Agbonvbare, Rashidi Yekini and Uche Okafor.

No doubt, yesterday, Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, remain a Black Thursday for World Football enclave, as Rufai’s death comes as a double tragedy for football lovers. It was occurred just hours after the reported death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, passed away in a car accident barely ten days after his wedding.

Fulanis In Bauchi Reject Creation Of New Emirates

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Ayodele Oni

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July 4, 2025

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By Ayodele Oni

The Fulani Community in Bauchi has told the State Government that the people will remain under the existing six Bauchi Emirates and not under any newly to created Emirate or Chiefdom.

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, had approved the constitution of a High-powered Committee to review and assess all Memoranda submitted by communities seeking for the creation of new Emirates, Chiefdoms, and Districts in the State.

At present, the State has six Emirates namely, Bauchi, Katagum, Misau, Jama’are, Ningi, and Dass.

The Fulanis, under the Daddo Pulako and affiliates of all Fulani associations, made their position know at a press conference held at the Conference Hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Press Center, Bauchi.

They said that their allegiance remains with the six historic traditional institutions under which they have long coexisted in dignity and harmony.

A former Bauchi State House of Assembly member, Alhaji Muhammad Tukur, who spoke on behalf of the Fulani communities from the 20 local Government areas of the state, said their demand is both a constitutional right and a cultural imperative.

He added that subjecting them to newly carved structures “without our consent undermines the principle of free association, disrupts longstanding communal relationships and could lead to avoidable tension.

“We acknowledge the constitutional right of communities to seek traditional representation.

“However, we note with concern, that the current proposal for new Chiefdoms and Emirates seems heavily driven by ethnic demarcations, rather than historical legitimacy or administrative necessity.

“As law-abiding citizens and stakeholders in the peace and development of Bauchi State, we categorically state that: The Fulani of Bauchi State do not wish to be subjected to any newly created Emirate or Chiefdom outside of the six existing Emirates.

“We reaffirm our unshakable respect and reverence for the traditional institution in Bauchi State.

“The existing six Emirates: Bauchi, Katagum, Misau, Ningi, Jama’are, and Dass, are symbols of historical continuity and cultural harmony in our state.

”They have played an instrumental role in preserving societal cohesion and serving as a stabilizing force across diverse ethnic and religious groups.

“The Fulani community has been an integral part of these institutions since their inception, contributing to their evolution through loyalty, leadership, and stewardship.

“We respectfully draw attention to unfortunate precedents in other states such as Plateau, Kaduna, and Taraba, where the politicization and ethnicization of traditional institutions have led to deep societal divisions, intercommunal clashes and lasting grievances.

“We must collectively guard against a similar trajectory in Bauchi, a state known for its relative peace and coexistence.

“The Fulani community is not a peripheral group in Bauchi State. We are farmers, herders, scholars, security providers, traders, civil servants, and traditional rulers.

“Our economic contributions, especially in livestock production, agricultural development, and inter-regional trade, are pillars of the state’s economy.

“Fulani settlements have historically served as stabilizing rural outposts, ensuring food security and promoting peaceful relations across ethnic lines.

”Our communities have always responded to calls for peacebuilding, vaccination campaigns, education enrolment drives, and democratic participation. We are not secessionist. We are contributors. All we ask is fairness and dignity in representation.”

He called for responsible governance and priority reordering, urging the government to redirect scarce resources toward urgent developmental needs such as: rural education as many Fulani and non-Fulani communities lack functional schools and qualified teachers.

“We, the Fulani (Fulbe) community of Bauchi State, under the unified banner of Daddo Pulāku and all affiliated Fulani cultural and developmental associations, hereby present our collective position regarding the recent public statement by the Government of Bauchi State on the proposed creation of additional Emirates and Chiefdoms.”

He explained that they came up with their position after broad-based consultations among Fulani elders, traditional title holders, women, youth, scholars, professionals, and community leaders across all 20 Local government areas, and was issued in the spirit of dialogue, peace, unity, and fidelity to the constitutional values of justice and inclusivity.

ADC: Rhodes-Vivor Warns Atiku, Obi Against Personal Ambitions; Don’t Repeat 2023 Mistake, He said

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 4, 2025

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Gbadebo-Rhodes Vivor, the 2023 Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos state says opposition political candidates cannot afford to repeat the 2023 mistake when they lost the presidency to Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The former governorship candidate urged the key opposition leaders to unite for them to be able to sack Tinubu from office in 2027.

He spoke on the heels of the suggestions that the ADC coalition formed by top opposition leaders in the country, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Ahmad Nasir El Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola may soon run into trouble waters due to the personal ambitions of these politicians.

Recall that President Tinubu defeated both Abubakar and Obi, the PDP and Labour Party presidential candidates , respectively in the 2023 presidential election.

Not a few Nigerians insist that an Abubakar/ Obi presidential candidates would have easily defeated Tinubu, who won the presidency with over 8 million votes, compared to the over 14 combined votes of Abubakar and Obi.

According to Rhodes -Vivor, a situation where the key opposition leaders decide to pursue their presidential ambition individually will produce the same 2023 result that favoured Tinubu.

He said it will be very easy for a united opposition front to defeat the administration of Tinubu , who he accused of mismanaging the country since it came to office two years ago, throwing the country into serious insecurity and endless poverty among her citizens.

He said, “This government has failed. Nigeria is now the 10th poorest country in the world, and citizens are grappling with the highest cost of living in over 40 years.

“You cannot be spending billions on renovating the vice president’s residence when Nigerians are suffering.

“You will hear something in the next few days; we are coming together.

The magazine reported that key opposition leaders in the country had on Tuesday adopted the ADC as a platform to contest the 2027 election.

ADC- Rescuing Nigeria Is Paramount For Now

In his lengthy acceptance speech on Tuesday, the Interim National Chairman of the ADC said what is paramount in the minds of the coalition is to rescue the country from its current state of poverty, insecurity and servitude caused by the ruling APC.

Mark, a former Persident of the Nigerian Senate called on Nigerians to join the party in to rescue the country from the administration of President Tinubu.

He said, “We address you formally, today, on the operational focus and structure of the new political coalition that brings together Nigeria’s diverse opposition groups, political parties, youth organisations, the civil society and other patriots from all corners of our vast land, committed to saving the very soul of our Republic.

‘’Let it be known to all, that this coalition of national political opposition groups goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.

‘’Today marks the beginning of what we believe would be a long, difficult and tedious journey. However, it is a journey that we are prepared to undertake, united in our collective belief that no price or sacrifice is too high in the service of our fatherland.’’

Continuing, he said” ‘’It is on record that within two years of the current administration coming to power, it has hijacked all democratic institutions, and sent our country on a creeping descent into total civilian dictatorship.

“The blatant destabilisation and infiltration of all major opposition political parties is aimed at achieving only one objective, to enhance total state capture and leave Nigerians with no alternative or options in 2027. This coalition is to prevent our country’s descent into a one-party state.

‘’We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications. A government more concerned with the next election rather than the survival of the ordinary Nigerians. A government so totally consumed with politicking that governance is abandoned, while the majority of our people wallow in hunger and poverty.

‘’We have never seen this level of insecurity across the length and breadth of our nation. Bandits and kidnappers kill Nigerians at will and on daily basis. Yet, this ongoing tragedy has not moved the government to any action that would stop these mindless killings and stem the tide of needless bloodshed.

“Indeed, the Nigerian people deserve a government that protects them and make them feel safe in their own homes,’’ the new chairman of ADC said.

According to Mark, ‘’Equally disturbing, is the total emasculation of the legislative institution. Never in our history have we witnessed a National Assembly where legislators, the trustees of the very bastion of our democracy, saddled with the sacred duty to protect Nigerians from misuse of executive power, are reduced to cheerleaders and praise singers of the president, head of the executive arm.

‘’Without doubt, the transformation of Nigeria’s National Assembly to a mere appendage of presidential authority is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people. It is the reason why the government is able to get away with various whimsical, unconstitutional policies and actions or inactions that have reduced more Nigerians to abject poverty and widened the boundaries of insecurity and fear.

‘’It is imperative to state that our democracy has a history, which is the reason why we all affirm that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain. Today, the labour of our heroes is under vicious attack and our Republic faces a mortal danger.

“This coalition is therefore for all Nigerians who share in our belief that all of us, the young and the old, man and woman, rich and poor, living with disabilities or not, town dwellers or villagers, we all have the patriotic duty to save our country.

‘’To all suffering Nigerians who are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet; for whom the next meal is not guaranteed, this coalition is for you. To all those citizens who believe that Nigeria’s democracy is worth fighting for, this coalition is for you.

‘’To all youths who face an uncertain future and have questioned the value of their education and their certificates, this coalition is for you.

‘’To all our brothers and sisters in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, Katsina, Kaduna, Edo, parts of the South East, South West, South-South who live under constant fear of violence and terror, who have lost a father, a mother, a child, a husband, a wife, this coalition is for you.

‘’To all our citizens, who believe that they deserve better, who have been promised much and given so little, for whom renewed hope has turned to renewed hopelessness, this is your coalition and we welcome you all to join us and be a part of this historic rescue mission.

‘’This coalition is determined to offer Nigerians a path to security, prosperity, peace and progress. Coming from various party affiliations, we are united in our resolve to present a constructive alternative to the hardship, insecurity and waste that has become the hallmark of the current APC government.

‘’As we proceed this day, we acknowledge the practical implications of imminent bye-elections and one state governorship election for some of our coalition partners in their respective legacy political parties. However, all of us remain firmly united under the ADC banner for the 2027 general election and beyond.

‘’After extensive deliberations, and discussions, which spanned several months with deserving platforms, the coalition has decided to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the vehicle for this historic journey.

“Having adopted the ADC, we commit ourselves to building and transforming it into a strong political party, not merely as another electoral vehicle but as a fortress and platform of our revived democracy.

“It will be the harbinger of democracy where members of the party will reign supreme. A party that obeys its rules and constitution in the best democratic traditions. A party of equal stakeholders, equal joiners and equal owners.

‘’It is the great house into which all patriots are invited. A party that recognises the experience of the old and the energy of the youths. To all Nigerians, we say here is the new big tent into which all patriots are invited.

“Here, the North shall hold hands with South, the youth shall find equal footing with the elder, women will be equal partners with men, the farmer and the technocrat shall labour side by side, not for the triumph of one party over another, but for the triumph of Nigeria herself,” he stated.

Mark further said, ‘’This is the bold new path we declare today; a path of unity over division, service over slogans, action over excuses, compassion over inhumanity, transparency over opacity, inclusion over nepotism, real progress over endless rhetoric, performance over empty promises, rule of law over impunity, and, justice over inequity.’

‘’Our mission transcends any electoral calendar. It is a commitment to rebuild the guardrails of our democracy, to anchor power once again in the will of the people, and to hand to our children a nation worthy of their talents and their dreams.

‘’So, stand with us. Join this house. Let history record that when our democracy faltered, we rose, not in fear, but in faith. Let it be known today, across Nigeria and beyond: The opposition is united, the platform is ADC. The time is now. The mission is clear: Rescue Nigeria. Rebuild Nigeria. Return power to the people,’’ Mark stated.

2027: South Must Produce Next President – Amaechi

By

Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 4, 2025

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A former governor of Rivers state has made a case for the southern Nigeria to produce the next president of the country in 2027. This, he said, must happen because “Nigeria belongs to all of us.”

The former Minister of Transportation, spoke on Channels Television programme Politics Today on Thursday saying the power rotation arrangement between the south and North must be respect.

Anaechi: “Nigeria belongs to all of us. We cannot sustain a democracy where one region dominates while others are locked out. The South has capable leaders. It’s time to restore balance and deliver real results.

“This election is no longer about party loyalty. It is Nigerians versus the political elite. If you want change, real change, then it’s time to rise. The South is ready to lead. We’re building a platform that gives every Nigerian a voice, and hope.”

According to him, a situation where a particular region dominates the other should be jettison as there are capable leaders that can steer the affairs of the country successfully from the south.

Amaechi, the magazine reports is among the presidential hopefuls under the ADC, the party that a coalition of opposition leaders in the country said will be used to oust President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC from power in the next election.

The ADC had on Tuesday held a meeting in Abuja, the nation’s capital where its leaders, in defiance, told the president that his days in office are numbered.

Apart from Amaechi, other presidential aspirants in the party include, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Ahmad Nasir El Rufai, a former Governor of Kaduna state, amongst others.

Instructively, it was learnt that the ADC is already working towards the Atiku / Obi joint ticket to sack President Tnubui from office.

Other school of thought in the country , and indeed within the party are also considering the Obi/ El rufai Presidential ticket, in line with the national aspirations for a candidate from the south to rule the country .

There are also other analysts who are weighing the possibility of toying with the Amaechi/ El rufai presidency to satisfy the same agitation from the south that one of their own should become president, after the eight year tenure of Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner from Katsina state.

Atiku, a northerner from Adawawa state was the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He’s regarded as a serial presidential candidate having contested the office many times and lost. Making him the ADC presidential candidate may yet steer another controversy in the ADC that can tear the party apart, analyst said.