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Faced With Strong Condemnations, FG Says Presidential Pardon To 175 Convicts Still Under Review

By
The Source
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President Bola Tinubu

By Gideon Njoku

Obviously taken aback by the deluge of strong Condemnations which greeted the Presidential Pardon to 175 convicts by President Bola Tinubu, endorsed by the Council of State, on the recommendation of the Presidential  Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, headed by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the  Federal Government said on Thursday, October 16, that the list was still under review.

Not a few Nigerians were shocked by the categories of convicts listed. While they agreed that some on the list merited it, there was a collective outrage over some of the names. They included murderers, kidnappers, armed robbers and drug lords.

The outrage was defeaning and attracted condemnations from across the country.

However, on Thursday, the Federal Government, in a statement, emphasised that no convicts, so pardoned, has been released from jail. Meaning that there is no implementation, so far, even for those whose jail terms were reduced.

The process of implementing it, the FG said, is still undergoing final administrative process and being  verified. A review of the list of beneficiaries is being carried out before the issuance of formal instruments of release.

The AGF in a statement clarified  that although the Council of State had approved the recommendations for clemency, the final stage requires a detailed review to ensure all names comply with legal and procedural standards.

The statement read: “The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to clarify that no inmate approved for clemency under the recent exercise of the President’s power of prerogative of mercy has been released from custody.

“The process remains at the final administrative stage, which includes a standard review to ensure that all names and recommendations fully comply with established legal and procedural requirements before any instrument of release is issued.”

He, also, said that the issuance of the instrument of implementation is the last phase of the process. Only after that will the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service be authorised to act.

According to him,  the final review phase is “standard protocol and demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparency, due diligence, and the rule of law.

“There is no delay in the process; it is simply following the law to the letter to ensure that only those duly qualified benefit from the President’s mercy.

“As soon as all legal and procedural checks are concluded, the public will be duly informed. The rule of law does not rush; it ensures fairness.”

The questions being asked, however, are: “If the list had not been reviewed, why  did the President approve? Why was it presented before the Council of State for endorsement? Why did the Presidency make the names public before making sure that all the beneficiaries merited it? Is it possible to withdraw some names after a Presidential approval?

Some of those who benefited from the exercise are a foremost nationalist, Herbert Macaulay, Major General Mamman Vatsa, executed for the 1986 Military Coup D’etat, Farouk Lawan, former Member House of Representatives, jailed for bribery, Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues, executed for the circumstances which led to the gruesome murder of four prominent Ogoni sons, and Maryam Sanda, condemned to death by hanging for the horrific murder of her husband in 2020.

Rivers Goes After Ibas, Revokes His N134b Secretariat Contract, Demands Refund Of Mobilization Fee From Contractor

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and Simi Fubara

By Ayodele Oni

The Rivers State has taken step to revisit some of the actions initiated during the period of emergency rule in the state.

To this end, the state Executive Council has cancelled a N134 billion contract awarded by the past sole administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibokete Ibas (rtd).

The contract was for the reconstruction of the ageing State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt. The contract was awarded to CCECC during the period of emergency rule by Ibas.

The Council, which reached this decision on Thursday, at its meeting, also directed the company to refund the N20 billion mobilisation fee it has already received.

It also approved a six-man committee headed by the deputy governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, to evaluate and make recommendations for the construction of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the state to facilitate the conduct of external examinations.

The Council further directed the flood committee headed by the deputy governor to take immediate action to address flooding in the state and cautioned residents against blocking drainage channels.

Senate Confirms Amupitan As INEC Chairman

By
Ayodele Oni
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Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN)

By Ayodele Oni

The Senate has confirmed Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Amupitan, a professor of Law, was confirmed by the upper chamber after his screening on Thursday.

Report stated that in his over two-hour submissions during the screening, Amupitan vowed to ensure INEC’s  independence.

One of the critical questions he had to answer came from Senator Seriake Dickson, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP),  representing Bayelsa West, who asked if the nominee was involved in any form in the 2023 presidential election tribunal.

Amupitan said emphatically that he did not participate in the tribunal, or the appeal that followed at the Supreme Court.

There had been speculations that Amupitan was part of the legal team of President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 elections litigations.

“When I was coming here, I bought the certified true copy of the legal appearances at the tribunal and the Supreme Court.  I was not part of it. I never, I did not partake in it’, he said.

The National Council of State had approved the nomination of Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Prof Mahmood Yakubu’s exit. Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.

President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.

Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity.

Edo Reintroduces Teaching Of Indigenous Languages In Schools

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Monday Okpebholo

By Ayodele Oni

Teaching of indigenous languages in schools in Edo state is now compulsory as the State Government is set to legalize it.

Governor, Monday Okpebholo, announced the reintroduction of Edo languages into the state’s school curriculum, as part of his administration’s efforts to preserve the state’s cultural heritage and promote indigenous knowledge.

Okpebholo made the announcement during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Esan Okpa Initiative to Government House, Benin City.

The Governor expressed gratitude to the Esan people, describing them as a “critical pillar” of his administration’s success. He disclosed that the Ministry of Education has been directed to intensify school rehabilitation across the state.

“We will continue massive renovation and fencing of schools, provide boreholes, toilets, seats and desks, and begin installing solar lights. We are also rolling out a school access programme that gives children hands-on computer experience.”

On language preservation, the Governor stressed the importance of starting from the grassroots:“We must start from home.

“We will reintroduce vernacular into our school system so that every tribe begins to learn and speak their language, ensuring that no language goes into extinction.”

Governor Okpebholo also reaffirmed his commitment to reviving Ambrose Alli University (AAU), describing its restoration as “a victory for the people.”

He highlighted key projects across the state, including road construction, transportation, healthcare, and security reforms.

According to him, 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses have been ordered to improve transportation across Edo’s three senatorial districts. In the health sector, 65 primary healthcare centres have been completed or rehabilitated.

He added that work is ongoing on the Ekpoma–Uromi–Ubiaja Road, with compensation already being paid to affected property owners. Construction is expected to accelerate during the dry season, reducing travel time between Ekpoma and Auchi to about 35 minutes.

On security, the Governor revealed plans for decentralization and increased personnel:

“We are working seriously on security. New equipment has been procured, and a new mobile barracks in the central district will soon be operational. We trained over 2,000 personnel and placed them on the government payroll, and we are considering engaging local hunters to strengthen community security,” he said.

The Governor reiterated that his administration is focused on delivering legacy projects that will outlive his tenure.

“My concern is legacy — what we will leave behind for our people. That is the true essence of leadership,” he added.

Earlier, President of the Esan Okpa Initiative, Mathew Egbadon, commended the Governor for his strides in education, infrastructure, and governance, while stressing the urgent need to protect and promote the Esan language.

“Protecting and advancing Esan language, culture and values is critical. Esan language is disappearing because many of our people no longer speak it, and it is no longer taught in schools.

“Reintroducing it into the curriculum will align with the 2022 National Language Policy, which mandates the use of indigenous languages as the primary medium of instruction in the first six years of primary education.”

He praised the Governor’s achievements, including Edo’s inclusion in the Federal Government’s ₦142 billion modern bus terminal project — the only state in the South-South to benefit.

“We have seen your work. New roads are being built, schools are being rehabilitated, and over 4,000 teachers have been regularised. You have returned Edo to the national development map,” he said.

He also called for support for independent power generation in Esanland through private investment models similar to Ossiomo and Azura, and advocated for agro-based industries and stronger sec?urity support in rural communities.

Nobody Can Capture Any State Because Of  Governor’s Defection” – Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

…Salutes Sowore Group

The Labour Party Leader and 2023 Presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi has said that no political party can capture any state electorally because a governor defects to it.

Obi, who was responding to reporters who accosted him in Abuja to react to the gale of defections to the ruling APC, especially in the South East, said that this is a democracy, not military rule, where states are captured.

The people will decide where to go, not governors or Senators, no party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor.

On Mbah’s defection and APC’s alleged move to capture the South-East for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Obi said

, “Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine. And I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations”

“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people. You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere”

“The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it.

On the planned protest for the release of Mazi Nnamani Kanu by political activist Omoyele Sowore,

The former Anambra State Governor said “I’ve always been consistent on Nnamdi Kanu’s situation. There was no need for his arrest in the first place. And I’ve always said that for me, I will consult, negotiate and discuss with anybody who is agitating. I said it clearly and I remain there.

“I thank those who are actually trying to do or say what we’ve been saying for a long time. Go and check what I’ve said before 2020, 202,2ando even 2024. And now that it has gone to court, the rules should be followed. Not just for Nnamdi Kanu, but for all agitators across the nation. Let’s dialogue with them”

“There’s nothing wrong with anybody agitating or saying let’s dialogue with them. And whatever we do with them, let’s follow the rules. So I thank the organisers and those who are involved.”

On his expectations from the new INEC chair ahead of the 2027 election, Obi said

, “Very simple. He’s a Nigerian. We want a new Nigeria where elections will be free, fair and credible and our people who have the competence, capacity, compassion, character and commitment to lead the nation are elected.

“It’s for the good of everybody. None of us is going to be here forever, and none of us is going to be in his position forever. So whatever position we find ourselves in, it’s to do the right thing. So I wish him well.

“When he (Amupitan) is confirmed, I will congratulate him and tell him to know that one day he’s going to leave that post. Let him ensure that he keeps his reputation

Obi who spoke to the journalist on the sidelines when he accompanied the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the February 2026 FCT Council elections, Dr Moses Paul, on a visit to LEA Nursery/Primary School, Kapwa, a suburb of Abuja, said education is the bedrock of any society.

He decried the dilapidated state of the school, noting that the school furniture is in “irreparable conditions.”

Obi wondered why a school with over 200 pupils had no toilet facilities, and promised to give the school a facelift.

“The most important thing we can do as a nation is to invest in basic education. Investment in children is the most important.

“I am here today to support my brother, Dr Moses Paul, the ADC candidate contesting for the AMAC Council. You know he is campaigning and going round the communities in his constituency.

IPOB Leader’s Health: NMA Says Kanu Healthy, Fit, No Cause For Alarm, To Remain In DSS Custody

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Nnamdi Kanu in Court

By Ayodele Oni

Detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will remain in the custody of the Directorate of State Security, (DSS), till the completion of his case.

Kanu had requested from the court to be transfered to medical facility to enable him attend to his failing health.

But, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), mandated by the Court to ascertain the state of health of the IPOB leader has declared that he is medically fit to stand trial, following a thorough medical evaluation ordered by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a report submitted to the court, the NMA stated that Kanu’s current health condition is not life-threatening and that he is stable enough to continue his trial under the supervision of medical professionals within the Department of State Services (DSS) facility.

The submission follows a directive issued on September 26, 2025, by Justice James Omotosho, who had ordered the NMA president to constitute an independent medical panel to assess Kanu’s health.

The order came after the IPOB leader’s legal team filed an application seeking his transfer from DSS custody to the National Hospital, Abuja, for specialized medical treatment.

In compliance with the court’s order, the NMA panel conducted a series of medical examinations on Kanu and concluded that his health challenges were manageable and did not warrant an immediate transfer to any external hospital.

“Our findings indicate that Mr. Nnamdi Kanu’s condition is not life-threatening. He is medically stable and fit to stand trial,” the NMA stated in its report to the court.

With the medical report now before the court, Justice Omotosho is expected to resume hearing in Kanu’s trial in the coming days, as the prosecution and defense prepare to make fresh submissions on the case’s next steps.

The development marks a significant turn in the long-running legal battle between the Federal Government and the IPOB leader, whose detention and trial have continued to generate wide public interest and political debate across the country.

Following the submission of the NMA’s report, Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case to October 23, 2025, for the commencement of Nnamdi Kanu’s defence, ruling that the DSS medical facility remains adequate to cater to his health needs.

OPINION: Of Trump, Peace Deals and the Day After

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The Source
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Azu Ishiekwene
Mr Azu Ishiekwene

By Azu Ishiekwene

 

US President Donald Trump may be getting ahead of himself with the encouraging signs that, following the ceasefire in Gaza, the world might have another opportunity to end the Middle East crisis, one of the world’s longest-running conflicts.

It was a conflict in which Trump took sides with Israel – vetoing resolutions at the UN, supporting Israeli attacks on sovereign states, including Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and feigning ignorance of the attack on Qatar. It seemed no price was too high to “cleanse” Gaza and relocate Gazans away from their homeland to create a nice piece of real estate, a Mediterranean Mar-a-Logo, perhaps.

Trump’s rhetoric emboldened Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in no small measure to unleash the Israeli Defence Forces on the ground in Gaza and to carpet-bomb the city. The world was waiting to see American oil drilling companies move in to complete the conquest.

Making a deal

But in a stark about-face, it was Trump again pulling all belligerents by the scruff of their necks and shoving them to the roundtable. It’s rare in peace negotiations for one party to beliterally given an ultimatum to sign a deal. That, precisely, was what happened – Trump all but put a gun to the head of Hamas. And unlike Hamas, Hamas complied.

It is also to the credit of Trump that Hamas didn’t worry about getting the short end of the stick. They didn’t argue about a deal brokered without them, but for which they were given papers to sign. They signed anyway. And for a while, the mushroom clouds may cease.

Trump hasn’t been to Gaza, but he was on the red carpet – getting the warmest reception and accolades of any foreign head of state at the Knesset. He must have cherished that flatter from Netanyahu, of being the best friend Israel ever had in the Whitehouse. That claim was no empty boast. In 2018, Trump ordered the relocation of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a city claimed by both Israel and Palestine as their capital.

Trump rules…

After a rapturous welcome at the Israeli parliament, he proceeded to Egypt, where he stood on the stage like a head boy, shaking hands and backslapping world leaders, all of whom delighted in a thumbs-up photo opportunity with the man of the moment.

It was quite a deal and a big one. In Sham el-Sheikh, Egypt, he was in a classic Trumpoverse, wearing America’s power on his sleeve and reminding the world that“all he has done his entire life has been deals.”

Cost of war

It was one war too long, too many, beginning on October 7, 2023, and spanning over two years. The peace treaty took even longer, cost too many lives, and caused too much destruction to achieve. The Gaza war is on record as the most prolonged Israeli military conflict.

It almost took a worse turn when Iranian reprisals punctured the “iron dome” – causing Israelis to witness military aggression on home soil, in contrast to just seeing or feeling it from a distance.

The massive casualties, conservatively put at 67,000 Palestinians, with around 1.7 million of them internally displaced, relief and food aid remain critical emergencies going forward. A complex hostage and prisoner exchange had to become a key component of the ceasefire agreement as well.

For all the world to note and learn, the hostages on both sides revealed the reality of our shared humanity, the fact that life is a precious gift that deserves to be preserved by friends and foes alike. It was an emotional moment that broke many hearts and sobered many hot heads.

And for Israel, despite the brutality of the war, Netanyahu could still not achieve his objective of annihilating Hamas to the last man, an incredibly insane aim from the onset.

Hamas took 251 Israeli hostages during the initial attack. Only 20 are reported to have survived. As part of the ceasefire deal, Hamas released all 20 remaining hostages. The war claimed the lives ofthe remaining 231.

In exchange, Israel freed over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. These exchanges were part of the three-stage ceasefire deal brokered through the mediation of the US, Qatar, and Egypt, aiming to bring an end to hostilities.​

Rebuilding from ground zero

The phased ceasefire has humanitarian components allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes (or what is left of them), increasing aid deliveries to Gaza, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the reconstruction of Gaza, a process that will last several years due to the near-total destruction wrought by aerial bombardments.​

War-weary Palestinians, along with cynical and restrained Israelis, erupted in celebrations at the news of the signing of a peace treaty. Families reunited, and hope rose again on a bleak landscape of concrete debris and rubble. It was hope instigated and instilled by Trump, for whom the Palestinians would have sworn over their dead bodies to expect nothing good.

The most crucial step in this circumstance is to address several complex and interrelated factors simultaneously to sustain peace in the region. Parties must commit to and intentionally maintain strict adherence to international laws and UN resolutions, as well as mutual respect for borders and territorial integrity.

With particular reference to Israel and the United States, the peace broker, respect for the sovereignty of Middle Eastern countries is also essential.

Rebuilding Gaza will require a comprehensive restoration of critical infrastructure, including water supply systems, sewage treatment plants, electricity networks, telecommunications, hospitals, and other essential services. The removal of debris, construction of temporary and permanent housing units, development of agricultural lands, and establishment of industrial zones.

Future of Hamas

Recovery must be Palestinian-owned and led, and a two-state solution must be an integral part of any lasting agreement. The Gulf States will expect guarantees around Palestinian sovereignty, including political recognition.​There is room enough for the lion and the lamb to live side by side.

The days of Hamas are over. It may not like the idea and may, in fact, argue that only Palestinians can decide that. But 18 years of Hamas rule have been a disaster, with more investments by the group in tunnels, rockets and other deadly weapons than in water and schools for Palestinians. It has lost any moral authority to be a part of the Palestinian future.

Bibi’s reckoning

On the other side, Netanyahu must now face his demons, regardless of his desperate lobbying for salvation from Trump. He was hanging on to power by a thread, battling charges of corruption and abuse of office before October 7. His trial should continue, on top of which he must now account for his conduct during the war. He has managed to prolong his stay by prolonging the war, regardless of the cost in human lives and the misery of his own citizens. He must account for his deeds.

Meanwhile, if the Middle East peace holds and the US president commits to a two-state solution, the White House may nominate Trump for the next Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump’s misdeeds have been as long as they have been disruptive and chaotic. Still, if he pushes for a two-state solution and manages to get Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a round table, that might be the medal-worthy deal of our lifetime!

Then we can crown him, and say, “Go, and sin no more!”

Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book A Midlifer’s Guide to Content Creation and Profit.

APC: World Bank/IMF Confirm Tinubu’s Economic Transformation Strides

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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APC National-Publicity Secretary-Mr Felix Morka

The All Progressives Congress, APC,  has  welcome the World Bank and IMF recent commendation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s economic reforms.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka said in a statement on Wednesday that the Brenton wood financial institutions have finally recognize the  efforts of President Tinubu to transform the country from an oil-dependence nation to one with multi-stream of revenues, by developing other key sectors of the economy.

The World Bank and IMF had on Tuesday, during a press briefing on the Global Financial Stability Report, held as part of the ongoing World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.

praised the president for improving Nigeria’s revenue generation and reforms in the foreign exchange market.

Morka said the global financial institutions have finally recognized that Tinubu is creating a “new era of sustainable growth and development in Nigeria, through “diversification, inclusive growth and job creation” which has lifted “people out of poverty and unlocking their full potential.”

He urged Nigerians to support Tinubu by ensuring that he wins the 2027 presidential election.

Part of the statement: ” Economic growth is the most potent antidote to poverty and underdevelopment. It is a necessary scaffolding for lifting people out of poverty and unlocking their full potential. It generates and regenerates economic opportunities, creates jobs, boosts incomes, creates wealth, extends infrastructure and expands access to essential services. It is also the keystone for combating insecurity, promoting peace and national cohesion.

“Our economy is on a remarkable growth trajectory, with Q2 2025 GDP growth rising to 4.23%, outstripping the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) initial projection of 3.4%. This impressive performance of President Tinubu’s reforms has earned the IMF’s endorsement with its upgrading of Nigeria’s growth forecast to 3.9% in 2025 and 4.2% in 2026. The World Bank’s latest report further validates this trend, projecting Nigeria’s growth acceleration from 4.2% in 2025 to 4.4% in 2027, driven by the rapid expansion of services, agriculture, and other non-oil sectors.

“What is more remarkable is that Nigeria’s strong economic performance comes against the backdrop of a slowing global economy. According to the World Bank, global growth is expected to decline from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, with advanced economies growing at a modest 1.5% and emerging markets barely above 4%. The IMF’s latest forecast aligns with this trend, projecting global growth at 3.2% this year and 3.1% next year, representing a cumulative downgrade of 0.2 percentage points since its forecast a year earlier.

“In this global context, President Tinubu’s leadership and economic reforms have placed Nigeria as a standout performer, poised for sustained growth and development.

“As we applaud the progress achieved by President Tinubu’s economic reforms, we also acknowledge persistent challenges of food inflation, poverty and infrastructure deficits. The World Bank highlights the pressing issue of food inflation with poor households allocating up to 70% of their income to food. Projections indicate poverty levels will reach 61% in 2025 and 62% in 2026, affecting approximately 139 million Nigerians.

“The World Bank also forecasts a modest decline in poverty in 2027, expected to result from gains from the administration’s economic strategy and targeted interventions, including agricultural productivity initiatives and expanded social protection programs for the most vulnerable. The government’s ongoing efforts to enhance fiscal transparency, strengthen public services, and massive infrastructure investments all support a strong and positive outlook for Nigeria, which will deliver more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable outcomes for Nigeria. The anticipated decline in poverty rate is consistent with the understanding that economic reforms are gestational and take time to yield all desired positive results, particularly at microeconomic levels.

“The bold market-based reforms have sparked productivity and historic diversification, resulting in trade surpluses in over five consecutive quarters and shrinking fiscal deficits. Notably, trade surpluses increased by 44.3% in Q2 of 2025, reaching ₦7.46 trillion, while non-oil revenue rose by 40.5% to ₦20.59 trillion from January to August 2025. These performance records confirm Nigeria’s resurgence as a producing nation.

“The President’s creative and forward-thinking leadership has freed Nigeria from its suffocating age-old dependency on oil to a more diversified and resilient economy with steady growth in non-oil sectors, including agriculture, marine and blue economy, arts and creative industries, manufacturing, science and technology, and solid minerals. These sectors are not only boosting overall growth but also creating jobs and wealth for our people.

“The administration has achieved notable milestones, including hitting the non-oil revenue target four months ahead of schedule and surpassing ₦2 trillion in FAAC monthly allocations for the first time delivering unprecedented capacity to all tiers of government to accelerate development and improve the living conditions of all Nigerians. The Nigerian Customs also exceeded its revenue target, collecting ₦3.68 trillion, ₦390 billion above set target. The end of Ways and Means financing, improved transparency in NNPC remittances, and harmonization of the dual exchange rate have contributed to reduced inflation (20.1%) and stability of the Naira, even against oil price volatility.

“At this pace of progress, and with growing foreign direct investment such as the $300 Billion commitment by Qatari investors, Nigeria is set to overcome major challenges and surpass the World Bank’s 2027 projections of growth and development.

“Despite the self-serving and gloomy murmurs of the rudderless and confused political opposition that has proved incapable of articulating any viable alternative economic policy framework, President Tinubu remains undistracted and laser-focused on building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria. His re-election in 2027 would be a vote for Nigeria’s onward and confident march to enduring prosperity.”

Fayose: Obi Is The Only Opposition Voice In Nigeria, Atiku No Longer Relevant

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0
Atiku Abubakar

A former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has asserted that the 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate Peter Obi is the only voice of the opposition in the country, saying other leaders are no longer relevant.

According to the former governor, other opposition leader sin the country such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lost their voices among Nigerians, who he said, no longer listed to them for direction.

Fayose spoke on Channeld Televison Politics Today on Wednesday amid recent fears among not a few Nigerians that the country, under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and President Tinubu is poised to silent the opposition, using various tactics such as intimidation and coercion .

The critics of the administration cited the high profile defections from the PDP to the APC as one of the pointers to the effect that the ruling party is no longer tolerant of the opposition in the country, and may be moving nation into a one party state.

The former governor however said the opposition has become so irrelevant ahead the 2027 election, noting that despite the fact that  Obi is the only opposition voice in the country, the former LP presidential candidate lacked the capacity to defeat President Tinubu in the next election.

Fayose: “The only voice that has traction, that is still talking, that is everywhere despite not being in government, is Obi. I give it to him.

“But let me tell you, all others are just filling the gap. Atiku is filling the gap, and all the others too, because people don’t listen to them anymore.”

President Tinubu defeated Obi during the 2023 presidential election, after the former Anambra state governor came a distant third. Obi is believed to be bracing up to contest the 2027 election even though he has yet to declare under what political party.

Also, Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate in the last election has vowed to contest against the incumbent having lost the election since 2007 when he started contesting for  the highest office in the country.

Meanwhile, analysts insist that the former vice president support base, particularly in the northern part of the country has been bolstered after dumping the PDP for  the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Lagos Attorney-General Cautions NASS Over Online Gaming Bill, Says It Is Unconstitutional

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Lagos Lawmakers

By Akinwale Kasali

Lawal Pedro, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, has issued a warning to the National Assembly over its ongoing efforts to pass the Central Gaming Bill currently before the Senate.

The Bill, already passed by the House of Representatives and slated for concurrence by the Senate, seeks to repeal the National Lottery Act of 2005 and enact a new law titled: A Bill for an Act to Enact the Central Gaming Bill to Regulate the Operation and Business of All Forms of Online and Remote Gaming Across the Geographical Boundaries of the Federating Units and Beyond the Borders of Nigeria.

Pedro described the proposed legislation as “a voyage of unconstitutionality”, arguing that it directly contravenes a landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on October 13, 2024, in Attorney General of Lagos State & 22 Ors v. Attorney General of the Federation & Ors (SC/1/2008).

At a press briefing on Wednesday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Pedro warned the National Assembly not to create unnecessary rancour, as the proposal is unconstitutional.

He further noted that while framed to address online and remote gaming, the Bill violates clear constitutional boundaries as interpreted by the apex court.

He emphasized that the Supreme Court, in its 2024 judgment, decisively held that lotteries, betting, gaming, and other games of chance are “residual matters” — subjects within the exclusive legislative competence of State Houses of Assembly, not the National Assembly.

“The Supreme Court ruled unequivocally that the National Lottery Act 2005 was unconstitutional,” he stated. “Lottery is not listed in the Exclusive or Concurrent Legislative Lists in the Constitution, and as such, only State Governments — and not the Federal Government — may regulate or legislate on such matters, except within the Federal Capital Territory.”

He cited multiple sections of the judgment, highlighting ten specific rulings that declared the National Lottery Act null and void, including a perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government and its agencies from enforcing or implementing the Act within State territories.

“Once the Supreme Court has made a decision under the Constitution, it becomes final and binding on all persons and authorities — including the Executive and the Legislature,” the Attorney General noted, referencing Sections 6(6)(b), 235, and 287 of the Nigerian Constitution.

He dismissed the argument that the Bill concerns “online” gaming and, therefore, falls under federal purview, asserting that the mode of transaction — digital or physical — does not alter the legal character of the activity.

“Whether a lottery is conducted over the counter or via a mobile application, it remains a game of chance within a State’s territory. ‘Online’ does not mean ‘Federal,’” he said.

He warned that proceeding with the Bill would amount to defying a binding Supreme Court ruling and encroaching on the powers constitutionally reserved for the States.

“To now attempt to legislate again on the same subject is to defy the Supreme Court, to violate the Constitution, and to invite constitutional chaos,” he warned.

The Attorney General expressed concern that the Senate’s move contradicts the current national sentiment and constitutional review process being undertaken by the National Assembly, which has seen growing calls for devolution of powers to subnational governments.

He stressed that the Senate’s concurrence with the Bill would “Represent contempt of court; Erode the principle of federalism; Force States to return to Court on an already settled matter, undermining the finality of Supreme Court decisions.

“This is not just about Lagos State. It is about Nigeria. It is about the Rule of Law, constitutionalism, federalism, and the integrity of the Supreme Court. The strength of our democracy lies not in the might of institutions, but in their obedience to the law,” he said.

He concluded by urging the Senate to reject the Central Gaming Bill (HB.2062) in the interest of legal certainty and national unity.

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