Former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, has shared his thoughts on the call for the merger of political parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Bafarawa, in an interview with Punch, noted that the problem in the country is not the political party, the politicians are the problem of Democracy.

He noted that most politicians in the country were once members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bafarawa, who spoke on the claim that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, visited him and the move for the merger of political parties, said, “I was not visited by Peter Obi. But this merger that is being talked about will not help matters. It’s still the same people in the PDP and APC. It’s not the political party that’s the problem; we, the politicians, are the problem of our democracy. So, it’s not a question of changing A, B, C, or D. There’s nobody who’s not once a member of the PDP or the APC. They are in the same category. It’s like a football game where they’re passing the ball to their colleagues. While they’re doing that, no umpire blows the whistle; that’s why everything is messed up.

“Unless we tell ourselves the truth, be honest with ourselves, and see how we can commit ourselves to moving the country forward together, nothing much can be achieved.”

Speaking on the PDP’s possible presidential candidate in 2027, Bafarawa said if Obi decides to return to the party, “The people, Nigerians, will decide who the flag bearer will be.”

A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Joe Korka-Waadah, has disclosed that the party is uniting behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the consensus candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election.

This development arises amidst concerns regarding former Governor Nyesom Wike’s recent stance towards Governor Fubara.

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, Korka-Waadah noted that the consensus is driven by a desire to ensure continuity and stability in the state’s leadership.

He mentioned that this decision reflects the collective will of a newly formed political movement within Rivers State, which aims to foster unity and progressive governance.

He said, “Due to the litany of political missteps of Nyesom Wike, a new political movement has emerged in Rivers state. His overbearing attitude has compelled a new wave of political force to emerge.

“Stakeholders of all political strides have come together. Reconciliation has taken place among former political enemies in the state. Even those who were lapsed politically are now at the forefront of this battle to save the state from the grip of a known and established hegemon.

“There is a strong likelihood that come 2027, Rivers State may have only one governorship candidate unopposed. Most, if not all other parties would collapse their structures into one.

“Looking at the horizon, in the search for that rallying figure, Governor Sim Fubara would likely be the candidate that would stand unopposed in 2027 from the way things are going.

“Through his sudden twist of fate, from emerging against the odds to reign at the helms, from being guided through soft landing into sudden thrust into adversity, Fubara has been handling it all with tact, humility, open mindedness and magnanimity.

“From his policies, prudent, selfless and transparent management of the commonwealth and respect for even development of Rivers state in the choice and spread of milestone projects, Fubara is proving to be that governor for all Rivers the state has never had in the past eight years.

“Amidst the ongoing consultations, deliberate and debates towards unification through harmonisation of interests, he is proving to be the dominant choice with the feelers from stakeholders.

“For too long, Rivers, our state has suffered as the common conduit powers brokers of national politics feast on to filter away our enviable resources while perpetually dividing us. The time to end that narrative is here. Enough is enough.”

South Africa head coach, Hugo Broos, has congratulated his players for being outstanding against the Super Eagles of Nigeria despite their ordeal before the match.
The Bafana Bafana of South Africa reportedly spent over 18 hours in transit before they finally arrived in Uyo on Thursday for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Super Eagles on Friday night.

They ought to have arrived in Uyo on Wednesday but they took off from South Africa later than scheduled, hence, before they were done with a routine Customs Service clearance in Port Harcourt, the airport in Uyo had closed. They slept in Port Harcourt and continued their journey to Uyo the following day.

Despite their dramatic journey which the Nigeria Football Federation had blamed South Africa for, the Bafana Bafana managed to put up a show against the Super Eagles.

Thembo Zwane gave South Africa the lead in the 29th minute and Nigeria’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the equaliser for Nigeria in the second half.

After the 1-1 draw at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Hugo Broos praised the mentality of his players to be able to withstand the star-studded Super Eagles despite their hectic journey to Nigeria.

“I have to congratulate my players. As you know or you don’t know, we had a terrible travel to Nigeria on Wednesday”, Broos told reporters in Uyo.

“We were only in bed at two o’clock on Thursday morning. So we were 20 hours on the way. And when you see the mentality in the team today, then I can only be proud of my players.”

South Africa who are now sitting 4th in Group C will face their neighbours, Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein on June 11.

A former National Vice Chairman North-West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has lamented that the ruling party has been leading the country from crisis to crisis since it came to power in 2015.

Lukman, in a statement issued Saturday, said the only slight difference between APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was that APC came with a vision which was well articulated in the manifesto of the party.

He, however, said that having won the 2015 elections, the first casualty was the APC manifesto. 

Lukman noted: “It was discarded and like the PDP, the APC continue to lead ‘Nigeria from one crisis to another, lurching deeper into political anarchy, economic decline and social disillusionment.’

“Nothing changed as the APC, despite all the plans it had ‘for security and advancement of Nigerians,’ lacked ‘the wherewithal to’ implement its vision. With that, sadly, the APC ‘thrived on the maxim; promise (everything), do nothing.’”

“It is quite painful to admit that the crisis of insecurity in the country today, is worse than it was in 2015. It has further deepened the economic crisis because many farmers have abandoned their farms.

“Some of the gains achieved in agricultural production because of some of the policies of the Buhari administration, such as Anchor Borrower and the ban on the importation of food items, which helped to incentivise agricultural production, were eroded by the crisis of insecurity.”

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has commented on the lingering political crisis in the state involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

Amaechi, who spoke during his recent visit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Hon. Okorinama, West, in Port Harcourt, expressed his decision not to endorse either Governor Fubara or the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wike, in the ongoing political scenario in Rivers.

Amaechi highlighted Governor Fubara’s popularity as a response to the negative sentiment towards Minister Wike.

According to him, the Rivers State people are tired of Wike, hence Fubara’s popularity.

He also touched upon the changing political landscape in the state, noting that some of his former supporters were now aligning with different factions based on personal motives.

Additionally, Amaechi urged young supporters to actively participate in shaping the state’s governance.

He said, “I can’t stand and join either Sim or Wike. I will not join Sim, I will not join Wike.

“But don’t forget, they are not big without you people, I hope you know that.

“What Sim thinks is popularity today is because he is anti-Wike. That’s his popularity, not that Sim is the best man on earth. It’s because he is anti-Wike and because the state is tired of Wike.”

Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has praised the recent South African election results as a prime example of a transparent and efficient democratic electoral process.

He contrasted this with Nigeria’s 2023 general election, which he referred to as a “show of shame.”

Recall that Obi was the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the last general election.

In a thread on his official X handle on Saturday, Peter Obi stressed that this stark difference is a painful reminder of Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with democratic governance.

He commended the robustness and transparency of the South African election, particularly highlighting their seamless online dissemination of results as a testament to their commitment to democratic principles and technological advancement.

However, Obi lamented the lack of transparency and controversy surrounding Nigeria’s electoral process.

Obi wrote: “The outcome of the recent South African election results remains a shining example of what a transparent and efficient democratic electoral process should look like.

“With about 60% voter turnout, over 90% of polling stations opening on time, and allowing diaspora voting, the results and updates were provided in real-time without any technical glitches during the election.

“This demonstrated the robustness and transparency of their system. The seamless online dissemination of results further highlights their commitment to democratic principles and technological advancement.

“This is in stark contrast to the ‘show of shame’ that the giant of Africa, Nigeria, presented to the world in 2023. Nigeria’s 2023 election, with less than 30% voter turnout and over 60% of polling stations starting late, no diaspora voting, and plagued by allegations of fraud and widespread irregularities, experienced all forms of glitches despite enormous expenditure to the tune of about a billion dollars (direct allocation of ₦313 billion and donor agencies’ support).

“The process has been widely discredited. The differences between the two countries’ electoral processes are both stark and lamentable. South Africa’s Election Results Center, with its state-of-the-art electronic board, showcased results with unparalleled precision and speed.

“Meanwhile, Nigeria’s electoral process is mired in controversy and lacks transparency. This glaring juxtaposition is a painful reminder of our country’s ongoing struggles with democratic governance.

“It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure that our elections are free, fair, and credible. We must learn from South Africa’s example and strive to build a system that restores the people’s faith in our democracy.

“The time for action is now, and we cannot afford to delay any longer in addressing these critical issues for a new Nigeria is POssible!”

Governor Siminalayi Fubara‘s government of Rivers State has authorized the allocation of ₦19.5 billion for the reconstruction of the State Assembly Chambers, which the government destroyed during the political turmoil in the state.

The approval was granted during the State Executive Council Meeting on Friday evening at the government house in Port Harcourt.

Following the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Special Projects, Dr Rowland Obed-Whyte, informed the press that Monier Construction Company Nigeria Limited (MCC) was granted the contract for ₦19,566,621,284.24.

The project is expected to be finished within 9 months and will consist of a new Assembly Complex with 34 en suite offices, a two-story building with an elevator, gallery, meeting rooms, and a conference hall.

Additionally, the renovation and refurbishment of other structures within the House of Assembly Complex that were not demolished are included in the project’s specifications.

Obed-Whyte said that upon completion, the Rivers State House of Assembly building will be one of the finest Assembly complexes in the country. This approval is part of the comprehensive deliberations of the State Executive Council on Friday.

The government has also approved renovating and upgrading four zonal hospitals and other healthcare infrastructure projects in the state.

The construction of the Kalaibiama/Epellema road and bridge in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area has also been approved.

The four Zonal Hospitals are situated in Ahoada Town in the Ahead East Local Government Area, Degema Town in the Degema Local Government, Omoku Town in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government, and Bori Town in the Khana Local Government Area.

Other healthcare infrastructure initiatives include renovating Bonny General Hospital, renovating and upgrading the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Rumuigbo, and building a new General Hospital in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

The hospital projects have been allocated a budget of ₦26,350,310,714.88, while the Kalaibiama-Epellema road and bridge in the Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area will require ₦29,035,907,233.76.

Following the meeting, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, informed the press that the ministry had requested approval to cancel and terminate all existing contracts for the Zonal Hospitals in the State.

According to Oreh, new contracts will be awarded to ensure the completion of the projects, including the renovation of Bonny General Hospital.

She said, “We are thankful to the Rivers State Executive Council that the various decisions sought and prayers that were made by the Rivers State Ministry of Health for the approval of the termination of the contracts for the completion of the Zonal Hospitals at Ahoada, Bori, Degema and Omoku, and the re-award of fresh contracts for their completion were approved.

“That the request to the State Executive Council for the approval of the award of these contracts in total summed up to N26, 350, 310, 714. 88k that was approved for the completion of those Zonal Hospitals, the renovation of Bonny General Hospital and the upgrade of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital.

“This also included the construction of a new General Hospital at Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, which were not among those initially awarded for renovation.”

She mentioned that the new contractors will be deployed to the site to begin construction work on various projects within the health sector, aiming to enhance healthcare services in the State.

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma on Friday expressed optimism that the minimum wage offer of N62,000 jointly proposed by the federal government and Organised Private Sector (OPS) will become law.

Organised Labour on Tuesday (June 4, 2024) called off their industrial action in what they described as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to a higher national minimum wage above the N60,000 earlier proposed.

However, THE WHISTLER reported that although OPS and the federal government proposed the sum of N62,000 a 3.33 per cent increase from the earlier N60,000 rejected.

The Organised labour again rejected the amount, insisting on N250,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerians.

But Uzodinma while answering questions shortly after the tripartite committee meeting for minimum wage in Abuja said, “We expect what happened in 2018, to repeat itself”. 

Recall in 2018, the OPS and Organised Labour proposed N30,000 while the federal government under the administration of Former President Muhammadu Buhari proposed N24,000.

The two figures went to the president as a recommendation for his consideration for onward transmission to the National Assembly for it to become a law and the majority proposal of N30,000 was enacted.

In the same vein, Uzodinma said, “We were able to engage the critical stakeholders at the committee by the end of the day.

“Out of the three parties involved, the OPS, government and organised labour we met and two parties have agreed to go with N62,000, as of yesterday (Thursday) Labour insisted on N494,000 today they came down to N250,000.

“Among the three parties, two have come to be the majority. So, the majority will always have their way and the minority can have their say.

“Arising from what happened in 2018, when the government lost after offering N24,000 and OPS and Labour offered N30,000. When the recommendation got to the then-president, he approved and took the opposition party.

“In the same margin, we expect when this gets to the president he will also take the majority position”.

Weighing in on the minimum wage disparity, the Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on National New minimum wage, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji said the two recommendations would be sent to the president to act on.

He said, “In the last four months, the issue of the new national minimum wage has been the topic discussed everywhere A lot of work has gone into it, the plenary meeting today is our 12th meeting”.

“And the recommendation today came as a deeper understanding and studies of all the economic indices. Caution has been displayed so that a figure that will further throw the country into confusion is not allowed.

“This is because the very moment a party goes into an agreement that it knows it cannot afford, then it is going to create another problem and the federal government and OPS have agreed to the figure of what they term what they can afford”.

The chairman noted that the committee was to recommend a minimum wage but was not bestowed the power to implement or approve a minimum wage.

Nigeria’s inflation rate is predicted to stabilize at 14 per cent in 2029, indicating a potential end to the current upward trend according to the latest data from the International Monetary Fund.

This projection comes as a relief amidst concerns over the increasing inflation rate, which currently stands at 33.69 per cent as of April 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics a variation from the IMF’s prediction of 24.6 per cent in the year.

The IMF data suggests that the inflation rate will gradually decline from 23 per cent in 2025 to 16 per cent in 2026, 15.4 per cent in 2027, and 14 per cent in both 2028 and 2029.

This predicted stabilisation is believed to be a welcome development for the Nigerian economy, which has been grappling with rising inflation and interest rates.

Nigeria’s economy has been facing challenges in recent times, with rising inflation and interest rates posing significant threats to economic growth and stability.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has implemented various measures to address these challenges, including the increase in interest rates at the 295th MPC meeting in May 2024.

However, economists have raised concerns over the continued increase in inflation and interest rates, urging the government to address the underlying drivers of inflation, which are primarily food and transportation costs.

The Chief Economist, SPM Professionals, Paul Alaje, who spoke exclusively to PUNCH online via phone decried the increase in the Monetary Policy Rate.

He said, “I do not encourage any increase in MPR because the increase would have implications.

“Already within 4 weeks, we have seen the Monetary Policy Committee increase on 600 basis points, the MPR.

Alaje asserted that Nigeria is getting poorer and the economy is growing at a slow pace.

“We need to look at other tools rather than monetary tools in providing solutions to our economy. Monetary authorities have tried their best and we have seen so many things they have brought, however, despite all of the efforts, the exchange rate is back at 1,500 heading towards 1,600.

“Our solution would go beyond forcing and using monetary tools when we know that it is not just money supply influencing what we have,” he said.

However, another economist Jonathan Thomas said he believed  “the IMF prediction of a stabilised inflation rate in 2029 is a positive indicator for the Nigerian economy. However, the government and monetary authorities must remain vigilant and implement policies that address the root causes of inflation.”

The current increase in inflation and interest rates has significant implications for businesses, households, and the overall economy.

By addressing the drivers of inflation and maintaining a stable economic environment, Nigeria can promote sustainable economic growth and development and possibly meet up with the IMF’s prediction.

Nigeria’s head coach, Finidi George, has shed light on his decision not to field Victor Boniface in Friday night’s encounter against South Africa.

Despite the promising striker’s potential inclusion from the bench, Finidi explained that the circumstances on the field of play prompted a change in plans.

“We thought about bringing him in, he was supposed to come in, but when we had Ajayi complain that he couldn’t continue, we had to reverse that,” Finidi acknowledged in a post-match interview on Friday.

The coach noted a tactical shift, ultimately leading to Boniface’s exclusion from the match.

However, Finidi was quick to reassure fans that the talented forward’s opportunity may still come. “We have another game definitely if he’s up and doing he’s going to play,” he stated.

Addressing the criticism and demands from some quarters regarding player selections, Finidi emphasised the importance of on-field performance over external pressures.

“For me, it’s what you can give to me on the field of play. Everybody wants this player or that player to play, but at the end of the day, if the player is not performing, you guys will still be shouting take him off, so let us do our job. We know who is good to go,” Finidi declared. 

On Friday, the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Themba Zwane of South Africa opened the scoresheet in the 29th minute of the match played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Equalising after a superb turn, Nigeria’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru slotted in a low shot to the edge of the post in the 46th minute.

The match ended at a stalemate, however.

The results mean that Nigeria is placed fifth in a table of six teams after three matches in the 10-match competition.

Nigeria, in three matches, has drawn all three.

The group winners will qualify for 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and United States; four best-ranked runners-up go into play-offs and winners enter an inter-continental tournament where six nations will compete for two places.

Meanwhile, the game marked Finidi’s first game as Super Eagles coach.

Super Eagles will travel to Abidjan to face third-placed Benin on June 10.