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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently reflected on his time in prison, recounting the pivotal role his late wife, Stella, played in securing his release.
Obasanjo shared these memories during the inauguration of the 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin, Edo State’s capital.
Obasanjo was detained under General Sani Abacha’s regime for alleged coup involvement and was freed by AbdulSalam Abubakar’s administration after Abacha’s death, leading to his presidency.
His late wife, Stella Obasanjo from Edo State, championed his release and later became the first lady before passing away during his second term.
Reflecting on her dedication, the 87-year-old praised Stella’s commitment, saying, “My late wife went everywhere to ensure that I came out of prison alive. She was in Vatican City, France and other parts of the world. I had it all coming out of prison.” He added, “No amount of honour would be too much for the role she played.”
Obasanjo expressed deep gratitude for the honour given to Stella through the hospital, noting, “I had a woman who made tremendous contributions to my achievements in public life.”
Obasanjo also acknowledged Governor Godwin Obaseki’s role in the hospital project, lauding him for “starting and finishing well” in office. He further reminisced about his past work with former Governor John Odigie Oyegun, whom he described as an exceptional permanent secretary.
“With this hospital, you’re assured of first-class treatment for any ailment,” he said. “More grace to the elbows of the governor. With this kind of edifice, I can say that the governor started well and is finishing well.”
[Vanguard]
The 33-year-old woman, Comfort Olajumoke Olalere Tinubu, who was accused of stabbing her husband, Oluwasegun Tinubu,39, to death, was on Thursday, remanded at Agodi Correctional facility, Ibadan, by an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The police charged Olalere with a count of murder.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye, told the court that the defendant stabbed Oluwasegun with a knife during a disagreement at their house, at Zone 5, Gbelu, Iyana – Agbala, Ibadan at 9.00 p.m. on October 30, 2024.
He said the offence contravened Section 316 and is punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, who did not take the defendant’s plea for lack of jurisdiction, ordered her remand pending the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
She, thereafter, adjourned the case until March 5, 2025 for mention.
As part of the commitment of the Federal government to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates, the minister of health, Ali Pate has announced a major healthcare policy to provide caesarean sections (C-sections) free of charge to women across the country.
Pate made the announcement in Abuja during the launch of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) at the Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) for health. The initiative, focusing on improving maternal and newborn health, will prioritize access to essential healthcare, especially in underserved communities.
“This is in further effort to reduce maternal mortality in the country,” Pate said. “No woman should lose her life simply because she can’t afford a C-section.”
The policy aims to remove financial barriers for women in need of C-sections, whether due to emergency complications or planned deliveries. It is designed to strengthen primary healthcare and increase community engagement in maternal health.
The initiative has received support from the World Health Organization (WHO), with WHO’s Nigeria Country Representative, Walter Mulombo, emphasizing the importance of effective implementation. “If implemented right, this initiative will deliver. We’re here to support every step of the way,” Mulombo stated.
During the event, Pate also called for Nigerians to hold government accountable for ensuring accessible and quality healthcare in line with President Tinubu’s focus on healthcare reform.
The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo has unveiled a statue of himself at the Western Region of Ghana.
The golden statue was unveiled on Wednesday, November 6, at the entrance of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi during his tour of the Western Region
It was gathered that the Chief, Elders, and people of the Western Region pulled a surprise on President Akufo-Addo when they ushered him to unveil a statue of himself at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi.
The statue was said to recognise his administration’s contributions to the region’s development.
The Regional Minister, Kwabena Darko-Mensah, who led the unveiling ceremony, praised the president for several major projects initiated under his administration, including the start of a petroleum hub project in Western Nzema.
The unveiling of the statue comes just a few months before Akufo-Addo will step down from office after two terms as president.
A Harare woman, Shamiso Zuze, has filed a suit, demanding US$100 per month from her former partner, Givemore Gonye, whom she accused of causing her significant emotional and physical pain during their two-year relationship.
Zuze brought the case to the Harare Civil Court, arguing that Gonye’s actions, including alleged infidelity and disrespect, warrant financial compensation.
In her court statement, Zuze claimed that Gonye frequently disrespected her by bringing other women to her home, which led to confrontations. She recounted one instance where she reportedly caught him with another woman, sparking a physical altercation. “He was in the habit of bringing different women to my house... he disrespected me, and I deserve compensation for the pain,” Zuze stated.
Gonye countered her claims, alleging that Zuze had been financially dependent on him and often made unreasonable demands. He further accused Zuze of blocking his attempts to end the relationship and making false claims about his alleged infidelity. “She told me I am her only source of income,” he stated, adding that she refused to end the relationship due to the financial support he provided.
After hearing both sides, Magistrate Judith Taruvinga issued a reciprocal peace order, instructing both Zuze and Gonye to avoid further confrontations and maintain peace.
The Federal Government has expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their resilience amid the challenging effects of recent economic reforms, assuring that these changes are now yielding positive results.
Speaking at an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Finance, led by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun acknowledged the sacrifices made by Nigerians. He noted that the “teething problems” from reforms are easing as indicators of economic improvement begin to emerge.
Edun stated, “The two critical reforms—market-based pricing for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and foreign exchange adjustments—are now at the stage of delivering results. These pillars of reform strengthen our economy by enhancing fiscal viability and laying a solid foundation for growth.”
“These reforms,” he continued, “will generate additional government revenue, support the recovery of NNPCL’s finances, and foster economic growth through increased investment and job creation. We commend Nigerians for enduring to this point where benefits are beginning to materialize.”
In his opening remarks, Senator Musa described the session as a fact-finding discussion on the impact of various reforms, saying, “Today, we gather to examine the implications of selling crude oil to domestic refineries in Naira and its effect on the medium-term expenditure framework for 2024-2026, as well as projections for 2025-2027.”
He added, “We will also address revenue shortfalls, focusing on foreign and domestic excess crude accounts, signature bonus accounts, and the NNPCL cash call account. This meeting reaffirms our commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible resource management.”
Musa expressed confidence in the collaboration of the Finance Ministry, Office of the Accountant General, Central Bank of Nigeria, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, and other key stakeholders to find solutions and uphold due process for the benefit of the economy and the Nigerian people.
The session was attended by Finance Minister Wale Edun, NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari, NUPRC Director General Gbenga Komolafe, and representatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Later, Senate President Godswill Akpabio joined the meeting behind closed doors.
A 40-year-old Nigerian national, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, was arrested on arrival at an airport in Texas on charges linked to a multi-million-dollar romance fraud scheme.
Nwadialo, indicted in December 2023 by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington, faces 14 counts of wire fraud.
The defendant allegedly scammed victims out of up to $2 million by posing as a romantic partner deployed in the U.S. military.
Nwadialo was traveling from Nigeria when he was taken into custody. He is now set to be transported to the Western District of Washington for arraignment.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman disclosed the challenges of prosecuting defendants involved in overseas romance scams, stating, “All too often, the defendants in these romance scams are overseas and unreachable by U.S. law enforcement.”
She commended the investigators for their persistence in bringing the defendant to justice.
According to the indictment and criminal complaint filed in the case, Nwadialo allegedly defrauded victims of more than $3.3 million.
Nwadialo used various versions of the name ‘Giovanni” when he met his victims online on websites such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. Nwadialo used false images for his profile and typically told the victims that he was in the military and deployed overseas so he could not meet the victims in person.
Gorman said, "Using these personas, Nwadialo invented many reasons he needed the victims to send him money. In one such case in 2020, he indicated he had been fined by the military for revealing his location to the victim.
"He asked the victim to help him pay the $150,000 fine. In all, that victim was defrauded of at least $2.4 million.”
Meanwhile, a second victim was contacted in 2019 to help move funds from U.S. accounts to accounts controlled by the defendant and his co-schemers.
"In this instance Nwadialo represented that he needed the help moving money in connection with his father’s death. The victim transferred at least $330,000 to the accounts controlled by the defendant,” Gorman said.
Gorman explained that a third victim was defrauded by Nwadialo when he told her that he was investing money for her.
"He claimed that a check she received from another victim was proceeds from her investments and he had her “reinvest” the money in a specific cryptocurrency account that he controlled. The victim transferred at least $270,000 at Nwadialo’s direction,” Gorman said.
According to the statement, in August 2020, Nwadialo defrauded another victim who he met on an online dating site and caused this victim to transfer at least $310,000 by claiming he needed financial assistance, including help paying for his father’s funeral or his son’s school tuition.
"The fourteen counts of wire fraud relate to the communications with Nwadialo and the wiring of funds from victims to the defendant and his co-schemers.
Gorman noted that wire fraud is punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
"The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the statement said.
Gorman further stated that the FBI is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sok Jiang.
The Federal Government has revealed plans to provide Nigerians with at least 20 hours of daily electricity by 2027.
However, it has conditioned this target on sufficient investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which it has said is currently far below expectations.
The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, made this statement at the Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa, in a release by the State House Director of Information and Publicity, Abiodun Oladunjoye, on Thursday.
“By 2027, Nigeria aims to ensure 20 hours of electricity daily for consumers in urban areas and industrial hubs,” Verheijen said.
The statement is titled, ‘At African Energy Week in Cape Town, Olu Verheijen Invites Global Players to Invest in Nigeria’s Energy Sector.’
Verheijen’s comments come amid the frequent collapse of Nigeria’s national power grid, which has led to widespread blackouts across the country.
The grid collapsed on Tuesday, marking the 10th such incident since January 2024. The Federal Government has attributed these recurring collapses to ageing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient investment in the power sector.
Despite having an installed capacity of approximately 12,500 megawatts, Nigeria often generates only a fraction of this, leaving many areas without reliable electricity.
At the Energy Week, Verheijen told participants about efforts by the Tinubu administration to revitalise the nation’s power sector, with plans to provide more reliable electricity access for the 86 million Nigerians currently underserved.
She said the scheme aims to improve revenue assurance and collection.
Other key measures include tackling legacy debt, deploying seven million smart meters to reduce losses, and expanding off-grid solutions for remote communities.
Highlighting recent macroeconomic reforms, such as the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange liberalisation, she expressed confidence that Nigeria is poised for unprecedented growth.
“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is championing reforms to unlock its vast economic potential and create jobs,” she said, inviting foreign partners to participate in Nigeria’s next chapter of growth.
While discussing the recent reforms implemented by President Bola
Tinubu’s administration to attract investment, Verheijen noted that the country has historically underperformed in oil and gas production despite its wealth in the sector.
She referenced how countries like Brazil, which have only 30 per cent of Nigeria’s oil reserves, have outperformed Nigeria by producing 131 per cent more than the country’s current output.
“Despite our abundant resources, we have underperformed against our potential. For example, Brazil holds only 30 per cent of Nigeria’s oil reserves but produces 131 per cent more. This is largely due to under-investment,” she said.
She lamented that since 2016, Nigeria has attracted only 4 per cent of African oil and gas investments, while investment has surged in other, less resource-rich nations.
“Since 2016, Nigeria has managed to attract only 4 per cent of total investments in oil and gas, while less-resourced countries in Africa have enjoyed a larger share.
“When we analysed investment data, we also found that, between 2013, when Nigeria’s last deepwater project reached FID, and now, International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria have committed more than $82bn in deepwater investments in other countries they deemed to be more attractive destinations for their capital,” she told the audience.
Recognising this trend, the presidential aide highlighted efforts by President Tinubu’s administration to enact reforms aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s investment landscape.
She cited the government’s introduction of fiscal incentives targeting deep offshore and non-associated gas projects, marking the first time Nigeria has outlined a fiscal framework specifically for deepwater gas.
In efforts to enhance the upstream oil and gas sector, she said her office has collaborated closely with the office of the National Security Adviser to create and distribute focused Security Directives, leveraging insights gathered from on-the-ground operators.
Furthermore, Verheijen revealed steps to streamline approval processes by clearly defining the regulatory scopes involved.
This initiative, she said, aims to significantly reduce the extended project timelines that have historically plagued the industry, as well as the high-cost premiums associated with operating in Nigeria.
“Our target is to shorten the contracting timelines from an extensive 38 months to just 135 days, while also working to eliminate the 40 per cent cost premium that currently exists within the Nigerian petroleum industry,” she added.
The presidential aide also revealed efforts by the current President Tinubu administration to further open up the oil and gas sector for larger investments with a set of clear fiscal incentives for non-associated gas and deep offshore oil and gas exploration and production.
“This is the first time that Nigeria is outlining a fiscal framework for deepwater gas since exploration in the basin commenced in 1991,” she said.
According to her, amongst other initiatives, there has been a focus on midstream and downstream investments in compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and electric vehicles as part of the Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative.
She added that the administration has also worked to streamline regulatory processes, shorten project timelines, and reduce the high-cost premium of operating in Nigeria.
“We have also introduced fiscal incentives to catalyse investments in the midstream and downstream sectors, including compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and mini-liquefied natural gas.
“These align with the broader Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative, which seeks to enable the displacement of PMS and diesel in three key sectors: heavy transport, decentralised power generation, and cooking. These incentives are also stimulating demand for electric vehicles.
“Our goal is to eliminate the 40 per cent cost premium within the Nigerian petroleum industry and cut down contracting timelines from 38 months to 135 days,” Verheijen stated.
She said the government has unlocked over $1bn across the energy value chain, with two more major investment projects expected by mid-2025.
“We are also facilitating the transfer of onshore and shallow water assets to local companies with the capacity to grow production while supporting the transition of International Oil Companies with resilient capital into deep offshore and integrated gas.
“We have unlocked over $1 billion in investments across the value chain and by the middle of 2025, we expect to see FID on two more projects, including a multibillion-dollar deepwater exploration project, which will be the first of its kind in Nigeria in over a decade – one of many to come,” Verheijen explained.
Oludayo Adeagbo, a British-Nigerian, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar business email compromise (BEC) scheme.
According to the US department of justice, Adeagbo, who also goes by John Edwards and John Dayo, conspired with others to steal over $3 million from different entities in Texas, including local government entities, construction companies, and a Houston-area college.
Adeagbo and conspirators also defrauded a North Carolina university of more than $1.9 million.
The case began in August 2022 when Adeagbo and two other Nigerian citizens, Donald Echeazu, 42, and Olabanji Egbinola, 44, were extradited from the United Kingdom (UK), where they resided, to face charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.
The US department of justice said offences were committed in North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
On April 8, Adeagbo pleaded guilty in two cases against him in North Carolina and Texas for participating in a business email compromise scheme, which is also called a “cyber-enabled financial fraud” scheme.
A business email compromise scheme can be initiated by scammers creating fake accounts pretending to be companies that a business regularly does business with.
Court records showed that Adeagbo and his co-conspirators obtained information about significant construction projects throughout the United States, including an ongoing multi-million-dollar project at a university in North Carolina.
“To execute the scheme, Adeagbo, Echeazu, and others registered a domain name similar to that of the legitimate construction company in charge of the university’s project and created an email address that closely resembled that of an employee of the construction company,” the department of justice said.
“Using the fake email address, the fraudsters deceived and directed the university to wire a payment of more than $1.9 million to a bank account controlled by an individual working under the direction of Adeagbo and his co-conspirators.”
Adeagbo and his co-conspirators pulled the same tricks in Texas, targeting local government entities and universities pretending to be construction companies. They received over $3 million from the scheme and $5 million overall.
Adeagbo has been ordered to pay $942,655.03 in restitution and will serve seven years in prison.
Media
Chad’s military recently killed and injured many Boko Haram terrorists through air strikes, as confirmed by President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno on Thursday.
In an interview conducted while dressed in full military attire, Deby revealed that he had ‘personally’ initiated the counter-offensive against Boko Haram terrorists, which had previously attacked the Chadian army in the western region near the Nigerian border last month.
Naija News understands that the Chadian government had pledged to “eradicate” Boko Haram when it commenced its operations in late October, following a raid by the jihadists that resulted in approximately 40 deaths and many more injuries at a military garrison.
“We carried out several air strikes on enemy positions that resulted in many dead and wounded,” Deby told reporters in the Lake Chad region without giving specific numbers of terrorists killed.
The operation is designed not only to ensure the safety of our civilian population but also to actively pursue, eliminate, and dismantle the capabilities of Boko Haram and its affiliates to inflict harm, stated interim Prime Minister Abderahim Bireme Hamid during a press conference last week.
It is worth noting that the Lake Chad region, characterized by its extensive waters and swamps, contains numerous islets that serve as sanctuaries for jihadist factions, including Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), which frequently launch assaults against both military forces and civilians.
In response to this threat, Chad, along with its neighbouring countries Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon, established a multinational force comprising approximately 8,500 troops in 2015 to combat the jihadist insurgency.
Boko Haram initiated its insurgency in Nigeria in 2009, resulting in over 40,000 fatalities, and the group has since expanded its activities into adjacent nations.
In March 2020, the Chadian military experienced its most significant single-day casualties in the region, with around 100 soldiers killed during an attack on the Bohoma peninsula of the lake.
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President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, as the White House chief of staff as he prepares to take office.
Donald Trump made this known in a statement on Thursday.
“Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns,” Trump said.
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”
According to CNN, Wiles brings a wealth of experience to the position. The daughter of the late NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall, she is a seasoned political operative with deep roots in Florida.
Wiles has been one of Trump’s most trusted and long-serving advisers. Following her role in securing Florida for Trump in the 2020 election, she acted as his de facto chief of staff during his post-presidency and led his 2024 campaign from start to finish—a notable achievement within Trump’s circle.
Her leadership was widely praised for delivering a highly sophisticated and disciplined campaign, which included effectively managing and minimizing the influence of fringe figures in Trump’s orbit.
On election night, Trump publicly acknowledged Wiles’ contributions during his victory speech, although she opted not to address the audience at the Palm Beach Convention Center. Her preference for maintaining a low profile has strengthened her rapport with Trump and his key supporters.
Earlier today, CNN reported that Wiles had set specific conditions before agreeing to take on the chief of staff role, chief among them being greater control over who has access to the president in the Oval Office.
The Cadre Harmonisé report on food and nutrition insecurity analysis said no fewer than 133.1 Nigerians would face a global hunger crisis in 2025.
The Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, disclosed this in a statement yesterday. It said the report was prepared by the federal government and supported by partners, such as the World Food Programme, WFP, and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, among others.
The statement read: “The food and nutrition insecurity analysis, Cadre Harmonisé, led by the government of Nigeria and supported by partners, alerts on the deterioration of food security in Nigeria, with 133.1 million people expected to face high levels of food insecurity in the next lean season (June-August).
“It is an alarming seven million people increase from the same period last year, driven by economic hardship, coupled with record high inflation, impacts of climate change and persistent violence in the northeastern states.
“Nationally, the number of people experiencing emergency levels (Phase 4) of food insecurity is projected to increase. While no populations have been classified as catastrophe (Phase 5), populations experiencing emergency (Phase 4) are anticipated to increase from 1 million people in the peak of the 2024 lean season to 1.8 million people at the same period in 2025, representing an 80 per cent increase.
“Approximately 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition or wasting from six of the most affected states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe in the northeast, as well as Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara in the northwest.
”Of these, an alarming 1.8 million children could face severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and require critical nutrition treatment.
“Drivers of food security in Nigeria grapple with several factors that continue to exacerbate
the food insecurity situation, namely economic hardship, coupled with record high inflation (which reached 40.9 per cent for food, and 34.2 per cent for all items in June 2024).”
Speaking at the presentation of the report, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Temitope Fashedemi, who was represented by the Director of Nutrition and Food Security, Dr Nuhu Kilishi Mohammed, underscored the significance of the Cadre Harmonisé during the presentation, which recommended that the results be adopted for planning and implementation of food and nutrition security interventions across federal ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, 26 Cadre Harmonise States, the humanitarian community and other partners in Nigeria.
On his part, FAO Representative ad interim in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, expressed FAO’s continued commitment to supporting Nigeria.
“Working closely with our partners, FAO is dedicated to implementing durable solutions that tackle the underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition.
”By enhancing agri-food systems, we strive to meet urgent needs, while promoting long-term, sustainable progress for communities”, Kouacou said.
Highlighting the longstanding issue, the Country Director, World Food Programme, WFP, David Stevenson, said: “The hunger crisis in Nigeria, fuelled by the ongoing conflict in the northeast, needs urgent addressing.
”Restoring peace in the northeast is critical for us to build pathways to production and achieve the northeast’s potential as the food basket of the country.”
UNICEF’s Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, emphasized the urgent need for action.
Munduate said: “Children are at the center of the food insecurity crisis and face irreversible consequences, both physical and cognitive, and potentially even death.
”It is our moral imperative to ensure that the right of every child to adequate food and nutrition is upheld.”
Consequently, the United Nations urged the federal government, donors and stakeholders to commit resources and implement measures to avert a potential food and nutrition disaster, emphasizing the need for immediate multi-sectoral support across the nation.
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has vowed not to pollute the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
He urged stakeholders of the PDP to unite and rebuild the party to better serve Nigeria.
Makinde made the plea during the inauguration of the Board of Governors of the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) in Abuja on Thursday.
He insisted that the country needs direction and Nigerians are looking to the party to provide an ideological base.
Reflecting on his own political journey, Makinde thanked the PDP for giving him the platform to serve Oyo State. “Since 2019, I have benefited from this party. I promise not to pollute the well from which I have drawn,” he said,
The governor emphasized that Nigerians now recognize the difference between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in national governance.
“As we approach 2027, it is clear that the PDP must offer real hope for Nigeria. By revitalizing the PDI, we are laying that foundation.”
“Our country needs direction, and Nigerians are looking to the PDP to provide an ideological base,” he said.
Makinde urged every politician to consider their legacy, noting, “Players will come and go, but you must be remembered for something.”
With the inauguration of the PDI Board of Governors and the unveiling of the PDI roadmap by Director-General Dr. Edward, Makinde expressed optimism that the PDP is taking a significant step toward defining its ideology and cementing its place in history.
Makinde praised those who have worked toward the revitalization of the PDI, recognizing the institute’s role under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar in providing insights for national development. “During those years, the PDI contributed positively to governance,” he noted.
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has expressed his readiness to submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if there is a need to account for his eight-year tenure in office.
Obaseki made this known in Abuja during the EdoBEST National Results-Sharing Session, an event highlighting his administration’s achievements, particularly in the education sector.
The outgoing governor said he ignored all noise during his administration and focused on education.
Obaseki emphasized that he has nothing to fear regarding any allegations.
Obaseki, who acknowledged the hardships Nigerians are facing, called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, to shift its focus from vendetta to addressing the suffering of the people.
According to him, his political opponents in Edo State are full of vendetta and are jealous of his administration’s achievement.
He also expressed his belief that the bitterness and vindictiveness in the political landscape are secondary to addressing the real challenges faced by the country.
He said, “I’m not afraid of the EFCC. Why should I be? What is important is focus. I came into office and ignored the noise, concentrating on what I felt was important, and today you can see the results.
“If the EFCC calls on me, I will hand myself over; I have nothing to hide.
“What matters is focusing on our people and making Nigeria better. The suffering is too much. We, who are privileged, should focus on making a positive impact not on side issues like vendetta.”
Reflecting on his legacy, Obaseki said he is leaving office with his head held high, stressing that his administration’s educational reforms, including the enrollment of over 400,000 children and the establishment of a technical college, would leave a lasting impact on the state.
Obaseki pointed out that, unlike previous attempts at educational reform, his administration had implemented tangible solutions.
He added, “We are not just talking about teacher training or increasing enrollments. You can come to Edo and see the data. We have enrolled over 400,000 children, and you can identify them because the data on every child is there.”