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In an official announcement on Monday, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, noted that the sale of application forms will commence on January 31, 2025, and will conclude on March 5, 2025.
For candidates seeking direct entry, the sale of application documents and e-PIN vending will start on March 10, 2025, and will end on April 7, 2025.
The Mock-UTME is set to take place on April 5, 2025, while the main UTME will occur from April 25, 2025, to May 5, 2025.
Candidates who choose to register for the UTME with a mock exam will be required to pay ₦8,200, whereas those opting for the UTME only will pay ₦7,200.
A detailed breakdown of the UTME/DE JAMB application fees includes ₦3,500 for the application fee, ₦1,000 for the reading text, ₦700 for the CBT Centre registration service charge, ₦1,500 for the CBT Centre UTME service charge, ₦1,500 for the CBT mock service charge, ₦500 for bank charges, and ₦1,500 for the CBT mock-UTME centre charge.
Additionally, the JAMB Registrar announced the introduction of a mock UTME specifically tailored for candidates under the age of 16. This initiative is not intended for admission purposes but aims to provide younger candidates with an opportunity to assess their capabilities prior to the examination.
To be eligible for admission into any tertiary institution in the country, candidates must be at least 16 years old on or before September 30, 2025.
However, Oloyede noted that exceptional candidates under the age of 15 may be considered for admission if they achieve a minimum score of 280 in the UTME and demonstrate outstanding performance in their Senior Secondary Certificate and post-UTME examinations.
[NaijaNews]
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared that he will not be drunk with power or allow the associated advantages and benefits that come with holding a lofty position in government to change him.
Rather, Fubara assured that he will remain committed to his vows made to the Rivers people when he got their mandate, to completely put things in place that will transform the state into becoming what they dreamt it to become.
Fubara stated this on Tuesday when some leaders, elders and critical stakeholders of the state visited him to celebrate his 50th birthday at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The governor who explained that he had never subscribed to celebrating birthdays said seeing leaders of the state gathering to celebrate him pulled out tears of joy from his eyes.
“I want to say that I will still be the Fubara that you know; power will not change me. I will still make sure that what I hold dear in life remains, which is God and my respect for people. I will continue to maintain it.
“Power will come, power will go, but I will still remain the Fubara that you know. With your support, that Rivers State that we all yearn for, we will definitely, even if we don’t get it completely, we will put those things in place that will channel and drive us to that Rivers State, with your support,” Fubara said.
He added, “That is the only thing that I know I can assure you. I will not do anything, act in any manner that will bring disgrace to myself or to everyone of you that have decided and ready to sacrifice everything for us.
“This morning is a birthday morning. It is not a morning to discuss politics. It is a morning to say I am happy, I am 50 years, according to you. But the most important thing is, I am celebrating my Golden Jubilee. It means that I have joined the league of the old men from today.”
Fubara, on behalf of his wife, Lady Valerie and family, expressed gratitude to God for divine grace, and thanked all the leaders who made sacrifices to be in attendance so early to wish him well.
In his remark, a former Governor of the state, Sir Celestine Omehia thanked God for installing Governor Fubara who he noted to have become a deliverer of the State and its people from the hands of those he said were bent on destroying Rivers State.
Omehua said it is worthwhile to celebrate such a patient and meticulous leader, loved by all Nigerians on his 50th birthday because he has continued to prioritise the interest of the State and protect it.
The former governor recounted the strength of faith in God that Fubara has demonstrated as well as how he has enjoyed divine direction in governance.
He pledged the continued support of Rivers people to Governor Fubara towards ensuring the success of his administration.
In his speech, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, said regardless of who a kingmaker is, as soon as the king is crowned, such person must give way to the king to perform his duties.
Secondus noted that the people of Rivers and indeed, Nigerians have come to admire and love the character of steel, fear and total trust in God that Governor Fubara has demonstrated by forging unity, and inclusivity which he said testified that his mandate is divine.
[Leadership]
Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has said the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) deviated from its founding mission.
Naija News reports that El-Rufai said he no longer recognizes his party. He stated that APC was created to solve a problem but that would not be possible again.
Speaking at a national conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, on Monday, he said, “I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
The former Minister of the Federal Captial Territory (FCT) urged Nigerians to resist incapable leaders and illiterates ascending to leadership positions.
“You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” he stated.
While not proclaiming his departure from the ruling party, El-Rufai said the distance between him and APC was widening.
“The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening,” he clarified.
Speaking on the challenges of the opposition parties, the former Kaduna State governor said the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) was engineered by outsiders.
According to him, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, told him he was worried by the crisis in LP.
“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with’,” he added.
The APC chieftain said there “seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition parties“.
He further warned against undermining democracy, stating that the nation would not want to experience military rule.
The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has blasted the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, accusing the party of straying from its founding ideals and fostering poor leadership.
The ex-governor, while addressing a national conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, labelled the state of governance and opposition in the country as a national emergency.
El-Rufai, who shared the report on his X handle on Tuesday, expressed concern over the absence of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC.
“I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show,” he said.
He condemned the quality of leadership emerging from political parties, blaming the situation on unqualified delegates.
“You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” he added.
The former governor charged political parties to raise standards for candidates and delegates, stressing that the constitution’s minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate should not be enough for nominations.
He lamented that the APC’s founding goals of combating corruption, rebuilding the economy, and enhancing security have been abandoned.
Citing a poll that showed 75 percent of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections, El-Rufai warned of a potential crisis.
Reacting to El-Rufai’s post, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communications and Media, Daniel Bwala, queried the former governor’s stance, asking if he would have held the same position had he remained in the government or cabinet.
“My Senior brother, if you were to be in the government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position? History is replete with examples. It is a government you participated in its formation, that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam,” Bwala wrote.
[DailyPost]
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara said on Tuesday that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike funded the 2019 election of Bauchi state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed.
Reacting to Bala Mohammed’s comments accusing Wike as a transactional politicians and serial betrayal, Dogara detailed how Wike, the hen Rivers State governor mandated Chief Dan Orbih to deliver the PDP governorship ticket to Bala Mohammed and helped raised the fund used for his elections.
In a statement he personally signed, Dogara who was speaker of the 8th House of Representatives alleged that the Bauchi state governor practically knelt down before Wike in Port Harcourt to collect money for his election from Wike.
He said: “Governor Bala Mohammed’s recent outbursts against His Excellency Nyeson Wike, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory though not entirely surprising have only served to expand the vistas of ingratitude and treachery based on what I know.
“As I witness this gross injustice, the questions I ask myself, are: is my comfort more important than saying the truth and is my fear of conflict worth allowing harm to go unchallenged?
“I have learned enough over the years to know beyond reasonable doubt that in the face of situations like this, if I choose to prioritize my comfort, I will fail the victim and fail myself. This is because injustice itself is a festering wound, it only grow its worse when brushed aside.
“As someone who knows so much because I was the provocateur of the events between the two that I will speak to, I consider my silence not just cowardice but complicity. Therefore, I am not afraid to stand alone or risk conflict.
“I should not be misunderstood to be defending Wike but simply stating the raw truth that I know and I really don’t give a damn if the truth makes Wike look good. I have learnt to say the truth as I enjoy my freedom from being a slave to human opinion.
“For starters, need I remind Governor Bala Mohammed that in 2018 PDP Gubernatorial primaries, when we were not too sure he will win because, his then major opponent, Senator Abdul Ningi was the one who constituted the State party structure and had a bosom friend as Party chairman, it was Wike we turned to for help.
“I had called Wike to plead with him to help us in Bauchi without necessarily disclosing to him that it was Bala Mohammed that we wanted delivered. His response to me, was that are you sure you are in control of the process 100 percent? I said, I wasn’t too sure and he said to me leave it to me, I will help you sort it out.
“To do it, Wike first of all made his bosom friend and close ally, Chief Dan Osi Orbih the Chairman of the Panel for the Primaries and said I should discuss whatever I wanted with Chief Dan.
“We got talking and on the eve of the Primaries, Chief Dan was in Benin city and we needed to get him to Bauchi for the assignment, it was to Wike that I turned to again and his response to me was, my brother, I have told you not to bother about this. Tell Chief Dan to come to meet me in Port Harcourt. I did just that and amazingly Wike provided the private jet that flew Chief Dan to Bauchi and out of Bauchi for the assignment.
“I can say without fear of any contradiction that Wike bore all expenses for the exercise. It’s therefore shocking that this so called transactional character called Wike did not place any condition whatsoever for his support.
“That is just the beginning of the story, I hate to tell, but I must. After the emergence of Bala Mohammed as the party flag bearer and having promised to sponsor all the party candidates if he gets the ticket, we were rudely awoken to the reality that Bala Mohammed had no money for his own campaigns let alone for other candidates of the party.
“Initially, I thought it was some kind of a funny joke but as time went, I realized to my utter bewilderment that it was true. It turned out Bala Mohammed had lied to us about his financial capacity.
“So we had a meeting at my then residence at Wuse 2 Abuja to help raise money and we thought since Bala Mohammed was one time Minister for nearly 6 years, he must have built enough goodwill we could harness if we organised a fundraiser for him.
“A committee was put in place and we spent N20 million to organize the fundraiser at the then Lady Kwai Hall, Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.
Before then, I had asked Bala Mohammed to give me a list of some of the people he had helped while he held sway as Minister for FCT.
“He obliged me with the list and after calling just four people on the list that I know so well, what they said to me jolted me and I reserve that for some other day. But suffice to say that I knew the fundraiser will be a flop. Do, I was already thinking of alternatives.
“And as predicted, we had the fundraiser and to cut the long story short, all we raised from the fundraiser was a paltry N48 million and If you deduct the N20 million invested in organising it, that leaves you with a net of N28m. I have the records and our stakeholders are there to bear witness to this.
“When it was obvious the masquerade will soon turn to a human being, I told our then two serving Senators who are alive and can testify that the only option we had was to go to a friend and brother, then Governor Wike for assistance.
“We got tickets and flew to Port Harcourt with Bala Mohammed without informing Wike that we were coming with him. On arrival, we were ushered into the Government house and asked to take our seats and wait for the Governor who was still upstairs to join us shortly.
“As soon as Wike walked down the stairs to join us and saw Bala Mohammed his visage changed and I noticed he was cold to me for the very first time. He asked us to join him at the dining room for breakfast, but excused me while those on my delegation waited. What happened next was nerve raking and humbling, I must say!
“He was like, Speaker why did you bring Bala to my house without even caring to find out what our mission was. I said to him, I thought he is your friend since both of you served in the same cabinet under President Jonathan.
“He said to me let me tell you what you don’t know. When we were ministers, Bala Mohammed allocated plots of land to all Ministers except me. He also recalled how he humiliated him when he went to see him in his office as a colleague Minister just to get an approval to increase the number of floors on a building he had in Abuja, not to beg for plot which he refused to allocate to him.
“He said Bala Mohammed kept him in his waiting room for hours and later sneaked out of the office. That from that day, he made up his mind never to have anything to do with him again.
“He added, I wish, you had told me it’s Bala you were rooting for but whatever you want I will assist you guys because I don’t say no to a brother but I assure you, you will regret your decision if Bala Mohammed becomes Governor. The rest is history.
“He said to me let’s join them at the dining so that I can confront him with these issues for you to know that I am not making things up. We joined them at the dinning and Wike confronted Bala with these issues in the open and in our very presence.
“Bala admitted and pleaded for forgiveness assuring that he is now a changed man. The two Senators with me that day can confirm this to anyone who wants to establish the veracity of these narratives.
“To cut the long story short, we passed the night at the Government house and the next morning Wike called and directed that his cash assistance be handed over to me to pass to Bala. I said, your Excellency, it’s better I call him so that he can collect the assistance himself least he thinks you are still angry with him.
“I sent for Bala and when he came Wike’s aide handed over the package to him and he collected it while almost kissing the ground. Wike therefore gave us the lifeline we needed to kick start Bala’s campaigns.
“If Bala has forgotten how much we left with that day, I will remind him. Wike didn’t stopped there, he gave us a private jet to ferry us back to Abuja. And I must add that was not the only time Wike helped Bala with resources and logistics.
“What is baffling is that the so called transactional Wike did not demand for anything in return nor place any condition for all that he did. Believe me this is not the end of the story but let’s leave it here.
“With all these, my question to Bala is what happens to the golden adage that you don’t attempt to break the calabash from which you once sucked honey? For Bala, power is a poison and anyone who questions how he wields it, for that reason, is an eternal heretic that must be crushed at all cost.
“Every sane person knows that true freedom doesn’t insist on expressing itself to the harm of others especially those that stood by you in your time of desperate need. For it is not in vain that they say, “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.
“Unfortunately, for those of us who know Bala too well, there is no room for debate about whether he is a rogue or mere scoundrel, as much as there is no debate about his moral bankruptcy, rooted in a contempt for truth.
“His mental pathology reveals a man that harbours grand delusions to the extent that he would not recognize the truth, whether about his private or political life, if confronted by it in an identity parade. As someone who is false to his friends and neighbours, it is impossible for him to be true to the public.
“Between Wike and Bala, Bala should be told in unequivocal terms that it is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. It is obvious that Bala is not near anything that he is projecting to the public.
“When Wike was his benefactor, he said he knew Wike had done better than him and referred to him as, “ someone who is courageous, focused and determined, a person qualified and competent to help salvage Nigeria”. His words not mine.
“Now that Wike cuts off the benefits, he is a dead wood, former friend and a “transactional politician”. As a known wimp, he believes that Wike is now on the robs and he is punching so hard so that he can appropriate the glory from whatever pyrrhic victory that may ensue.
“Is it not ludicrous for someone who is mostly disliked for no reason other than he is shady, to call someone transactional? Time will not permit me to list those Bala has betrayed which includes his known godfather and our father, Baba Waziri, Alhaji Bello Kirfi, Elder statesman and former minister under President Shehu Shagari in the second republic.
“Bala represents everything but decency which I said before that I doubted he will ever have. Those who thought I was too harsh including an ally of Wike who pleaded with me not to talk about Bala again are increasingly noticing this.
“I am sure they are now convinced that we cannot continue to run a therapy session for a troubled pyromaniac nay reptilian brat like this who consistently seeks to elevate himself by putting others down and who inhales rather than think before he talks.
“After all, it was saint John Chrysostom who said, “we must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God”.
[TheNation]
Annie Idibia: ‘2face Has Been Bottled For So Long, I Got A Lot To Expose’ – Nollywood Actress, Doris Ogala
AFOLABI
Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala has claimed that the marriage breakup between Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Baba, and his wife, Annie Idibia Macauley, was long overdue.
Naija News reports that Doris, in a post via her Instagram story on Tuesday, claimed that Annie engaged in ‘juju’ to keep her marriage with 2face.
The movie star claimed that Annie was not victimized as many assumed, stressing that 2Baba is the real victim in their troubled marriage.
Doris Ogala expressed confidence that 2Baba and Annie would reunite and called on the singer’s family to save their brother.
The thespian also said the women supporting Annie are witches, adding that 2Baba has been bottled for so long, hence the reason his musical career crumbled.
She said, “This thing is a projection on their marriage. It’s long overdue. Though Annie isn’t innocent. But trust me, whatever she did was because she didn’t want to lose 2face. This thing na juju tuzzle. But the other one upgraded because she has a witch on her side. The victim here is 2baba.
“These women are evil. Annie isn’t a child. These people just want to frustrate 2face. Annie clung to 2face for a long time. You’ve suffocated this guy for a long time. They will get back together. I bet you. I will advise 2face’s family to save their brother oo. This woman hmmm.
“I’m still grieving. I got a lot to expose. All these ladies are witches and Stella is their blogger. 2face has been bottled for so long. My guy’s musical career finished, and they want to play the victim card. All of you should wait for me. Evil people.”
The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced an electricity disruption in parts of Akwa Ibom State.
TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
She explained that the outage, which is scheduled between 11am and 6pm on Tuesday, was due to maintenance of TCN’s 60 Mega Volt Ampere power transformers at the 132/33kV Uyo Transmission Substation.
Areas affected are Abak, Ikot-Ekpene, Afaha Ube, and Idoro.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, announces scheduled maintenance on one of its 60MVA power transformers at the 132/33kV Uyo Transmission Substation on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
“As a result, there will be an interruption of bulk power supply to the Port Harcourt DisCo, affecting the distribution of electricity to end-users in Abak, Ikot-Ekpene, Afaha Ube, and Idoro for the duration of the maintenance period.
“The power interruption is necessary to ensure a safe working environment for our engineers while they perform the maintenance work. TCN assures all that the bulk power supply will be restored immediately upon completion,” she stated.
[Punch]
Mercy Chinwo moved to tears, accuses ex-manager of sponsoring false news about son, Nathaniel Bassey
Admin
Gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo, has accused her former manager Ezekiel ThankGod aka Eezeetee of sponsoring false news about her son.
Mercy and her husband, Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa, welcomed their first child, a baby boy, on October 28, 2023. Soon, it was rumoured that the baby was fathered by another gospel musician Nathaniel Bassey.
Addressing the rumour, Mercy alleged in a video posted on social media on Tuesday that Mr Ezekiel was behind it.
“One of my major crimes was when I did a song with Pastor Nathaniel Bassey. Because this man hates Pastor Nathaniel Bassey you went as far as sponsoring fake news about an innocent child, my son; and you said my son was not my son and you paid bloggers,” she said, with tears in her eyes.
“Because you hate Pastor Jerry Eze you won’t want me to go for his event. The people you fight I must fight them with you and when I ask you questions ‘Why don’t you like them?’ You will start harassing me.”
She reiterated some of the issues her lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, raised in a statement she published on social media on January 25.
Mercy noted that she did not initiate any court action against Ezekiel regarding her music catalogue, adding that he was playing the “victim” despite being a “bully”.
According to the ‘Excess Love’ singer, the toxicity of her relationship with Ezekiel forced her to relocate from Port Harcourt to Lagos.
“You have bloggers, I have God,” Mercy said, assuring that all would be well with her despite the attacks.
[Vanguard]
US President Donald Trump has again hinted at the possibility of running for president for a third time.
The US Constitution does not permit anyone to be elected president more than twice.
Trump spoke with House Republicans at a gathering on Monday.
“I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100 percent sure,” he said.
“I think I’m not allowed to run again.”
“Am I allowed to run again?” he continued, prodding Mike Johnson, house speaker. “Mike, I better not get you involved in that”.
Johnson, a former constitutional lawyer, chuckled at Trump’s comments. Other lawmakers at the event also had a good laugh about it all.
Trump previously dismissed insinuations that he would seek a third term. However, after winning the 2024 presidential election, he light-heartedly hinted that he would be open to a third term during a chat with Republican lawmakers.
“I suspect I won’t be running again, unless you do something,” Trump had said.
“Unless you say, ‘he’s so good, we have to just figure it out.’”
Last week, Andy Ogles, a Republican house member, introduced a bill seeking to allow Trump to run for a third term.
Ogles said Trump “has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history” capable of “restoring America to greatness”.
[TheCable]
A former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the one-time governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, Ismail Omipidan, says he has always been sceptical about the loyalty of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Omipidan added that prior to the 2023 election, he warned President Bola Tinubu about the role of Aregbesola within his political circle.
According to the journalist, his position was formed based on what he saw in Ondo and Osun States before, during and after their 2017 and 2018 governorship elections, respectively.
He explained that he spoke to Tinubu in 2018 prior to his appointment in 2019 as the CPS to the then Governor Oyetola.
Naija News reports Omipidan shared the details afresh in an extract of his recently unveiled book, ‘Persona Non-Grata’, which he posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
He also shared his experience with Aregbesola in the build-up to the 2014 governorship experience in Osun State.
“Before my appointment as the Chief Press Secretary in 2019, I had always shown more than a passing interest in Osun politics. In 2014, when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was seeking a re-election, I set up a six-man media team to do an intervention on his behalf six months before the election. I funded the team and deployed my Facebook timeline in support of Aregbesola.
“Once the election was won and lost, members of the team approached me and asked when we would be going to Osun to celebrate. That was the first time I let them
know no one was paying my bills and that I had no link with anyone in government.
“Most of them were shocked at my revelation because for the six months the team worked, in the build up to the election, I made logistics available throughout.
“Prior to joining my principal in 2019, I knew what the issues were. I knew how they struggled to win the 2018 election. In fact, I had predicted in one of my articles before the 2018 election that no clear winner would emerge from the first ballot. I went further to state emphatically that any of the two leading candidates that was interested in winning must negotiate with Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, to carry the day. That was exactly what eventually happened.
“For me, the 2018 election was a referendum on Aregbesola. He was faced with what could be regarded as the “battle of his life,” the journalist narrated.
I Have Been Vindicated
Omipidan said Aregbesola’s attitude towards Tinubu’s presidential ambition has vindicated whatever reservations he has about the former Osun Governor.
He also hinted that the political arrogance of Aregbesola, coupled with the failure of Oyetola to heed political warnings, led to his failed bid to be re-elected as the Osun State Governor.
“After the election, I suggested, through my writings on Facebook, to Oyetola to drop the garb of arrogance of Aregbesola and the know-it-all attitude of that administration if he wanted to succeed. I equally admonished Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do an introspection on the role of Aregbesola within the political family.
“I took that position based on what I saw in Ondo and Osun States before, during and after their 2017 and 2018 governorship elections respectively.
“And I want to believe that I am vindicated by Aregbesola’s disposition towards President Tinubu’s presidential ambition four years after my suggestion.
“May Allah continue to grant the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi Aljannah Firadus. He did a yeoman’s job in Osun, whereas Aregbesola carried on in that election as if nothing was at stake,” he wrote.
More...
Atiku Makes Heavy Allegation, Accuses Tinubu’s Govt Of Buying Opposition With ₦50 Million Each
AFOLABI
The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of paying opposition leaders ₦50 million each to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
He lamented that democracy in the country might collapse soon if urgent action is not taken to combat corruption.
Atiku shared his reservation at a national conference on strengthening democracy, organized by various civic organizations in Abuja on Monday.
According to Atiku, “I want to say it here publicly. I met with a political party leadership in the present opposition, and they told me flatly that this government gives them N50 million each.
“If we are not careful, we are talking to some of you here, but you are recipients of the N50 million from the APC government. Do we really want to fight for democracy?”
Atiku lamented the erosion of democratic values, criticizing the current National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” for the government and raising doubts about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.
He cited an example from Turkey, where the electoral body refused to declare a president-elect who fell short of the required vote threshold, as a benchmark of integrity Nigeria should emulate.
Calling for opposition parties to unite, he reflected on his decades-long struggle for democracy, noting personal sacrifices, including an attempt on his life, the seizure of his businesses, and exile.
“If we don’t unite and take action, we may end up with no democracy at all. God forbid,” Atiku said.
The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said democracy fails when it cannot deliver good governance to citizens.
The former Governor Obi stated this on Monday while speaking at the ‘National Dialogue on Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity’, held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Abuja.
The former presidential candidate noted that for democracy in Africa to thrive beyond its current fragile state, it must operate within its foundational tenets, going beyond ceremonial elections.
“This requires building critical institutions that command trust and deliver absolute respect for the people’s will. Governance can only deliver tangible benefits when the will of the people prevails,” he said.
The Labour Party chieftain decried that democracy since the commencement of the 4th republic in Nigeria may be failing as poverty continued to plague the citizens.
“With about 100 million Nigerians living in absolute poverty and 150 million in multidimensional poverty, democracy is fast losing its essence if it fails to address the fundamental needs of its citizens, particularly in critical areas such as health, education, and poverty alleviation,” he stated.
The former governor of Anambra State called for introspection of the nation’s democracy.
He said to achieve functional democracy in the country, the government must prioritize institutional strengthening and deliver good governance to citizens.
“We must confront the fundamental question: is democracy truly addressing the needs of Nigerians? Are we building institutions that uphold accountability, justice, and fairness?
“To achieve a functional democracy, we must prioritize strengthening independent institutions, fostering governance that delivers economic and social progress, encouraging active citizenship to hold leaders accountable, and empowering our youth as drivers of nation-building.
“Now is the time to deepen democracy and build a better future for all Nigerians. Amid the rise of coups across Africa and the growing fragility of democracies globally, it is evident that democracy cannot thrive without trust, robust institutions, and a steadfast commitment to the welfare of the people,” he added.
The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has warned that democracy in Nigeria was failing to deliver expected good governance to citizens.
Atiku stated this while speaking as a thematic discussant of a Paper titled ‘Party Politics and Political Integrity: The Role of Political Parties and Opposition in Democracy’ presented by Professor Bayo Olukoshi at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held at the Continental Hotel Abuja, on Monday.
Atiku noted that the nation’s democracy was at crossroads and must be rescued from its challenges.
“There’s no doubt that our democracy is at a crossroads. Put simply, it is at the risk of eroding completely. And it is not caused by one single person or one single administration.
“In fact, a number of us have been warning over the years that we may come to this pass if we lose our vigilance and fail to take corrective actions to protect and deepen our democracy.
“At the risk of sounding modest, I doubt that there are many contemporary senior political leaders who have spoken out and done more to promote democratic governance in our country than me,” he said.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said some of the sacrifices he made for democracy in the country were a result of political struggles.
“In addition to public statements and presentations, I brought some actions to our courts which produced landmark judicial decisions intended to uphold democratic principles and practices.
“Some of that effort was thrust upon me by circumstances of political struggles. But much of my effort was because of two things: my participation among other leaders in the struggles to ease the military out of power; and my deep and enduring belief that democracy is the best route to development and unity for our diverse country and peoples,” he stated.
Governance Failure and Electoral Malpractices
Former Vice President Atiku decried that democracy in the country has been devoid of good governance.
He noted that citizens have also been denied the right to elect their leaders as a result of state capture and electoral malpractices.
“One thing we can’t seriously dispute is the serious decline in governance consistent with the erosion of people’s freedoms to choose leaders. Nostalgic references to First Republic’s development strides relative to the subsequent periods are indicative of this decline.
“The deterioration in people’s freedom to choose their leaders has led to what many now regard as state capture in our country, the gravest consequence of which is the increasing difficulty in removing those in power through democratic means.
“This conference is, therefore, very germane indeed. Change through democratic means is still better for democracy and development to endure. The work being proposed by the organizers of this conference is vitally important for safeguarding and deepening our democracy,” Atiku stated.
The Way Forward
On the way forward, the four-time presidential candidate called for institutional strengthening.
Starting from party politics, Atiku called for people-based ownership and funding of political parties to strengthen the nation’s political institutions.
“Democracy can’t be sustained without strong political parties, especially opposition parties. Parties need to be strong and democratic enough to be able to fulfill their roles. Ownership of parties by or their subordination to individual big men is the antithesis of democracy.
“Members must invest in and co-own parties. When people start from the point of view that ‘Tinubu is rich or Peter Obi is rich or Atiku is rich, so I don’t have to contribute, they surrender to the big man’s dominance of parties,” he said.
The PDP chieftain further called for a reform of the nation’s electoral laws and judiciary.
He emphasized that these institutions play a critical role for democracy to deliver good governance to citizens.
“If the rot in our judiciary persists without severe consequence for the perpetrators, our parties and our democracy are unlikely to survive,” he warned.
All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Lagos State, Fouad Oki, has urged the impeached speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to return and continue his legislative duties for the good of his constituency or resign.
Recall that Obasa was impeached over gross misconduct and abuse of office, but the lawmaker claims he is still the speaker of the Lagos Assembly.
Former Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, who emerged as Speaker of the Assembly following the impeachment of Obasa, formally occupied the office of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Fouad advised the Agege lawmaker that there is no shame in accepting the current reality and should forget about returning to the speakership position.
Fouad said either Obasa resigns or returns to focus on his duties in the House like other lawmakers in making good laws for Lagos State.
He said, “Matters of the Lagos Assembly are past events… what has played out in Lagos is very clear: there is party organisation, and there’s party with convention. You know conventions are unwritten rules or unwritten laws.
“Now we have different layers of control, of check and ballances in Lagos politics. What has played out is a clear testament of what politics should be…let us learn a few lessons from what has happened.
“For those that are yet to know that in politics there is hierarchy, control, checks and balances the events of last week has shown that…There’s no shame in it.
“Nothing he could do other than go back to the house and continue his job as a legislator. Another side to that is that he should throw in the hat and say ‘I’ve had enough, let someone else take over from me.
“Other than that he should just continue his basic responsibility of continuing to participate in making good laws for the good people of Lagos. He’ll take it like every other human being. It comes and goes. It is gone.”