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Nigerian rapper and activist Michael Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has spoken about not being a husband or father yet.
The 51-year-old revealed that he vowed not to have a child out of wedlock when he was much younger, and has kept his word since then.
Ruggedman recently disclosed this while featuring on the TVC programme Your View.
He asserted that he is unmarried because he has been jilted a few times and is yet to meet the right person. In his words:
“I am not married and do not have a child yet. When I was much younger, I vowed never to have a child out of wedlock. Sometimes, I wonder whether I made the right or wrong decision. But still, it takes a lot from both parties. You have to do it with someone you really love.”
“I have met some ladies I thought I would end up with, but it didn’t work out. There was a particular lady I was supposed to marry, but a wealthy man came into the picture, and her mother separated us.”
In a 2021 interview, Ruggedman revealed that his mother and other family members were not pressuring him about marriage despite being over 40 years of age. He added that he would get married when he was ready.
Everything Wunmi said about me and the nurse in interview was a lie – Mohbad’s dad clarifies
AFOLABI
Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, has broken his silence, fiercely challenged the claims made by his daughter-in-law, Omowunmi Aloba, in her recent tell-all interview about his son’s tragic death.
Wunmi had earlier, in her emotionally charged interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, shared unsettling claims about the events leading to her husband’s death.
She averred that a nurse had administered an injection that triggered a severe reaction in Mohbad. Wunmi alleged that Joseph Aloba was present on Mohbad’s final day, and that he thwarted attempts by her husband’s manager to have the nurse arrested, insisted on letting the nurse go after noticing the harm caused by the injection.
In a phone conversation with blogger Bukky Jesse, Mohbad’s father minced no words as he tore into Wunmi’s narrative.
According to him, he never once set eyes on the nurse whom Wunmi alleged played a role in Mohbad’s death. He painted a stark picture of exclusion, revealed how Wunmi, along with his estranged wife, Bose, and his younger son, Adura, orchestrated a wall of silence around him throughout Mohbad’s crisis, shut him out completely until the bitter end.
He disclosed that he and Wunmi had not been on speaking terms for a long time, even before Mohbad’s passing. The only interaction since his son’s death, he said, was a phone call filled with curses hurled at him by Wunmi.
Mohbad’s dad added that, aside from that turbulent call, the only person from Wunmi’s family he had spoken with in recent weeks was her father.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday declared that it wants an independent nation of Biafra and not additional states in the Southeast.
There have been moves to create an additional 31 new states in Nigeria, including five states from the Southeast.
The proposed states are Etiti State, Adada State, Urashi State, Orlu State, and Aba State.
However, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the current states are bankrupt and not functioning properly.
In a statement he signed, Powerful said:
“Following the rumours that the Nigerian Government and the National Assembly proposed to create an additional 31 new states in Nigeria, we, the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide, wish to categorically state that Biafrans do not want the creation of new states. Instead of multiplying economically bankrupt states, the unworkable Nigerian unity should be dissolved.
“The IPOB movement is against the creation of new states because the existing states are bankrupt and not functioning properly. Creating more states is tantamount to creating more confusion, disunity, and insecurity. Nigerians are suffering because of the faulty foundations of the Nigerian state and the insurmountable corruption in the Nigerian government.
“Nigerian politicians are deep to their necks in corruption. Corruption has eaten into every fabric of Nigerian society. Hence, no amount of multiplication of states and security agencies will solve Nigerians’ monumental corruption, insecurity, and other problems. Nigeria is a country founded on fraud, sustained in fraud, and incapable of sustaining human and capital development. Any society built on fraud cannot stand. That is why IPOB and other rational indigenous minds in Nigeria are calling for the dissolution of Nigeria.
“At their flag independence given to them by the British in 1960, Nigeria had three major regions. Later, the Mid-Western Region was created after a referendum, making it the fourth region. These regions were progressive and competitive because they enjoyed constitutionally granted autonomy. However, Nigeria’s woes started when a genocidist, ‘Jack’ Gowon, and his clueless Supreme Military Council created 12 states in order to divide Biafrans and prevent them from fighting the war of 1967-1970 in unison. Gowon’s decision to divide and carve out some ethnic groups from one region to another was the beginning of ethnic tensions in Nigeria today. Such an ethnically bigoted decision destroyed the autonomy of the regions, leading to this useless federal system that has resulted in the country’s economic and security woes.
“To add salt to injury, a heartless murderer, Murtala Muhammad, created more states and increased Nigeria to 19 states, favoring the Northern Region with more states than the South. In the same way, Fulani military heads of state like Ibrahim Babangida and Abacha created even more states to continue favoring the Northern region. Today, the incessant state creation, inspired by the born-to-rule mentality of the Fulanis, has destroyed the progressive regions and resulted in useless states that depend on Abuja handouts in the name of allocation sharing to survive. Even if Tinubu’s government creates an additional 100 states, the political equation between the North, West, and East (previous regions) will never be balanced. The previous ethnically bigoted Northern military leaders have already created unfavorable political equations that are inimical to the unity of Nigeria. Postponing the division of Nigeria is embracing the evil days, which are already upon us.
“IPOB says NO to the new state creation proposal that will include the Biafra region. Our position is clear: we don’t want our region to be balkanized or broken down any further. Instead, Ndigbo need our Igbo brothers and sisters, villages, clans, and whole regions carved into Kogi, Benue, and Edo states back into Alaigbo. The Nigerian government can create more states to suit them in their Nigeria, while Ndigbo establish an independent state of Biafra. What Ndigbo want is an exit from Nigeria in a peaceful and democratic way. That is why IPOB is calling for a referendum date from the Nigerian government so that Biafrans can decide their fate—whether to remain in one delusional united Nigeria or to exit into an independent state of Biafra.”
Over 30 unidentified bodies of suspected ritual killing victims have been found on Imo River in Oriendu autonomous community, Umuahia North local government area of Abia State since last year.
The traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Philip Ajomiwe, stated this while speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday in his palace after the body of a woman was found
“The bodies, like the recent one, are either completely naked and without their private parts or in a bag. There’ve also been cases of two decomposing bodies seen beside the NNPC pipeline,” he said.
Explaining that there had not been any arrests since then by the security agents, he expressed concern that the situation was getting out of hand and had created fear in and around the community.
According to the monarch, efforts by the community’s vigilante group to arrest the suspects had failed too, because the group is not as equipped as the suspects are said to be.
“So, we’re appealing to the state government to empower the vigilante group with the necessary logistics and the wherewithal to enable it to match the suspects,” he said.
He argued that nobody ever embarks on such a mission with empty hands especially when the enemy is fully armed with sophisticated weapons and is ready to fight back.
He asserted that his complaints about the situation to the agents had been to no avail, noting that the latest was a letter to the speaker of the State House of Assembly on February 7.
The monarch, who appreciated the government’s upward review of monthly stipends of the traditional rulers, however, noted that the amount is not enough for them to handle insecurity.
He maintained that as the monarchs do not have security votes like the governor to equip their communities’ vigilante groups, the communities need the intervention of the government for peace and security.
Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North in the National Assembly, has vowed not to accept the offer of a Land Cruiser vehicle and N10million monthly from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.
Nwoko disclosed this at the weekend in Idumuje Ugboko, Anicha North local government area of the State.
LEADERSHIP reports that Nwoko, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing leadership crisis in his former party.
The businessman-turned-lawmaker said the offerings from the governor were not directly beneficial to his constituents.
He expressed his dissatisfaction with the offer, stating that the funds should be used for the people rather than for self-interest as he said his primary goal as a Senator was to improve the lives of his constituents.
“I am dissatisfied with the offer. I won’t accept the offer of a Land Cruiser and N10 million monthly from the governor. The funds should be used for the people rather than for self-interest. My primary goal as a Senator is to improve the lives of my constituents,” Nwoko stated.
The Senator lamented that the PDP in Delta State focused on self-perpetuation in power, which he said had deprived Delta of real political competition.
While declaring that the 25-year reign of the PDP in Delta State will come to an end in the 2027 general elections, he accused PDP leaders of prioritising their personal interests and power retention over the well-being of the people.
Expressing excitement about joining the APC, Nwoko criticised the PDP for allegedly holding Delta State “hostage” for a quarter of a century, claiming that the state had failed to experience the necessary development for meaningful economic growth.
Nwoko, who chairs the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation and the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating Crude Oil Theft in the Niger Delta, stated that the PDP’s control of the state had left the people with no choice but to endure stagnation.
“Imagine 25 years of PDP in Delta; there has been no competition. For them, it’s business as usual,” he said.
Contrasting the situation with the political practices in the United States, where power alternates between parties to ensure progress. Nwoko vowed to end the “slavery” in Delta State, announcing that he had found an alternative platform in the APC.
Nwoko believed that establishing Anioma State will free Delta North from the constraints of PDP governance and bring greater autonomy and opportunities to the region.
He criticised the state government’s reluctance to support the creation of Anioma State, accusing PDP leaders of brainwashing the people and preventing open discussions on the matter.
Despite this, Nwoko expressed confidence that with the support of APC leaders at both state and federal levels, Anioma State would eventually be realised, ensuring freedom for Delta people.
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has asserted that President Bola Tinubu‘s message to him on his birthday last week shamed many people into wishing him a happy birthday.
Relationship between El-Rufai and Tinubu recently deteriorated as the former Governor has been critical of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration and policies, accusing those around the president of playing tribal politics.
Despite the criticism, Tinubu, in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, February 16, 2025, hailed El-Rufai.
In a post via his ? handle on Monday, El-Rufai appreciated everyone who celebrated him. He noted that many people did not want to send their best wishes until President Tinubu’s message shamed them into action.
He wrote, “It has been about a week since many friends, associates and admirers sent me various messages and prayers in commemoration of my 65th birthday.
“The prayers and good wishes were quite humbling and gratifying, but far too many and overwhelming for individual acknowledgement or response by me, hence this message.
“I want to thank everyone that sent me their prayers and best wishes, including those that didn’t want to, until President Tinubu’s message shamed them into action. May the Almighty God accepts our prayers and continue to shower his blessings on us and our people.
“I have tried to repost, retweet and share all the birthday messages I received, but as an imperfect mortal, I am sure I couldn’t have done all. If I didn’t with yours, please forgive me. It is an omission of the head, not of the heart.
“May Almighty Allah grant us even longer life, in good health, happiness and prosperity, in a Nigeria that flourishes as a beacon of progressive governance, democracy and equal opportunity for all.”
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, may step down from her position as part of ongoing political negotiations, with David Setonji or Wale Rauf emerging as potential successors.
This development follows high-level interventions from prominent figures, including former APC National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, ex-Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and Chief Pius Akinyelure, Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Meranda made history as the first female Speaker of the Lagos Assembly on January 13, 2025, after the controversial removal of Mudashiru Obasa, who was accused of corruption, abuse of office, and high-handedness.
However, Obasa has since challenged his removal in court, claiming that due process was not followed in the impeachment process.
Sources who spoke with Vanguard indicate that key political figures met with principal officers and lawmakers over the weekend, with another round of discussions expected in the coming days.
According to inside sources, as part of the negotiations, Meranda may be asked to return to her former position as Deputy Speaker, while the next Speaker could come from Lagos West.
This move is reportedly aimed at ensuring regional balance in state leadership, as both Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker Meranda hail from Lagos Central, leaving Lagos West without a top-tier leadership position.
Setonji And Rauf Emerge As Frontrunners
Two lawmakers from Lagos West have emerged as front-runners for the Speakership position:
David Setonji (Badagry 2) – Currently the Chief Whip of the House, Setonji has been a lawmaker since 2015 and is seen as an experienced legislator with a strong grassroots following.
Wale Rauf (Amuwo Odofin 2) – Elected in 2019, Rauf has steadily built influence within the House and is considered a strong contender for the role.
Stakeholders believe that choosing a Speaker from Lagos West would maintain political stability and prevent further tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Despite the push for her removal, Meranda received a vote of confidence from 36 out of 40 lawmakers on Monday, February 17, affirming their support for her continued leadership.
However, the House has since adjourned indefinitely, signalling that further negotiations are underway.
Human rights activist, Femi Aborisade, has said that former military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) should be in prison for life for the damage he caused to Nigeria during his rule.
Reacting to the recent launch of Babangida’s autobiography, ‘A Journey of Service’, Aborisade dismissed the former leader’s expressions of regret over past decisions, particularly the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, insisting that his actions led to bloodshed, political instability, and economic decline.
In a chat with The Guardian, Aborisade described Babangida’s public reflection on his time in power as insincere, arguing that his actions continue to haunt the country.
Naija News reports that the activist said that the annulment of the June 12 election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, was a deliberate act of sabotage against the country’s democracy.
According to him, the decision triggered a series of violent crises, which led to mass killings, arrests, and political instability, ultimately culminating in the brutal military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha.
The human rights lawyer said, “IBB is a tyrannical villain who should be tried for annulling the democratic electoral choice of the Nigerian people in the June 12 presidential election. IBB sheds crocodile tears. He is insincere in his so-called regrets. He has done incalculable damage to societal development.
“Nigerians should reject IBB and all the evil that his regime represents. The annulment of the June 12 presidential election remains a monumental disservice to Nigerian society. The struggle against the annulment has caused untold bloodshed, deaths, maiming, killings, and brutalisation.
“It is unfortunate that people like IBB, who ought to be socially ostracised for the monumental setback their regimes represent for society, are being celebrated by a segment of the media. He deserves to be put on trial. He deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life.”
He added that IBB was a tyrannical villain.
Aborisade stated further, “From the standpoint of the masses of Nigeria, IBB is a tyrannical villain. But from the standpoint of those honouring him with their presence and donating part of the loot they stole from what belongs to Nigerians generally, IBB is their hero. Members of the ruinous ruling class and rotten businessmen are not representative of the aspirations of Nigerian society. They represent the old order who contributed to ruining Nigeria. Those who pretended they were pro-June 12 but are celebrating IBB, who annulled the June 12 presidential election, are actually as guilty as IBB. They are mocking MKO Abiola while dining and smiling with the killers of MKO.
“By celebrating IBB, they are celebrating coup-making and encouraging undemocratic interventions in the political life of the country.
“I’m not surprised; many of those who attended the book launch were IBB-inspired new breed politicians who emerged after prominent politicians had been banned from participating in politics.”
Insists institutions worsening poverty, undermining devt in Nigeria
Urges them to stop imposing blanket austerity measures on developing nations
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, weekend in Washington DC, United States, told the International Monetary Fund, IMF and World Bank, WB, to stop lending money to governments not accountable to their citizens.
According to NLC, “such loans only deepen the crisis of governance and push nations further into the abyss of debt and underdevelopment.”
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, who stated this, also told the global financial institutions how their economic prescriptions over the years had continued to worsen poverty and undermine Nigeria’s development.
Ajaero, who spoke at the 2025 high-level meeting of the global labour movement, the IMF and WB at the World Bank office in Washington, pleaded with the Brettonwoods institutions to stop imposing blanket austerity measures, but support developing nations in crafting progressive tax policies that protect the poor and vulnerable.
In a presentation, titled “Progressive Taxation and Fiscal Consolidation,” Ajaero told his audience: “We represent the voice of those who are marginalized and those who are supposed to benefit from taxation but who have unfortunately in many countries begun to suffer adversely from taxation.
‘’Progressive taxation and fiscal consolidation are not merely an economic issue, it is a moral imperative and a key question of social justice.
“The current global economic order, influenced heavily by institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, often perpetuates inequality rather than addressing it. In many developing nations, including Nigeria, tax policies are regressive, placing a disproportionate burden on the poor, while allowing the wealthy and multinational corporations to evade their fair share. ‘’This is not an accident, it is a systemic failure that demands urgent correction. The IMF and World Bank have, for decades, prescribed austerity measures and structural adjustment programs that prioritize debt servicing over human development.
‘’These policies have eroded public services, weakened labour rights, and deepened poverty. Yet, the question we must ask is: Why do these institutions continue to lend to profligate and dictatorial governments that are unaccountable to their citizens? Is it a deliberate strategy to push nations like Nigeria further into a cycle of debt and underdevelopment?
“The fiscal challenges on developing nations as a result of debt pressures and IMF and WB prescriptions have compelled them to seek avenues to remain fiscally solvent. Thus, all manner of taxes are placed on workers and the poor who do not have means of evading such taxes.
‘’Nigeria in its proposed tax bills, plans to impose taxes on people who earn just N800,000 per annum or U$500 (five hundred US Dollars per annum). If that is not a regressive tax proposal, nothing else will.
“Lending to governments that do not prioritise the welfare of their people is not development; it is exploitation. It entrenches corruption, fuels inequality, and undermines democracy. The workers and citizens of these nations are left to bear the brunt of these policies, while the elite and their foreign enablers profit.
‘’IMF and WB must fashion a way to stop mortgaging the future of these nations by its continued lending to such regimes.
“We call on the IMF and World Bank to rethink their approach. Instead of imposing blanket austerity measures, IMF and WB must support developing nations in crafting progressive tax policies that protect the poor and vulnerable.
‘’Thus IMF and WB should support inclusive tax systems. In other words, the conceptualisation and implementation of tax systems must allow the participation of key national stakeholders, especially workers who constitute the bulk of tax payers in developing economies.
“Whether a tax is regressive or progressive begins at the table where it was conceived. Any group that is not at the table is on the menu. The new proposed tax bills in Nigeria is not inclusive, despite our loud cries at the formation of the tax committee, the government denied workers’ representation thus, its passage into law has become stymied.
‘’IMF and WB must, therefore, encourage nations to allow for the participation of all critical stakeholders in all the processes from conceptualisation to the operationalisation of their tax systems. The use of social dialogue must, therefore, be prioritised.
“IMF and WB must tax wealth and not poverty. They should Implement higher taxes on luxury goods, capital gains, and the incomes of the ultra-wealthy. Tax justice is at the heart of social justice and global sustainability.
‘’So, IMF and WB should be at the forefront of co-creating a just and equitable world. You cannot talk of progressive tax when you increase taxes on food, energy, electricity, telecommunications, street traders, artisans and the informal economy workers, all in the guise of formalisation of the informal economy.
“The IMF and WB should close loopholes by ensuring multinational corporations pay their fair share of taxes in the countries where they operate. These institutions should invest in social protection by using tax revenues to fund education, healthcare and social safety nets that uplift the most vulnerable.
“Fiscal consolidation must not come at the expense of the poor. It must be rooted in equity and justice. The IMF and World Bank have a moral obligation to ensure that their policies do not exacerbate inequality or undermine the sovereignty of nations.
‘’Reduction of social inequality must drive policy prescriptions and not social mobility. The IMF and WB should advocate and support the proposed UN Convention on Tax which was initiated late 2022 to, among other things, take care of taxing digital organizations’ profits made in countries other than where they are physically located and to include all countries of the world in generating global tax frameworks.
“I urge these institutions to stop lending to governments that are unaccountable to their people. Such loans only deepen the crisis of governance and push nations further into the abyss of debt and underdevelopment.
‘’Instead, the IMF and World Bank must prioritize transparency, accountability, and the protection of workers’ rights. The path to sustainable development is not through debt traps and regressive tax policies.
‘’It is through empowering nations to build equitable tax systems that serve the many, not the few. The time for change is now.”
Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, on Sunday, swore in the newly elected chairpersons and councillors in the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the 30 LGAs and 332 wards in the controversial election held on Saturday.
Speaking during the ceremony, Adeleke expressed happiness that the process was held despite the initial setbacks.
He congratulated the newly elected chairpersons and councillors and urged them to deliver on the dividends of democracy.
The governor, however, directed the elected officials to stay away from the local government secretariats “to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats”.
“We are all aware of the journey to where we are. The state is today rounding up a process that started a year or so ago. The state electoral body had issued due notice of election a year ago. I know the commission had complied with all extant rules and procedures, which led to the emergence of new local government chairmen and councillors,” Adeleke said.
“We are equally aware of the legal controversies that dogged the holding of the election. It is, however, a thing of joy that the facts are out in the public domain, and we are satisfied that we are on the side of the law within the context of the rule of law and the constitution.
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“I congratulate all newly elected council chairmen and councillors. You have the mandate to deliver on good governance in your respective local governments. I charge you to develop plans of action within the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As our government is transforming the state for the better, I call on you to be agents of change, community developers, and deliverers of dividends of democracy.
“An Osun State High Court had affirmed the vacancies in both the Chairman and Councilors positions in all of Osun State Local Governments before your election on the 22nd February 2025. We will, therefore, rely on the judiciary to ensure a peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the local government secretariats.”
Adeleke further thanked the people of Osun for their support and for demonstrating courage during the polls.
“We will not fail you. People’s welfare will continue to be our watchword,” he said.
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He also expressed his appreciation to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission for “discharging its mandate professionally and with all sense of responsibilities”, and the security agencies for maintaining law and order during the process.
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu “for rejecting efforts by some forces to plunge Osun into chaos”.
The event was attended by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, and Bala Muhammed, governor of Bauchi state and chairman of the PDP governors forum.
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Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), former military president, has claimed that he contributed immensely to the freedom of expression and liberalisation of media in Nigeria.
In ‘A Journey In Service’, his newly-released autobiography, the former military president said the policies initiated during his regime aided media ownership in the country.
He said the country’s strong democratic system can be attributed, in part, to the media’s role in upholding freedom of expression.
“Our media remains a source of strength and pride to all of us. We may have had differences in the information management practice among our media. But no one can deny that Nigeria’s robust media remains a source of strength,” he wrote.
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“Our credentials as a democratic nation are partly due to the freedom of expression manifested by our media. In my little way, I am sure I have contributed to entrenching this most essential freedom of expression.
“Not only did we, as an administration, liberalise media ownership, but we also removed the mystery around media ownership.”
IBB emphasised the importance of media involvement, noting that since his retirement, he has been accessible and open to media interactions.
“I am proud that our policy initiative in this regard facilitated an explosion of talent and investment in media enterprises,” he added.
“Today, counting the number of radio stations, television stations, and online and real-time print media in our country is hard. In repetition of the famous Chinese saying, ‘Let a million flowers bloom’.
“In my retirement, I have opened my doors to the media. I have granted countless interviews, expressed countless views and, where necessary, been part of the tremendous Nigerian debate that keeps raging daily.
“Our nation is more beautiful because of the diversity of opinions and perspectives on any given issue.”
Babangida was head of state from 1985 to 1993. It was during his regime that Dele Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch Magazine, was killed by a parcel bomb at his Ikeja residence.
But Babangida said he was not the mastermind of Giwa’s assassination.
Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Anap Foundation, says the Nigerian elite may “normalise” deceit if they have their way.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels TV, Peterside said the Nigerian elite need to speak the truth always and not treat serious matters with levity.
Peterside was reacting to the recently released autobiography titled, ‘A Journey In Service’ by Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).
The book chronicled the events before and after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
In the memoir, Babangida, among several revelations, said he was in Katsina when the annulment of the election, won by MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was announced by the press secretary of his second-in-command without his knowledge or permission.
He said he later discovered that the forces against the June 12 election were led by Sani Abacha, his chief of defence staff who later became military head of state.
Peterside said Nigeria needs the emergence of elders who will speak the truth and show the younger generation the right path.
“I’m not here to indict anybody but I think if we are not careful, the Nigerian elite would normalise deceit or fraud and things like that. They would normalise all sorts of things. That is why some people have pointed out that enough is enough. Let’s draw the line somewhere. There are some issues you cannot joke with,” Peterside said.
“The other thing I want to explain is that, very recently, we lost two very respected elder statesmen. People who showed examples in terms of standing for the truth repeatedly.
“When you hear something from Chief Ayo Adebanjo, you can take it to the bank. When you hear something from chief Edwin Clark, you can take it to the bank. Two of them passed on very recently. I served at the national conference with both of them. We were together in Abuja in 2014. We were delegates.
“So, we have to be careful because elder statemen like that who helped to set the right values for some of our young stars in terms of standing for something. Always telling the truth and so on.
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“We have to make sure that a different group of elders also appear to fill that vacuum — stand for the truth. Tell the same story the same way. Tell the whole truth that would set them free. Because at the end of the day, it is a struggle for the soul of the nation.
“When IBB annulled that election on June 12. That was the first time we had mobile phones. I voted on my street in Victoria Island. We saw the results coming from all over the country except Taraba state. I was in my 30s. I knew what happened. I was among the people that came out after the annulment to say we can’t do this.
“Interestingly, one of the articles I wrote then. I have never heard anybody use that expression. I sat in my house and wrote it because there was no internet. I called it the ghost of June 12. What I was writing then was that June 12 would be like a ghost and it would hunt some people forever.”
Peterside added that the book launch “was the ghost of June 12 hunting some people and it is still hunting them, unfortunately”.
The All Progressives Congress on Sunday attacked the immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, as indications emerged that the former Federal Capital Territory minister was rallying northern leaders and bigwigs against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 poll.
The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, accused El-Rufai of stoking ethnic agenda over his failure to get a cabinet appointment.
The once-cordial relationship between the President and El-Rufai soured after he failed to secure a ministerial appointment.
Though Tinubu nominated him for a ministerial position, the ex-governor was rejected by the National Assembly on security grounds.
But in recent weeks, he has been meeting with various northern political leaders and opposition figures, including the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.
To demonstrate his new-found relationship with the former vice president whom he accused of corruption in his book, “The Accidental Servant,” El-Rufai joined Atiku’s entourage during a condolence visit to the family of the elder statesman and leader of Niger Delta, Chief Edwin Clark, last Friday.
Speaking during the visit, El-Rufai said Atiku deserved commendations for spearheading economic reforms during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
“Nobody gives Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the credit for economic policy-making under Obasanjo’s administration. Many of the things we did were under his leadership.
“Maybe because we don’t write about it, and people don’t read history, we tend to forget. We only remember negative things. Maybe, it’s part of human nature,” El-Rufai said.
After the condolence visit, the ex-governor and Atiku observed the Juma’at prayer together.
On Saturday, El-Rufai met with the Kaduna State executive committee of the PDP. The former governor was accompanied by his former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu.
The closed-door meeting, which took place in Kaduna, sparked speculations about possible political realignments and bipartisan cooperation ahead of the 2027 election.
Twenty-forty hours later, the ex-governor held a meeting with the former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, on Sunday.
El-Rufai visited Adamu at the latter’s residence in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
This was made public by an X user and staunch follower of El-Rufai, @UI_Wakili.
He wrote, “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, accompanied by Mallam Bashir Saidu and Dujima Adamawa, paid a visit to former APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu today at his residence in Keffi.”
Adamu is believed to have fallen out with Tinubu following his resignation as APC national chairman in July 2023.
Lately, El-Rufai launched media attacks on the APC and accused it of lacking internal democracy, noting that the party’s organs had not convened in the last two years.
Two weeks ago, the APC chieftain shared an opinion by a social commentator, Uche Diala, which claimed the relationship between Tinubu and the North had deteriorated less than two years into his administration, warning that he may be given the ‘Goodluck Jonathan treatment’ in the 2027 elections.
El-Rufai published the statement written on his verified X handle. It was titled, ‘2027: South West, Tinubu’s supporters playing with fire – Part 1.’
It read partly, “Less than two years into the tenure, we are witnesses to how the relationship between the North and President Bola Tinubu or rather his administration is quickly deteriorating, driven by the words and conduct of, unfortunately, many from the president’s geopolitical zone and tribe. Truth be told.
“I have read and heard the arrogant posturing and braggadocio by some people whom I refer to as political rabble-r
May I remind some persons that, more than the performance or lack thereof of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration, it was his attitude, and that of people around him, towards the North that ultimately brought him down and, by extension, the PDP that had boasted that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years.”
Speaking on El-Rufai’s subterranean political moves, the APC National Secretary, Basiru, said they no longer pay attention to his activities after the party discovered he was “an overrated ethnic champion” who is always ready to pitch northern politicians against their southern counterparts.
The party scribe slammed El-Rufai over his continued posture as the mouthpiece of the North and recent fraternity with top opposition figures.
He said, “I have told you before and am still telling you again that we are concerned about our affairs in the APC. For parties in Nigeria, it is free exit and free entry. So anybody is free to exit if he wants to exit. But we will not dignify such moves with any comment for now.
“We understand that sectional politics is what makes some people tick. Unfortunately, he (El-Rufai) is not thinking about the development of the country but is stoking up the ethnic nationality agenda. This South versus North posture shows that all along, he has been overrated as a person.”
Hinting at El-Rufai’s grievance, Basiru noted, “The only thing we want to say is that governance is a serious matter and nobody has the birthright to be an appointee of government. There are more than 180 million Nigerians and quite a number of them are qualified.
“So, if you don’t have an opportunity to serve in a government, it does not mean that you should be going around and trying to become an emergency activist. As I said before, politics is a free exit and free entry. The APC is solid and we are forging ahead.”
The party chief claimed Nigerians had started seeing the results of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.
“In the past couple of weeks, you can confirm that the naira is firming up against the dollar. Even fuel as well as the prices of foodstuff in the market have gone down,” he stated.
On its part, the PDP said it would work with El-Rufai and others to rescue Nigeria from the APC.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, argued that El-Rufai, as a former member of the ruling party, now knows the party that has respect for the rule of law.
In response to a question about El-Rufai possibly joining the PDP, Ologunagba said the party membership is determined at the ward and local government levels.
He stated, “The membership of our party comes from the ward and local government, and the party is open with free entry and exitousers, but I get more worried each day as it keeps looking more and more like a movie we had seen before.
“We have already established the PDP as the only political party with the true interests of the people and any Nigerians who are willing to align with our constitution, placing people first and respecting our policies and the rule of law, will be welcome to work with us.”
He added, “Indeed, the interests of Nigerians should be the overriding priority. Nigerians know better now, and with all due respect to El-Rufai, he knows better. He was in the PDP and is now in the APC.
“I am sure he can make the distinction between where there is democracy, accommodation, the rule of law, and respect for Nigeria’s cultural and religious balance.”
Ologunagba praised the main opposition party as a party of principles and a platform that provides opportunities for Nigerians.
He stated, “The PDP is a party with a constitution that fosters peace. We don’t need to know someone to be a part of the party. If you’re accepted as a member, you belong, and there is no favouritism.
“This is why it is called the Peoples Democratic Party. Unlike others, you won’t find that kind of favouritism in our party. We stand by our principles and our constitution, and no one individual is bigger than the PDP.
“This party has been in existence since 1998 and continues to grow stronger. The foundation of this party is peace, democracy, the rule of law, people’s rights, and improving the lives of Nigerians. These principles and policies were reflected in the 15 years described as Nigeria’s golden years of democratic governance.
“Therefore, El-Rufai and many other Nigerians know that the PDP is the only party truly for the people and that protects the interests of the people.
“As a platform that provides opportunities for Nigerians, the PDP will be willing and ready to work with any Nigerian.”
The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has revealed that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery currently has over 500 million litres of petrol in its reservoir.
He also said the refinery now produces enough fuel for local consumption and export. Dangote spoke during a tour of the $20bn Lekki-based facility with the Zambia Minister for Energy, Makozo Chikote on Saturday.
The Zambian official visited the Dangote refinery in Lekki, Lagos State, seeking collaboration with the founder to help solve the country’s energy security issue.
In his address during the tour, Dangote said the refinery currently has N600bn worth of stocks in its tank farm. He said the plant will reach its 650,000 barrels per day full production capacity next month, adding that Nigeria cannot consume up to 50 per cent of its refined products.
“We can satisfy more than the local needs of Nigeria. As we speak, we have more than half a billion litres (of petrol). We have more than N600bn worth of stocks here today in the refinery. We have more than enough. The refinery is producing enough refined products, like gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, to meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirements,” he stated.
Dangote disclosed that arrangements were being made to get enough crude to aid the refinery’s ramp-up plans.
“Now we are ramping up production. We must be at our full capacity by next month. But we have to do quite a lot of arrangements in terms of crude supply,” he stated.
Speaking about fuel quality, Africa’s richest man disclosed that refineries across the world are shutting down because of the Dangote refinery. He said no refinery in Africa and across Europe can produce the kind of quality fuel his refinery produces.
He said the sulphur content of his fuel could be as low as zero parts per million while the octane number can be 95.
“In terms of quality, there is actually no refinery in Africa, even in Europe that can produce our type of quality. We want to be flexible, you know the laws keep changing.”
Today, they will say 150 parts per million; tomorrow it’s 50 ppm, but we can produce up to zero ppm. This means we can do winter diesel, we can do Euro-5. No refinery around here can do that. When you read the news, you see that a lot of refineries now, especially in Europe, shutting down because of our own refinery. Our refinery is a percentage of the world’s production.
“Obviously, if we pump a lot, some of them will not be able to sell, that’s why in some countries, they will offer them money to just keep dumping. But then, we have to weather that storm up to the time that we will be able to be on our feet,” he added.
Dangote maintained that the local fuel consumption in Nigeria is 40 per cent of the refinery’s total production, stating that the remaining 60 per cent is for export to other countries, especially Africa.
He revealed that arrangements were being made with Afreximbank to resolve the challenges of letters of credit and financing.
“The maximum local consumption is around 40 per cent, but 60 per cent will be exported. We are making a lot of arrangements with some banks to make sure most of the products are sold within Africa; so that it can be a real African refinery, not done just for us to come and process raw materials and ship the products outside Africa. The problem has always been letters of credit; we are working with Afreximbank to resolve that financing issue,“ he said.
On the types of fuel being produced and the one the refinery has a competitive advantage on, he posited, “We have competitive advantages over PMS, diesel, aviation fuel, and others. The consumption of aviation fuel in Africa is very low because we don’t have too many aircraft flying around. PMS is what people use a lot. Here in Nigeria, most discussions are on PMS. You know we just deregulated, and everybody is trying to find his feet. Now that the subsidy is gone, things are ramping up.”
The Vice President of the Dangote Group, Davakumar Edwin, stated that the refinery has a strategic location advantage because it is close to the sea. He also reiterated that the refinery can meet all local requirements.
Analysing the refinery’s production data during a presentation, he stressed that the facility can produce 104 million litres of different petroleum products per day.
“57 million litres of petrol every day, 20 million litres of jet fuel, 37 million litres of diesel is our daily production. The local consumption is just 46 million litres. The rest, 58 million litres, will be exported on a daily basis,” Edwin explained.
In the presentation, it was disclosed that the refinery supplies 33 million litres of PMS for daily local consumption; diesel is 10 million litres per day and aviation fuel is 3 million litres. Data from the tank farm shows that the refinery has reservoirs to store fuel for days.
It has 12 tanks to store up to 600 million litres of petrol which can serve the country for 18 days. It has 17 tanks for 408 million litres of aviation fuel for 136 days, and 14 tanks to store 340 million litres of diesel for 34 days. Similarly, 20 tanks are in place for 2.4 billion litres of crude oil for 20 days.
In all, there are 177 tanks of 4.742 billion litres capacity. At the control room, it was learnt that the refinery is currently at 550,000 barrels per day, which is about 85 per cent of its full capacity.
Last week, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory said local refineries could not produce up to 50 per cent of Nigeria’s daily PMS consumption of about 50 million litres per day, stressing that this necessitated the importation of more PMS to cover the shortfall.
Zambia seeks support
During the visit, the Zambia Minister for Energy, Chikote informed Dangote that the Zambian government is mandated to safeguard the supply of fuel.
According to him, the nation needs energy security and the Dangote refinery will be important to make that happen.
The energy minister said the country is looking at Dangote as a company to come on board for competitive fuel pricing and to ensure sufficient, reliable, and affordable petroleum products for Zambia.
He explained that the country is creating an enabling environment for private participation in the energy sector.
He revealed that the country depends majorly on a facility in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for its fuel needs, saying other neighbouring countries also depend on this same source.
“The first thing I want to say is that, as the Zambian government, we are mandated to safeguard the supply of our fuels, the security has to be given to the nation. At the same time, due to reforms, the government disengaged itself from participating in the procurement of this product, and we created an environment for private players to participate. Our policy formulation is to make sure that private players can participate in the energy sector. That is our goal.
“Currently, 100 per cent of importation of our petroleum products is being done by the private sector. We are going through some challenges as a country. This is also arising from some of the points that you raised, climate change, and others. Zambia is not a landlocked country. We are land-linked.
“We depend on our good neighbours that surround us. This is why you see us depending on Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Burundi is looking at the same facility. Malawi is looking at the same facility. The Democratic Republic of Congo is also looking towards the same facility. This results in too high congestion, delays, and all those challenges,” Chikote stated.
He pointed out that Zambia was hit by a drought, affecting power generation because the country was 85 per cent dependent on hydropower generation.
“This seriously affected our economic growth. Our economic growth was shaken or is still being shaken, even though we are putting in a lot of mitigation measures to address the challenge. As a country, we are targeting to increase productivity in the minings. We are targeting to increase productivity in agriculture, but through what? It is through having sufficient reliable energy sector to address these challenges. So, now, the reason why we find ourselves here is to start exploring opportunities that will start addressing the difficulties,” he told Dangote and his team.
He stated further, “We are trying to promote competition among our private players. We are looking at Dangote coming on board, which would lead to efficient, reliable, quality, and competitive products, and we want these done like yesterday. Coming to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, we have learned so many advantages of bringing many players for competition, which has improved the lives of the citizens.”