Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has urged the people of the state to ignore detractors and destructive critics of his recent defection, saying his move to the All Progressives Congress was in the best interest of the state.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Victor Attah International Airport on his arrival from France on Wednesday, Eno asserted that he is the one in the driver’s seat and knows the right path to avoid traffic jams.

He said many of those criticising his decision are not even from Akwa Ibom State but enjoy interfering in matters that do not concern them.

Eno emphasised that Akwa Ibom would remain focused, peaceful, and united in its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

He stated that his defection to the APC was never intended to cause disunity but rather to strategically position the state for progress and greatness.

He said, “And for the people who think we don’t have a choice, tell them that I have exercised my right, and that it is within our right to freely associate. Let’s remain focused, because when you are pursuing an elephant, you don’t let a dog stop you on the road.

“So, to those who are talking—some of them are not even from Akwa Ibom—they put their mouths in what does not concern them. Please, don’t listen to them. This progressive movement is within my right!

“This is Akwa Ibom State’s matter. I am the one in the driver’s seat today. I am the one holding the steering wheel, and I know where there will be no traffic jam. I know where there will be no potholes. That’s why I have chosen to take Akwa Ibom on an expressway—free of traffic and potholes. I am the driver who can see clearly.”

He reaffirmed his commitment to leading the state on a path of unity, peace, and progress, under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit, which he said found him worthy to lead at this critical time.

Also speaking, the APC State Chairman, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, described the political criticisms trailing the governor’s defection as unreasonable. He maintained that Governor Eno is the right leader for the moment and will continue to pilot the affairs of the state with passion, regardless of opposition.

He called on the people to ignore baseless criticisms and unite in supporting the governor to bring more dividends of democracy from the federal level to the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, who led a team of supporters to welcome the governor, said the warm and colourful reception was a demonstration of solidarity and love for a father and governor who has performed creditably well.

The National Leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has urged the country’s leadership and citizens to revisit the foundational principles of federalism as contained in the 1963 Constitution, calling it the blueprint for national unity and enduring progress.

Fasoranti, in a statement on Wednesday commemorating June 12, called for the country to return to the 1963 Republican Constitution, which he said provides the needed framework for true federalism, a structure that empowers Nigeria’s diverse regions to operate with some degree of autonomy.

“To ensure an enduring framework for unity and progress in the country, federalism enables the constituent parts of the country to exercise some level of autonomy or self-determination as obtained in the First Republic,” he said.

He described the present system as over-centralised and inadequate for Nigeria’s complex needs, arguing that true federalism would encourage balanced development and reduce regional tensions.

Fasoranti continued by hailing the milestone of uninterrupted democratic governance since 1999 but emphasised the need for structural reforms to deepen democratic practice in Nigeria.

The elder statesman acknowledged the sacrifices made by pro-democracy groups that fought for the restoration of civil governance.

He said,”Without doubt, the sustained and uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999 is a product of the sacrifices and commitment of our heroes and heroines in the civil society groups, and other well-meaning compatriots, who, along with Afenifere, coalesced into the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, to constitute the vanguard of progressive forces that ensured the restoration of democracy and the birth of the Fourth Republic.”

Fasoranti expressed hope in the continued vibrancy of progressive movements, and he said he is confident that the progressive spirit will continue to sustain and nurture democratic ideals in Nigeria

Turning to the persistent insecurity plaguing the nation, Fasoranti noted that despite ongoing efforts, the country remains under siege from violent non-state actors.

He proposed the creation of State Police and Community Policing as realistic and urgently needed solutions to combat insecurity.

Fasoranti said,”We, in Afenifere, share the view of many other patriotic Nigerians that establishing State Police and checking internal collaborators appears to be the panacea for this scourge that tends to make living or travelling in certain parts of the country a nightmare

“I am therefore seizing this opportunity to call on the federal and state governments to establish the State Police and the Community Policing system.”

Fasoranti concluded by reminding Nigerians of the deeper meaning of June 12 and the need to rise above divisions in pursuit of a greater national purpose.

The Katsina State Police Command said it has uncovered a kidnapping syndicate involving a 14-year-old girl who conspired with three others to abduct her four-year-old sister and fake her own abduction to demand ransom.

Spokesperson for the command, Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the command’s activities for the month of May.

He said the incident was reported on February 20, 2025, by one Alhaji Badamasi Bala of Madaci Yan Nono Quarters, Katsina, who informed the police that his two daughters, aged 14 and 4, had been kidnapped.

The abductors demanded a ransom of ₦50 million for their release.

“Upon receipt of the letter, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, detailed the command’s anti-kidnapping to investigate. Promptly, detailed investigation commenced.

“About four months from the date of the kidnapping, the eldest daughter surfaced. When questioned, she confessed to having conspired with three others to kidnap her 4-year-old sister and faked her own kidnapping,” he said.

The other suspects, aged 25, 19, and 16, were subsequently arrested, and the four-year-old victim was rescued unharmed. 

He added, “They all confessed to the commission of the offence.

“During the investigation, one live round of 7.62mm ammunition was recovered from their possession. Investigation is ongoing.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, psc, fdc, MNIM, commends the officers’ efforts and urges the public to continue supporting the crime-fighting efforts of the command by reporting suspicious activities for prompt and decisive action.”

Political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has used the occasion of Nigeria’s Democracy Day to call for a deeper reflection on leadership in the country, describing some politicians as “thugs and tropical gangsters.”

Utomi shared his thoughts in a series of posts on Wednesday and Thursday via his X handle, where he emphasised the need for Nigerians to liberate themselves from politicians whose actions he said continue to damage the country’s progress.

“The real reflection for June 12 has to be how the people can liberate themselves from thugs and tropical gangsters masquerading as politicians, as their character flaws damage the prospects of the people of their countries,” he wrote.

Utomi linked the spirit of June 12 to the leadership struggle championed by the late Chief MKO Abiola, whose annulled 1993 election victory is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s democratic history.

“Engaging the leadership question in African politics is what drove Chief Abiola.

“So June 12 is perhaps the day to reflect on leadership,” Utomi stated.

The professor also referenced Kenyan public intellectual PLO Lumumba, noting that Lumumba frequently points out Nigeria’s failings when compared with countries like Qatar, often to the discomfort of Nigerian elites.

“From inside, we hear it every day from people like PLO Lumumba who often shows off Nigeria’s failings when he compares with Qatar, as Nigerian elite in his audience grin sheepishly as if they do not realise it is about them he is speaking. But what he says is the truth,” he added.

Utomi further revealed that he would observe three minutes of silence at noon on June 12 in honour of some key figures linked to the democratic struggle.

These include the late Chief MKO Abiola, whom he described as a hero, and others like Tunde Akinleye, a former chairman of Ikoyi Club, and elder statesman, Papa Ayo Adebanjo.

He also referenced the book ‘Tropical Gangsters’ by development expert Robert Klitgaard, suggesting the term aptly describes the nature of political leadership in parts of Africa.

June 12 is officially recognised as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in honour of the 1993 elections, which are considered the freest and fairest in the country’s history.