The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has given further insights into why he picked former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over then Rivers State Governor; and now Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as running mate in 2023.

In a statement signed by his Media Office, in Abuja, on Saturday, titled: “Learning Without Character Is Equal To Zero,” the Atiku Media Office said, it was responding to “yet another emotional outburst” disguised as a press statement from Wike’s Media aide, Lere Olayinka.

The Atiku Media Office said, “While we understand that bitterness often finds expression in misplaced aggression, we must remind Mr. Wike and his team that a bitter heart isn’t capable of charity, nor does it inspire unity, healing, or truth.

“Once again, facts have been twisted in a desperate attempt to rewrite history. Mr. Wike, through his spokesperson, claims that he had 13 votes from a committee set up to recommend a vice presidential running mate, while Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa had only two.

“Let us be clear: there are no laid down rules or laws on the selection process of a running mate. Committees, consultations, and recommendations are advisory in nature.

“The final decision rests solely and exclusively with the presidential candidate, in this case, Atiku Abubakar. It is a constitutional and strategic choice, not a popularity contest.

“Assuming, but not conceding that Wike had 13 votes and Okowa had 2 — just like universities confer degrees “in learning and in character” — one must ask: what is the worth of votes if character scores a zero?

“Leadership is not only about numbers; it is about temperament, dignity, and the ability to unify. A man may boast of numbers, but if his conduct lacks grace and humility, those numbers are empty.

“We make no apologies for choosing Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate in 2023. That decision was based on a combination of intellect, composure, and statesmanship.

“We have been vindicated by Mr. Wike’s public conduct in Rivers state where he once served as governor and in Abuja since becoming FCT Minister, which has made it abundantly clear why he was unsuitable for the role of Vice President in a ticket meant to unify, not divide.

“We urge Mr. Wike and his social media spokesperson to resist the temptation to sermonize about religious piety during Ramadan and Lent, too, while simultaneously fanning the flames of discord. Let us not reduce sacred periods to a tool for petty political jabs.

“The task of rebuilding our party and our nation is a serious one. It is time to move beyond bruised egos and focus on what truly matters: the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its people!.”

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has expressed concern over the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that while he holds no personal grudge against the president, the government’s policies lack empathy and fail to prioritise the well-being of Nigerians.

In an interview with Vanguard, Gabam criticised the government’s handling of security, governance, and economic matters, asserting that the administration has not significantly improved the country’s situation.

Gabam dismissed the argument that Tinubu’s government should not be blamed for ongoing challenges due to its short time in office.

According to him, governance is a continuous process, and Tinubu knowingly took over an already struggling system with promises to fix it.

“There is nothing like that in governance. Governance is about continuity. President Bola Tinubu is aware of the rotten situation or the rotten system he inherited. He promised to fix them. He campaigned on them and at that point said that if I do not provide electricity to all Nigerians within four years, don’t vote for me again, which means that he understood clearly what to be done, what he wants to achieve, what are the deliverables,” Gabam stated.

He stressed that while insecurity was an inherited problem, the expectation was that the president would take decisive action to address it.

“Now, one of the things he has inherited is insecurity. There is no doubt about it. It is not just him. Even the previous administration inherited that. In 1999, there was a report that there would be pockets of crisis across the geopolitical zones. So every president that came into office got a security report and intelligence of what the country was going through,” the SDP Chair noted.

“The First Thing He Did Was to Remove Subsidy” – Shehu Gabam

Gabam criticised Tinubu’s approach to fuel subsidy removal, describing it as abrupt and inconsiderate, given the economic hardships already plaguing Nigerians.

“What we expected is that the president will prioritise what he wants to achieve. The first thing he did was to remove the subsidy in a nation that was already enveloped by poverty, insecurity, rascality, lack of deterrence, and the subsidy was removed,” he said.

While he acknowledged that most presidential candidates had proposed subsidy removal, he argued that no leader who truly understands the country’s challenges would execute it in full without a phased approach.

Gabam said, “They did not say they would remove it 100 per cent. This is not the first time the subsidy was removed. Every president that understands the dynamics and the peculiarities of his own country knows that you cannot go all the hog and remove it completely. You have to do it bit by bit so that you feel the pulse of the people, of the citizens.”

“I Expected Him to Stop the System from Derailing” – Shehu Gabam

Gabam emphasised that while Nigeria’s problems did not begin with Tinubu, he had hoped the president would act swiftly to reverse the nation’s decline.

“Not just under this government. My fear was that he inherited a system that was derailing. My expectation was that he would stop it. That was my expectation,” he said.

Despite his disappointment, Gabam noted that he initially believed Tinubu had the potential to outperform his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

“I have always said that he would perform much better than even former President Muhammadu Buhari. I said it on air several times. I have nothing against him as a president. But I have everything against the policy that they are pursuing that has no human face and doesn’t recognise the dignity of the citizens,” he added.

“Security Has Not Improved” – Shehu Gabam

Addressing security concerns, Gabam challenged the notion that the country has made meaningful progress, pointing out that insecurity continues to disrupt key sectors, particularly agriculture.

“What is the improvement from what you know? Do we have improvement in the agricultural culture that is related to insecurity? Farmers cannot go to farms,” he said.

Regarding the security situation in the North-West, he acknowledged that while some states have experienced relief, others remain deeply affected by banditry.

“It depends where you are talking about in the North-West. In Katsina streets, there is still banditry going on. In Zamfara, there is still banditry going on and some other places. You can minus Kano, you can minus Jigawa and the South. But in all these states where you have banditry that have been entrenched, it has been reduced, but it is still constituted.”

Gabam concluded by reiterating his concerns about the direction of the country, insisting that governance must prioritise the people’s welfare above all else.

Controversial Nigerian prophet, Chukwuemeka Ohanemere, popularly known as Odumeje, has described the administration of President Bola Tinubu as the “worst” in Nigeria’s history.

Addressing his congregants at the church auditorium on Friday, the clergyman blamed Nigerians for acting docile despite the hardship brought by Tinubu’s economic policies.

He lamented that Tinubu’s family and cronies are enjoying the wealth meant for Nigerians.

The clergyman fumed that Tinubu had nothing to offer Nigerians and vowed to contest for the presidency in 2027 if he gets God’s approval.

Odumeje said, “The government is bragging when there is nothing they have offered to this nation. The current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the worst government that Nigeria has ever had.

“I’m disappointed with all of us, Nigerians, for allowing this person to be suffering us and increasing economic hardship. He and his family are enjoying the money that belongs to everybody, and we are keeping quiet on social media.

“He [Tinubu] is my fellow man, but he has nothing to offer. We only live once. That’s why I tell you, this presidential seat, 2027, I will use power, and I’m coming out for it. When I’m done consulting God and I come out for the presidency, nobody can occupy the seat.”

The crescent moon for the month of Shawwal 1446 was sighted in Saudi Arabia today, Saturday, 29th March 2025.

Based on the moon sighting, authorities in Saudi Arabia have announced that Eid-El-Fitr, which marks the official end of the annual Ramadan Fast, will be celebrated tomorrow, Sunday, March 30, 2025.

According to multiple media reports, the moon-sighting committee convened after Maghrib prayers and verified the sighting of the new moon, marking the end of Ramadan after 29 days of fasting.

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Muslims across the country to observe the sky for the new moon of Shawwal 1446AH on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Naija News reports that this directive was issued in a statement on Friday, March 28, 2025, by the Waziri of Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu.

The sighting of the new moon will determine the conclusion of Ramadan and the official date for Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The statement noted, “March 29 marks the 29th day of Ramadan 1446AH, making it the first possible day for moon sighting.”

Furthermore, the Sultan advised that “anyone who sights the moon should report their observations through the designated phone numbers provided in the release.”

If the new moon is confirmed, it will mark the conclusion of Ramadan and the commencement of Shawwal, the tenth lunar month in the Islamic calendar.

The statement also affirmed that the Sultanate Council would make an official announcement on Eid-el-Fitr based on verified moon sightings.

The federal government of Nigeria has already declared Monday, 31st March and Tuesday, 1st April 2025, as official public holidays to celebrate the end of the 2025 Ramadan fast.

Nollywood actress cum filmmaker, Mercy Aigbe Adeoti, has expressed her love for marriage and having a partner.

Naija News reports that the movie star, in a recent interview with her colleague, Bimpe Akintunde, said she never thought she would end up as a second wife.

She spoke against negative comments from critics about her marriage to Kazim Adeoti, questioning the state of their lives.

The thespian also revealed that her family opposed her remarriage due to her age, but she stood firm, knowing what she wanted.

Mercy Aigbe emphasised that people only discuss others when they are doing something notable or are well-known.

She said, “I love love, actually. What you said now, a lot of people do ask me, even some family members. They would be like, I’m close to 50 years old; what am I looking for? But I believe everybody knows what they want.

“What you want might be different from mine. I know what I saw, and I know what I wanted. I am the kind of person who loves to have a crown (husband) on my head and loves to be married.

“Maybe, if I’m still in my baby’s daddy’s house, I wouldn’t be known as Mercy Aigbe. Definitely people will talk when you do something good. If you are not known, you can’t be the topic. When I was young, I never thought my life would turn out this way.”

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of having character deficiency.
Naija News reports that Atiku made this known while responding to Wike’s statement of lying during the holy month of Ramadan regarding the process that led to the selection of the Vice Presidential candidate for the PDP in the 2023 election.

In a statement released on Saturday, through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike responded to Atiku’s claim that a committee set up by the PDP had ranked the former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the top choice for the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

According to Atiku, Wike was ranked second, with former Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel in third place. Atiku claimed that he picked Okowa based on the committee’s recommendation.

Olayinka strongly refuted Atiku’s account, questioning how a person who received only two votes could be ranked higher than someone who garnered 13 votes.

However, in a statement signed by Atiku’s Media Office, in Abuja, on Saturday, titled: “Learning Without Character Is Equal To Zero,” the former Vice President criticized Wike, stating that numbers are meaningless without good conduct and humility.

He further cited the current crisis in Rivers State, stressing that Wike’s conduct in recent times has made it clear he was unsuitable for the Vice Presidential slot.

The statement reads, “The attention of Atiku Media Office has been drawn to yet another emotional outburst disguised as a press statement from the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, issued by his aide, Lere Olayinka.

“While we understand that bitterness often finds expression in misplaced aggression, we must remind Mr. Wike and his team that a bitter heart isn’t capable of charity, nor does it inspire unity, healing, or truth.

“Once again, facts have been twisted in a desperate attempt to rewrite history. Mr. Wike, through his spokesperson, claims that he had 13 votes from a committee set up to recommend a vice presidential running mate, while Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa had only two. Let us be clear: there are no laid down rules or laws on the selection process of a running mate. Committees, consultations, and recommendations are advisory in nature. The final decision rests solely and exclusively with the presidential candidate, in this case, Atiku Abubakar. It is a constitutional and strategic choice, not a popularity contest.

“Assuming, but not conceding that Wike had 13 votes and Okowa had 2 — just like universities confer degrees “in learning and in character” — one must ask: what is the worth of votes if character scores a zero? Leadership is not only about numbers; it is about temperament, dignity, and the ability to unify. A man may boast of numbers, but if his conduct lacks grace and humility, those numbers are empty.

“We make no apologies for choosing Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate in 2023. That decision was based on a combination of intellect, composure, and statesmanship.

“We have been vindicated by Mr. Wike’s public conduct in Rivers state where he once served as governor and in Abuja since becoming FCT Minister, which has made it abundantly clear why he was unsuitable for the role of Vice President in a ticket meant to unify, not divide.

“We urge Mr. Wike and his social media spokesperson to resist the temptation to sermonize about religious piety during Ramadan and Lent, too, while simultaneously fanning the flames of discord. Let us not reduce sacred periods to a tool for petty political jabs.

“The task of rebuilding our party and our nation is a serious one. It is time to move beyond bruised egos and focus on what truly matters: the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its people!”

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued a summons to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and seven other parties over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The suit, filed under Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/45/2025, was brought by the Incorporated Trustees of Peoples Life Improvement Foundation, alongside Precious Elekima and Inanna Wright Harry.

The plaintiffs are challenging the legality of the emergency proclamation made by the President on March 18, 2025.

Others listed as defendants in the suit include the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Rivers State Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In the originating summons, the plaintiffs raised several constitutional questions, including whether the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state was valid under Nigerian law. They argued that the action violates Section 305(3)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act).

They are also asking the court to:

• Restrain the state Sole Administrator from appointing caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas;
• Stop any appointments of commissioners or awarding of contracts;
• Bar the administrator from spending from the state treasury;
• Reinstate the suspended executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State Government;
• And grant a perpetual injunction restraining the President from further suspending any democratically elected officials in the state.

The court has given the defendants 30 days to file their responses. It warned that failure to do so may result in the court proceeding with the case in their absence.

Renowned Niger-Delta activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has categorically stated that President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, was based on misleading and incorrect information.

In an interview with Vanguard on Saturday, Briggs accused the president of being misinformed and deceived by those around him.

“Not only was the president given wrong information, all along, the president has been lied to. It seems the president has never been to Rivers State, so he talks and listens to the people who claim they support him, as if Rivers State people and Ijaw do not support him, which is a big lie,” Briggs remarked.

She continued, emphasizing that the suspension was unjust and unfounded, citing the state’s House of Assembly complex, which she said was over 80% completed with payments already made by Governor Fubara.

“To have anchored the suspension on the claim that he destroyed the complex, which is not proved, and did nothing to provide an alternative place, is a lie,” she added.

Briggs also addressed claims that the suspension was due to insecurity in the state, calling these reports misleading.

She stated, “The president said there was a crisis in the state, indicating insecurity in Rivers State. That, too, was a lie. There was no insecurity. Under the circumstances in which we are operating – the governor of Rivers State is under suspension, all the appointments made by the governor have been cancelled, and new people are coming—it begins to agitate a reasonable person’s mind. If you say you are suspending him for six months, and assuming you revisit the issue, why are the people being removed?

“Not only was our money withheld and now given to the sole administrator, but you also removed people. When Fubara returns, he will remove all the people the sole administrator is putting there because what he is doing is dangerous.

“Why is this uncertainty being created in Rivers State? What have we done as a people? If the president looks back, he would see that everybody is saying he did the wrong thing; the only ones who say that what he did is right are those who claim to support him in Rivers. Are strangers the ones that will come in and deliver the president in 2027 if he is re-contesting for a second tenure? It cannot be.

“The president has been unjust and unfair. Nobody is infallible, so if the president acted based on wrong information, that is a great precedent. He should re-appraise and say he made the decision acting on wrong information, and based on that, the suspension is lifted. We will see him as a great president.”

Naija News reports that Briggs regretted that the president had not adhered to the rule of law in handling the political crisis in the state, adding that the sole administrator was going on with illegalities.

The activist stated, “By what is happening in Rivers State, it can be deduced that the rule of law in this instance has not been adhered to. The Supreme Court said the state should receive its money only when the governor presents a budget to the House of Assembly and it is approved. How did the president release Rivers’ money to a sole administrator against the law? We, the Rivers people, are angry.

“Secondly, we hear, but it is not proven, that the sole administrator is preparing to appoint local government chairmen. We ask where he derives the power to appoint local government chairmen. The Supreme Court has said local government chairmen should be elected, not appointed, or interim chairmen.

“If we have voted, and the Supreme Court said all that was null and void, and the governor removed all the chairmen we voted for, and now the sole administrator wants to appoint local government chairmen, where is the sole administrator getting his powers from? Who told him that he can come to Rivers State and handpick a local government chairman against the law?

“If a governor has been suspended, we hear that the picture of our governor has been removed from the Government House. That is something that will agitate the people of Rivers State. Fubara is not fired; he is on suspension, and everybody has said the suspension is illegal.

“In all that is happening in Rivers State, it is only the president who can bring answers to all the questions. As of now, reasons have shown that there are no facts to suspend the governor of Rivers State. There was no insecurity and blowing up pipelines in Rivers State, and the companies have said nothing was blown up. When you look at all these things, some people do these things to pin everything on the governor. If you know Rivers State, you will understand that the level of calm in the state now is because the suspended governor is a man of peace, and his followers toe the path he has shown them.

“I call on the president to consider all these and let peace reign. We cannot have two governors in this state. The sole administrator should stop seeing himself as the governor of Rivers State; he is not.”

Briggs stressed that the people of Rivers State felt as if they were under military rule rather than civilian governance.

She concluded, “The interpretation of the Rivers people themselves is that they are under military rule in a civilian and democratic dispensation. Boko Haram has sacked many people in Borno State; yet, they are not under military rule. Why should we be under military rule?”

Private oil depots across Nigeria have raised the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to ₦900 per litre this weekend.

Naija News reports that the hike is attributed to the rising prices of crude oil and other global market factors, impacting the cost of refining and distribution.

A weekend check by Vanguard revealed that major oil marketers, including Rainoil, Prudent, A.Y.M Shafa, and Mainland, have increased their depot prices to ₦900 per litre.

This price surge is expected to lead to an upward adjustment of pump prices when petrol reaches the filling stations.

The price of crude oil, a key feedstock for refining, has risen from $70 per barrel to $75 per barrel, placing additional financial strain on refineries, including the $650,000-barrel per day Dangote refinery.

The increase in crude oil prices has caused the refinery to face higher operational costs, impacting the country’s overall pricing structure of petrol.

According to Vanguard, the Dangote refinery, a major player in Nigeria’s oil sector, did not load trucks based on the country’s Naira-for-Crude program over the weekend, as it continued to lift crude oil via ships charged at dollar rates.

This pricing strategy is crucial for covering the refinery’s increased operational costs, particularly as a significant portion of the crude oil it processes is sourced from the international market in dollars.

Petroleumpriceng.com noted that the situation has put additional pressure on oil marketers, including MRS and Ardova, who are now sourcing their ship supplies in dollars.

This has resulted in an inevitable increase in pump prices, with independent retail outlets in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria selling petrol between ₦930 and ₦950 per litre.

The site further stated, “The inability of the federal government to resolve all issues that hinder the execution of the Naira-crude policy will keep petrol prices rising.”

In a related development, the Major Energies Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) reported that the landing cost of imported petrol had increased by ₦88 per litre in just one week.

MEMAN’s daily energy bulletin, issued on March 26, 2025, indicated that the cost had risen from ₦797 per litre last week to ₦885 per litre this week.

MEMAN also acknowledged the ongoing instability in the market, stating, “As the market stabilizes, challenges will arise, and resistance from those accustomed to price control is inevitable. But with robust regulation, industry collaboration, and public transparency, Nigeria can fully realize the benefits of this transformation.”

The association expressed confidence that a well-functioning, deregulated market would attract more investment, improve operational efficiency, and create a more competitive landscape benefiting both businesses and consumers.

Former Rivers State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, has denied claims by his wife, Florence, that he was kidnapped.

Nwaeke stated that contrary to her assertion, he is safe in Abuja where he had gone to voluntarily report himself to security agencies over developments in Rivers State.

In a video released in the early hours of Saturday, the former HoS dismissed his wife’s claim as false, suggesting that she had been misled and given a script to read.

“I am in TRANSCORP Abuja. I arrived this morning from Port Harcourt to meet security agencies and report myself, as well as the troubling events happening in Rivers State. I resigned as Head of Service on Monday because of these developments,” he said.

Addressing his wife’s claims, he added, “I just saw a video of my wife trending. She was told I had been kidnapped and given a script to read. I want to make it clear — I am not kidnapped. I am in Abuja, working.

“When I was Head of Service, my wife was not involved in my official duties. That script she read is null and void. I am safe and sound. I will report myself to the appropriate security agencies because Abuja houses their headquarters, and I feel safer making my report here.”

Florence, in an emotional interview on Friday, expressed deep concern over her husband’s whereabouts following his resignation.

She revealed that after his arrival in Abuja, he called to confirm his safe landing.

However, her fears grew after seeing an online interview with him, which she found suspicious.

“I said, ‘That is not my husband. That is not my husband,” she recalled.

She shared her desperate attempts to contact him, saying, “I sent him a message: ‘Are you under duress? Have they kidnapped you? Talk to me now. Why are you not responding?’ But he didn’t reply. His numbers are not going through. Nigerians, help me!”

Florence raised the alarm after Nwaeke publicly accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of orchestrating the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly in 2023 to prevent his impeachment.

Nwaeke alleged that he witnessed a bag of money being handed over to the former Assembly leader, Edison Ehie, now Fubara’s Chief of Staff, to attack the Assembly Complex along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.