“We Can’t Run a Country on Vibes” – Rufai Oseni Knocks Peter Obi Over Lack of Clear Policy Details

Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni has criticised NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent television appearance, saying the former Anambra governor failed to clearly explain how he would implement his campaign promises if elected in 2027. Speaking on Monday during the Arise Television Morning Show, Oseni said presidential hopefuls must move beyond broad promises and begin presenting detailed policy frameworks and practical strategies for solving Nigeria’s problems.

Referring to Obi’s interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oseni said candidates have a responsibility to show Nigerians how they plan to address the country’s challenges. “And that’s what I did not see yesterday. I didn’t see the how. We can’t run a country on vibes,” Oseni said. He argued that with the 2027 election drawing closer, Nigerians should already have access to comprehensive manifestos and well-articulated plans from candidates seeking the country’s highest office. “By now, if elections are in January, we are now in August, we have not seen manifesto. Six months to go. Secondly, we are not seeing proper articulation of how you will do it,” he said. “In fact, I think all candidates should stop telling us I will do this. They should start telling us how. We should see an idea. It’s the idea that we want to debate, the workability of the idea, and that I didn’t see. I didn’t see a lot of that,” Oseni added.

The broadcaster also questioned the repeated campaign promise of ending insecurity without explaining the strategy behind it. According to him, candidates should provide clear methodologies instead of withholding broad policy explanations under the excuse of protecting operational details. “We will fix insecurity. How? And please, people should stop telling us ‘I don’t want to share my operational details’. Nobody say you should share your operational details, because as a candidate, you can’t have operational details. Operational details are specific to operations, hence the name operational details. Nobody say you should share that. What we are saying is overarching details, methodology, how you are going to do it. That’s just it,” he said.

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Oseni further stated that he expected candidates to explain their technical plans for key sectors, particularly electricity, rather than making general promises. “I mean, these are things as regards technicality and methodology. These are the things I want to hear from our candidates. Power sector, what would you do as regards them about creating thousands of megawatts? Major problem in the power sector today is transmission. We have 13,000 installed capacity, but why are we not seeing more than 5000 megawatts capacity for transmission? Are you going to put investment there? Are you going to raise the equity for the investment? I mean, those are paramount questions. So please, we want to see more of those details,” Oseni said.

Oseni’s remarks came a day after Obi appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he outlined his vision for Nigeria in a two-hour wide-ranging interview. The NDC presidential candidate promised to personally lead the fight against insecurity, build a production-driven economy, reduce the cost of governance, strengthen anti-corruption efforts, and serve only one four-year term if elected president.

On security, Obi faulted the current approach to combating insecurity, insisting that Nigeria requires more committed and visible leadership. He said unlike the present arrangement, he would personally coordinate the country’s response to insecurity, regularly visit troubled communities, and ensure that security agencies receive adequate equipment, funding, and operational support. “I will personally lead the fight against insecurity. I will be visible, engaged and directly involved. I will visit affected communities and ensure that our security architecture is properly equipped, adequately funded, and fully supported,” Obi stated. According to him, poverty remains the biggest driver of insecurity, and lasting peace cannot be achieved without massive investments in education, job creation, and economic opportunities for young Nigerians. “You cannot create widespread poverty and expect peace. The more people are pushed into poverty, the greater the insecurity. Education and job creation remain the most sustainable solutions,” he said.
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On the economy, Obi said his administration would abandon what he described as a consumption-driven model and replace it with a production-based economy anchored on agriculture, manufacturing, and support for small businesses. “Nigeria must move from consumption to production. Agriculture alone can generate more revenue than crude oil if properly developed. We have enough arable land not only to feed ourselves but also to become a major exporter,” he said. He maintained that Nigeria possessed sufficient human and natural resources to become a major global producer of agricultural commodities if appropriate policies were implemented. He added that government under his leadership would prioritise support for farmers and manufacturers, improve access to affordable credit, and create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Obi also criticised the implementation of the fuel subsidy removal policy, saying although he supports ending the subsidy regime, the process should have been gradual, transparent, and accompanied by clear communication with Nigerians. “The problem is not simply removing subsidy. Government must explain to Nigerians what is being saved and where those savings are being invested. Economic reforms must translate into improved living conditions for ordinary citizens,” Obi was quoted as saying. He maintained that while some macroeconomic indicators might have improved, the benefits had not reached average Nigerians. “Many macroeconomic indicators may appear positive, but ordinary Nigerians are not feeling the impact. Poverty has increased, government revenue has grown, borrowing has continued and citizens have endured severe hardship without corresponding benefits,” he stated.

The former Anambra governor also said economic reforms would only succeed if government demonstrated equal determination in tackling graft. He called for greater transparency in public finance, insisting that Nigerians deserve detailed explanations whenever government grants waivers, incurs major expenditure, or makes significant financial decisions. “If government can implement painful economic reforms with determination, it should demonstrate the same resolve in fighting corruption. Citizens have the right to know how public resources are being managed,” he stated. Obi also promised to reduce what he described as the excessive cost of governance, saying scarce national resources should be redirected from official luxuries to education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He criticised expenditure on luxury government assets, including aircraft, stating that leaders must demonstrate prudent management of public resources. “There is too much waste in government. Before buying luxury assets, we should ask whether the same resources could build hospitals, schools, or critical infrastructure. Leadership is about setting priorities,” he said.

Obi reiterated his long-held position against maintaining a publicly funded Office of the First Lady, describing it as a non-constitutional creation. “My wife will naturally perform ceremonial duties as the president’s spouse, but there will be no separate government bureaucracy or publicly funded Office of the First Lady. Nigerians elected the president, not the president’s spouse,” Obi said. Reaffirming his earlier promise to serve only one term if elected, Obi said leadership was about keeping one’s word and delivering measurable results. “I do not need more than four years to put Nigeria on the right path. If elected, I will serve only one term of four years, not one day longer,” he declared. He also stressed that his greatest partners would be Nigeria’s young people, saying the objective is not simply to win an election but to build a Nigeria that works for everyone. Obi also defended his personal integrity, insisting that all his assets were lawfully declared while in office as governor, and challenged anyone with evidence of wrongdoing during his tenure to make it public.

“We Can’t Run a Country on Vibes” – Rufai Oseni Knocks Peter Obi Over Lack of Clear Policy Details

Three-Storey Student Hostel Collapses Near Oko Polytechnic, Many Trapped

A three-storey private hostel, Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed late Sunday night in Oko, Anambra State, trapping an unspecified number of students and other occupants beneath the rubble. The building, located beside Tonimas Filling Station in the Amokpala area behind Federal Polytechnic Oko, caved in during the late hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, triggering panic among residents and students, with desperate cries for help reportedly heard from beneath the debris shortly after the structure collapsed. Emergency responders, including personnel from the Anambra State Police Command, the Anambra State Fire Service, and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) , immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation, with several injured victims pulled from the debris and rushed to a hospital in Oko for medical treatment. Bodies recovered from the scene have been deposited in a mortuary, though authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of casualties.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police-led joint security team responded swiftly after receiving a distress call, securing the area to prevent further danger and coordinating rescue efforts. In a statement, Ikenga said that rescue operations are ongoing to reach other persons who may still be trapped, and the number of casualties or affected persons cannot yet be confirmed, adding that some injured victims have been rescued from the debris and evacuated to a hospital in Oko, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

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The management of Federal Polytechnic Oko has clarified that the collapsed structure is a privately owned lodge located in Amaokpala, a neighbouring community to Oko town, and not within the institution’s premises, with the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Oguegbu Celestine Udoka, stating that reports circulating on social media were misleading and exaggerated, adding that the building accommodates both students and non-students. The Polytechnic disclosed that its Rector, Dr Chioma Irene Awuzie, visited the scene early Monday morning to assess the situation and ascertain the welfare of any affected students, accompanied by the Students’ Union Government President, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, and other senior staff.

Residents described scenes of fear and confusion as the building suddenly collapsed without warning, with one eyewitness, who identified herself simply as Ifeoma, saying that many people initially mistook the loud sound for an explosion before discovering that the student hostel had crumbled, and that within moments after the loud noise, the occupants inside started shouting for help as the building fell. Emergency response teams continued operations on Monday, with heavy equipment and personnel remaining at the site, as the building, which is usually overcrowded with students from the academic institution currently in its second semester of the 2025/2026 academic session, collapsed while many occupants were believed to be asleep. The police appealed to residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and stay away from the scene to enable emergency responders carry out their work effectively, while the cause of the building collapse has yet to be determined.

Three-Storey Student Hostel Collapses Near Oko Polytechnic, Many Trapped

Kwara Lawyers Begin Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Allowances, Salary Harmonisation

Law officers in the Kwara State Ministry of Justice have downed tools indefinitely, citing the government’s failure to pay outstanding statutory allowances and harmonise their salaries with those of magistrates. Members of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Kwara State Chapter, on Monday commenced an indefinite strike following the expiration of a seven-day notice issued to the State Government over unresolved welfare demands. The industrial action was announced in a notice signed by the Acting Chairman of the association, Barr. Kehinde M. Ayorinde, Esq., directing members to suspend all official duties until further notice. “Take notice that LOAN, Kwara State Chapter commences her indefinite strike action today, July 27, 2026, until the government responds to her demands. Members would therefore suspend all official duties till further notice,” the notice stated. The action follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued by the association to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, warning that its members would embark on an indefinite strike if their grievances were not addressed.

The dispute centres on the welfare of members, with the association noting that it had previously written several letters to the governor requesting the payment of outstanding allowances but received no favourable response. The lawyers expressed disappointment over what they described as the government’s indifference despite the critical responsibilities they perform in the administration of justice across the state. “Our members confront criminals in court on a daily basis, generate revenue through the vetting of contract agreements, draft bills, prosecute tax defaulters to recover government revenue, and handle cases involving gender-based violence,” the association stated. The lawyers added that they also provide legal advice to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), offer legal services to indigent citizens, and mediate in civil disputes, among other responsibilities. The association maintained that its members play critical roles in the administration of justice, including prosecuting criminal cases, providing legal advice to government agencies, drafting legislation and recovering public revenue through the prosecution of tax defaulters.

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Among the demands listed by the association are the payment of the outstanding 50 per cent balance of the 2020 furniture allowance, payment of the 2024 outstanding furniture allowance, settlement of robe allowances for 2024, 2025 and 2026, and the implementation of the harmonisation of salaries and allowances. The lawyers also urged the government to harmonise the conditions of service for State Counsel with those of Magistrates in the Kwara State Judiciary in line with the 1999 and 2005 harmonisation approvals.

The association recalled that its members embarked on a three-day warning strike from October 27 to October 29, 2025, but later suspended the action following the intervention of the Office of the Head of Service and labour unions, which assured them that their demands would be addressed by the appropriate authorities. According to the association, those assurances have not translated into action, with nothing done since 2025 despite several follow-up letters requesting the government to revisit the issues. “It is against this backdrop that we are constrained to give this seven-day notice of an indefinite strike, commencing from July 20 and lapsing on July 26, 2026, to press home our demands and secure the attention of the state government,” the letter read.

The industrial action has disrupted court proceedings and legal operations across the state, with several ministries and departments affected. The strike comes amid broader agitation within the judiciary in Kwara State, with magistrates having earlier in June 2026 threatened an indefinite strike over poor salaries, unpaid allowances and discriminatory welfare treatment. The Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kwara State Chapter, had announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike beginning July 2, 2026, over poor remuneration, unpaid allowances and discriminatory welfare treatment among magistrates in the state. The magistrates lamented that a Grade Level 14 Magistrate currently earns less than a Grade Level 14 Court Registrar, describing the situation as unjust and demoralising for judicial officers. They also decried the non-payment of furniture allowance, which is expected to accrue every four years, noting that the allowance was last paid during the administration of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Magistrates in the state have also revealed the humiliation, deprivation and neglect they suffer, alleging that most of them earn less than N200,000 monthly and have been forced to rely on commercial motorcycles (Okada) as their primary means of transportation to court. The judicial officers lamented that judges of the superior courts, as well as top judicial administrators such as the Chief Registrar and Deputy Chief Registrar, have benefited from welfare improvements and vehicle allocations, while magistrates and Area Court judges continue to struggle. These recurring welfare disputes among judicial officers and law officers in Kwara State highlight the need for the state government to address the systemic challenges affecting the justice sector, including salary harmonisation and the prompt payment of statutory allowances.

Lawyers Begin Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Allowances, Salary Harmonisation