Many 2023 political aspirants should be in jail – Obasanjo - Newstrends
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Many 2023 political aspirants should be in jail – Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday declared that many aspirants parading themselves for one political office or the other ahead of the 2023 general elections should be in jail.

Obasanjo also predicted that Nigeria might soon collapse into different countries if its citizens failed to unite.

The ex-President spoke at the international symposium organised to mark his 85th birthday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

He lamented that several politicians aspiring for political positions and their supporters should have been arrested, tried and jailed for corrupt practices if the anti-graft agencies had done their jobs diligently with the support of the judiciary.

The symposium was attended physically and virtually by eminent personalities, including President Paul Kagame (Rwanda); former President Nicéphore Soglo of Benin Republic; Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Prof Goski Alabi (Ghana); Ambassador Barry Desker (Singapore); Prof Juma Shabani (Burundi); Dr Mary Khimulu (Kenya); Dr Moussa Kondo (Mali); Prof Sarah Agbor (Cameroon); Anambra State Governor-Elect, Prof Charles Soludo, and a former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, among others.

Obasanjo, who spoke on the theme, ‘Africa Narrative with Nigeria Situation’, advised Nigerians to learn from the events of the past and put aside sentiments in choosing the next president of the country.

He said, “I cast a cursory look at some of the people running around and those for whom people are running around. If the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission had done their jobs properly and supported adequately by the judiciary, most of them would be in jail.

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“Any person who has no integrity in small things cannot have integrity in big things. Fixing Nigeria must begin on the principles of nation-building, not necessarily on emotion, sentiment, euphoria, ignorance, incompetence, ethnicity, nepotism, bigotry, sectionalism, regionalism, religion or class.

“The issues of security, stability, development, economy and our relationship within Africa and with the rest of the world can only be taken care of if we get the issue of nation-building right.

“We have a lot to learn from the events of the last almost 24 years and God is not to blame if we fail.

“It would appear that we are not getting our priorities right and that can spell doom for our country if we fail to do what we should do for nation-building in terms of fundamentals of equity, justice, common ideals, popular education, shared values, mutual respect and equality of opportunities anchored and propelled by leaders across the board that are persons of integrity, honour, morality, competence, great virtue, courage to do what is right, humility and ability to put a team together and work with them in selfless devotion and service with the fear of God.”

Obasanjo, who warned against the collapse of Nigeria into different countries, also called on Nigerians to speak with one voice and vote for a candidate that would bring development to the country.

The former President maintained that Nigeria would continue to face insecurity, economy and other challenges until Nigerians agree to speak with one voice.

Obasanjo however complained about alleged manipulation of election results in the country, warning that if the situation persists, Nigeria might go into extinction.

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2027: ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Chants Rock Jigawa as NITDA DG Opens Campaign Office

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2027: ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Chants Rock Jigawa as NITDA DG Opens Campaign Office

2027: ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Chants Rock Jigawa as NITDA DG Opens Campaign Office

A crowd of supporters in Jigawa State has chanted “Tinubu Must Stay” as the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, led a grassroots mobilisation campaign in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anticipated re-election bid in 2027.

The mobilisation took place on Sunday, November 1, at Garun Gabas Ward in Malam Madori Local Government Area, where Abdullahi inaugurated a campaign office for the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS), popularly known as the Tinubu Must Stay Movement.

The event attracted All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, community leaders, women, youths and other supporters. It also provided a platform for some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to announce their defection to the APC.

Abdullahi, who is the chairman of the TMS Board of Trustees and its national coordinator, said the movement was expanding its grassroots structures to promote public understanding of the Tinubu administration’s policies and mobilise support for the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

He explained that the group intended to take the administration’s reform agenda to communities across the country, particularly its emphasis on economic diversification and inclusive national development.

According to him, the administration’s interventions in education, agriculture, food security, national security, digital literacy and healthcare were designed to stimulate economic growth, improve livelihoods and strengthen national development.

The NITDA director-general cited South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia as examples of countries whose development experiences, he argued, demonstrated the importance of sustained economic reforms and policy consistency.

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He urged residents to support Tinubu’s return to office in 2027, expressing the view that continuity would help sustain the administration’s development agenda.

“On this note, I implore the people to come out en masse and ensure a landslide victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” Abdullahi told the gathering.

Beyond political mobilisation, he announced plans to empower an additional 200 women in Garun Gabas Ward through the movement’s community intervention programmes.

He said the proposed intervention would complement previous empowerment exercises in Jigawa State, including a recent programme in Hadejia, where beneficiaries reportedly received financial assistance, sewing machines, bakery equipment and agricultural inputs to support small businesses and improve household incomes.

Abdullahi added that the movement would continue to prioritise women, youths, children and persons with disabilities through economic empowerment, educational assistance and other community development initiatives.

He also thanked residents for their support for Tinubu’s administration, assuring them that the movement would sustain its engagement with communities.

The gathering also witnessed the reception of some defectors from the PDP and NDC into the APC. The new members, who were received by Abdullahi and the Malam Madori APC leadership, attributed their decision to what they described as development interventions and improvements in their communities.

They specifically cited projects facilitated through NITDA, saying the interventions had strengthened their confidence in the administration’s development agenda.

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Speaking at the event, the APC chairman in Malam Madori Local Government Area, Alhaji Tanko Ahmad, commended Abdullahi for facilitating digital infrastructure projects, particularly the establishment of an Information and Communication Technology Development Centre at Government Secondary School, Garun Gabas.

Ahmad said the facility had expanded students’ access to digital skills and improved opportunities for young people to prepare for an increasingly technology-driven economy.

He pledged the support of the party’s structures in the area for the Tinubu Must Stay Movement and its planned grassroots mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

The movement’s convener in Garun Gabas, Engineer Hashim Suleiman, described the turnout as an indication of local support for the initiative.

He said the movement began its activities in the United Kingdom before its formal launch in Abuja and subsequent expansion into communities across Nigeria.

Suleiman described the inauguration as the beginning of further grassroots engagements and urged beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes to use the assistance productively to establish sustainable businesses.

The ceremony ended with the presentation of an Award of Recognition to Abdullahi by the TMS leadership in Garun Gabas in acknowledgement of his contributions to digital infrastructure development and grassroots engagement.

The organisers said the movement planned to establish more structures across Jigawa and other parts of the country through political sensitisation, community engagement and empowerment programmes as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.

2027: ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Chants Rock Jigawa as NITDA DG Opens Campaign Office

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Rhodes-Vivour Tackles Lagos Government Over Threat to Seal Residents’ Boreholes

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Rhodes-Vivour Tackles Lagos Government Over Threat to Seal Residents’ Boreholes
Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Rhodes-Vivour Tackles Lagos Government Over Threat to Seal Residents’ Boreholes

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has criticised the state government over its threat to seal properties operating unauthorised boreholes, raising fresh concerns about access to water and the regulation of groundwater resources in the state.

The controversy followed a warning by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) that property owners who drill boreholes or extract groundwater without the necessary permits risk having their facilities sealed and facing prosecution.

The commission said the enforcement measure was part of efforts to protect underground water resources, prevent contamination and ensure the sustainable management of groundwater across Lagos.

LASWARCO’s Executive Secretary, Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo, explained that the agency had the statutory responsibility to regulate borehole drilling, groundwater extraction and water supply services in the state.

She said unauthorised groundwater extraction could pose environmental and public health risks, including contamination of underground water sources and land subsidence.

Adeyemo warned that the commission would take action against individuals and organisations operating boreholes without the required approval, including sealing affected facilities and prosecuting offenders.

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The commission also advised residents, businesses and property developers intending to drill boreholes to obtain the necessary permits before commencing operations.

It encouraged members of the public to report suspected cases of unauthorised borehole drilling and groundwater extraction as part of efforts to strengthen compliance with water regulations.

The agency provided 0816 878 2223 as its complaint hotline and directed residents seeking further information to its office at Block 19, third floor, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

However, the enforcement warning has brought renewed attention to the dependence of many Lagos residents on privately owned boreholes for their daily water needs.

Across several communities, households and businesses rely on groundwater because public water supply is either unavailable, irregular or insufficient to meet their requirements.

This situation has raised questions about how the government intends to balance environmental protection and water regulation with residents’ need for affordable and reliable access to water.

While the government maintains that permits are necessary to protect groundwater resources and prevent environmental damage, the proposed enforcement has also drawn attention to the financial and practical implications of compliance for property owners.

The debate comes against the background of efforts by the Lagos State Government to regulate groundwater extraction and improve the management of water resources.

The state has maintained that borehole drilling and groundwater extraction must comply with existing environmental and water-sector regulations.

The latest controversy has consequently placed water access, borehole regulation and environmental protection at the centre of public discussion in Lagos.

Rhodes-Vivour’s criticism also gives the issue a political dimension as attention gradually shifts towards the 2027 Lagos governorship election.

Editorial note: The precise wording and specific arguments in Rhodes-Vivour’s reaction have not been independently established from the material available. His original statement should be checked before publication to ensure his position is accurately represented.

 

Rhodes-Vivour Tackles Lagos Government Over Threat to Seal Residents’ Boreholes

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Sowore’s Ekiti Clash: How Argument Over Hunger, Tinubu’s Govt Triggered Fight — Source

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Sowore’s Ekiti Clash: How Argument Over Hunger, Tinubu’s Govt Triggered Fight — Source
Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore
Sowore’s Ekiti Clash: How Argument Over Hunger, Tinubu’s Govt Triggered Fight — Source

A heated disagreement over hunger, economic hardship and support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly triggered the confrontation between human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and a group of Tinubu supporters at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

A source familiar with the incident told THE WHISTLER that the disagreement began when Sowore challenged members of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) Door-to-Door supporters’ group over their continued support for the administration despite the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.

According to the source, the argument escalated into a physical confrontation involving Sowore, members of his entourage and some of the president’s supporters.

The incident occurred on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Tawakalitu Restaurant in the Dalimore area of Ado-Ekiti, shortly after Sowore appeared on MIDAS FM 90.5, where he granted a radio interview and criticised the Tinubu administration.

The source claimed that some members of the PBAT supporters’ group, wearing Tinubu-branded campaign shirts and caps, entered the restaurant while Sowore and his associates were having a meal.

Sowore reportedly questioned why they continued to support the president despite the economic hardship and rising cost of living in the country.

The disagreement allegedly became heated before degenerating into a physical confrontation, leaving Sowore and other persons injured.

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However, the account provided by the source differs from Sowore’s description of the incident. The activist had alleged that he and members of his team were attacked by armed men sponsored by the Ekiti State Government, with operational support from the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a post on his X account shortly after the incident, Sowore announced that he and his associates had been brutally attacked and injured by what he described as government-sponsored thugs.

He also alleged that DSS operatives had been trailing and harassing his team since their arrival in Ekiti State, claiming that they had threatened the management of an earlier restaurant where the group had eaten.

Sowore subsequently rejected the police description of the incident as an altercation, insisting that he and his associates were victims of an organised attack.

“There was no altercation! We were attacked!” he declared.

The Ekiti State Police Command, however, dismissed reports that Sowore had been kidnapped, explaining that its operatives responded to a distress call about a confrontation at the restaurant.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said officers rescued Sowore from the scene and took him to the Police Hospital in Ado-Ekiti for medical attention.

The command initially described his injury as minor and disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, had ordered an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those involved.

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The police also urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports and allow investigators to establish what happened.

Meanwhile, the African Action Congress (AAC) expressed concern over the incident, calling on the Ekiti State Governor, the Inspector-General of Police and the state Commissioner of Police to ensure Sowore’s safety and bring those responsible to justice.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rex Elanu, warned that it could organise a mass protest at the Ekiti State Government House if the authorities failed to take appropriate action.

The party also described the incident as a threat to democratic participation and called for an investigation into the alleged involvement of government-linked individuals.

The Ekiti State Government denied any involvement in the confrontation, distancing itself from Sowore’s allegations and calling on the police to conduct a thorough investigation.

In a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, on Saturday, October 31, the government said it had no connection with the incident and maintained that the circumstances should be established by the appropriate authorities.

The police subsequently announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the incident. According to the command, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad arrested the suspects during a raid on their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10pm on Friday.

The suspects were identified as Joseph Tayo, 32; Olatunji Abayomi, 41; Isaac Amba, 22; Kehinde Ajigbana, 18; Tosin David, 18; Solomon Iyanu, 18; Ogunsola Ayomide, 21; Ojo Ayodeji, 22; Kayode Dada, 32; Segun Olatunji, 28; and Salami Emmanuel, 53.

Items recovered during the operation included two walkie-talkies, 13 mobile phones, seven ATM cards, two vehicle keys, a flash drive, a 5G MTN Wi-Fi device, identity cards, eight international passports and three complimentary cards.

Other recovered items included substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two cannabis crushers, a pack of Rizla, two suspected criminal charms, a gas lighter and ₦250.

The police said the suspects remained in custody as investigations continued to determine their individual roles, establish possible connections with the confrontation and identify other persons who might have participated in the incident.

The command also confirmed that all victims, including Sowore, had received medical attention and were treated and discharged from the hospital.

Commissioner of Police Falade Adegoroye Michael assured that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice, irrespective of political affiliation.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress and publisher of Sahara Reporters, is a prominent critic of Tinubu’s administration and has repeatedly challenged the government’s economic policies, particularly its handling of inflation, fuel prices and the rising cost of living.

The confrontation comes amid renewed political debate over hunger and poverty following Tinubu’s recent criticism of opposition politicians for blaming his administration for the country’s economic difficulties.

At his October 24 campaign rally in Kaduna, Tinubu accused opposition politicians of creating the hunger and poverty they now criticise his government over.

“They created the hunger. They created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” the president said.

His remarks generated reactions from opposition figures, who accused him of shifting responsibility for the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

Although an unnamed source has linked the Ekiti confrontation to an argument over hunger and support for Tinubu, the police have yet to publicly establish who initiated the physical violence or independently confirm that the political disagreement triggered the clash.

The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the roles, if any, played by the individuals arrested.

Sowore’s Ekiti Clash: How Argument Over Hunger, Tinubu’s Govt Triggered Fight — Source

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